The Prep Baseball Report Open I.D. Showcase on Feb. 13 featured a strong mix of prospects from all classes. While there were several standout performances – especially at the plate – no one stood out more than Simeon sophomore Shane Brown, a switch-hitting athlete with arm strength.

 

A look at the top performers at the event:

 

1.) Shane Brown, OF/LHP, Simeon HS, Class of 2012: As the top-ranked prospect at the event – and one of the more impressive players in the sophomore class - the switch-hitting athlete showed incredibly well in all facets of the game. The 5-foot-7, 150-pounder clearly had the best positional arm strength, as he topped at 87 mph from the outfield, and he moves fluidly. Offensively, Brown was impressive from both sides of the plate, demonstrating quick hands and sound hitting mechanics while peppering line drives from the left and right sides. He was also a strong performer on the mound, consistently pounding the zone with his 80 mph fastball.

 

2.) Grant Amick, RHP/3B, New Trier HS, Class of 2013: The 6-foot, 192-pound right-hander is one of the better pitching prospects we’ve seen in the freshman class. Every fastball Amick threw registered at 82 mph with some arm-side run. He showed feel for a 70-mph splitter, which has the potential to be a legitimate outpitch with continued development. Physically strong, Amick also showcased power potential at the plate.

 

3.) Kyle Colletta, INF/C/RHP, Niles West HS, Class of 2013: Colletta was the most versatile prospect at the event. The 5-foot-11 left-handed hitting freshman demonstrated top-level hands and feet in the field, and showed an advanced aptitude to play shortstop, catcher and pitcher. At the plate, Colletta has a gap-to-gap approach. He possesses a quick and compact swing with impressive bat speed and extension from the left side.  On the mound, Colletta has a loose arm with some acceleration, and throws on a downhill plane. He is under control and consistently repeats his delivery, showcasing feel for three pitches. Colletta’s fastball  topped at 75 mph, with some arm-side run. His changeup can be a plus pitch in the future.

 

4.) Scott Thomas, OF/LHP, St. Rita HS, Class of 2012: The left-handed hitting Thomas was one of the top hitters at the event. With an advanced plate approach, and a quiet, compact swing, he hammered line drives to all fields. Thomas was equally impressive from the outfield, as he moved athletically and with purpose, in addition to showing solid arm strength (81 mph). On the mound, Thomas touched 79 mph with a tight 12-6 breaker.

 

5.) Josh Jiminez, Minooka, LHP, Class of 2012: The 6-foot, 180-pound Jiminez showcased the ability to throw three pitches for strikes. He demonstrated a quick arm, good extension and run with his 80-81 fastball. He has feel for a slurve that, when down in the zone, had sharp two-plane break. Jiminez also flashed a developing changeup.

 

6.) Eric Stout, OF/LHP, St. Francis HS, Class of 2011: The athletically built 6-foot-3 junior performed well in all phases of the game. From the outfield, he moves well and showed good arm strength (84 mph). At the plate, the left-handed hitting Staut has quick hands and takes a economical path to the ball, while producing line drives to all fields. On the mound, he is a loose, projectable lefty with clean arm action and late acceleration. He showcased a quick hand and a fastball that touched 80 with late life. Staut also throws a sharp slider and developing changeup.

 

7.) Joshua Pieper, Marian Catholic, OF/RHP, Class of 2011: Pieper has the prototypical pitcher’s body, standing 6-foot-3, 185 pounds with long arms. He accelerates well through the ball and consistently repeats his delivery. Pieper touched 82 with his fastball but clearly has more in the tank. His curveball has sharp two-plane break, and he also throws a change with late fade.  As a position player, he showed solid arm strength from the outfield (81 mph) and gap-to-gap power at the plate.

 

8.) Tyler Irwin, RHP/3B, Hinsdale Central HS, Class of 2013: The 6-foot-2, 160-pound freshman has a long, projectable frame with loose and whippy arm action. He showed good acceleration and extension with his fastball, which touched 77 mph. His 66-67 mph splitter had late downward break. With his athletic frame and clean arm action, there’s little doubt Irwin will see significant velocity improvement in the coming years.

 

9.) Campbell Lipe, 3B/1B, New Trier HS, Class of 2012: At 6-foot-3, 220 pounds of muscle, Lipe is a physically advanced sophomore, to be sure. Lipe was the best hitter at the event, as he showcased legitimate big-time power from the right side. With a quiet approach and strong hands, the ball came off the bat – and sounded differently – from the rest.

 

10.) Evan Bloomfield, SS/RHP, St. Rita HS, Class of 2012: The athleticially built 6-foot-1 Bloomfield is a projectable left-handed hitting middle infielder. Bloomfield demonstrated advanced infield actions and solid hands at shortstop. At the plate, he has a mechanically sound approach and showed the ability to drive the ball. On the mound, Bloomfield topped out at 77 mph fastball with quick arm action.

 

11.) Mike Luschen, OF, Palatine HS, Class of 2010: An all-around talent, Luschen performed well in all facets. He ran an event-best 4.11 home-to-first from the right side, in addition to showing solid outfield instincts and arm strength (81 mph). At the plate, the 5-foot-10, 180-pound Luschen demonstrated an advanced plate approach – quick and quiet with a strong path to the baseball.

 

12.) Chris Maranto, SS/RHP, Mundelein HS, Class of 2012: Maranto is an athletic two-way talent who showed well in the field, at the plate and on the mound. Defensively, Maranto has extremely quick feet and hands, as he demonstrated advanced infield actions. At the plate, he showed eye-opening bat speed and barrel whip through the zone. On the mound, the right-hander has a short arm swing and accelerates quickly; he touched 77 with his fastball and showcased an above-average 73-mph cutter.

 

Other Class of 2010 and 2011 Top Performers

 

Connor McHugh, OF, Schaumburg HS, Class of 2010: The 5-foot-11, 165-pound McHugh has quick hands and a clean, compact hitting approach from the left side of the plate. McHugh demonstrated excellent extension and barrel whip through the zone. McHugh was also one of the top athletes at the event, running a 4.12 home-to-first time. His throws from the outfield topped at 80 mph.

 

Sam Mendelson, RHP, Highland Park HS, Class of 2010: Mendelson is a long and lanky 6-foot-4, 175-pound right-hander who showed feel for three pitches. His best pitch was a 66 mph changeup with late depth, while his fastball topped at 77 mph.

 

Joseph Romero, 3B/1B, George Rogers Clark HS (Ind.), Class of 2011: The 5-foot-11 Romero showed soft hands in the field and accurate throws to first base. At the plate, he showcased pull power potential from the right side.

 

Other Class of 2012 Top Performers

 

Henry Wolff, RHP/1B, Lake Forest, Class of 2012: The 6-foot-2, 185-pound Wolff is a physical two-way talent with considerable upside. At the plate, he has a gap-to-gap approach with power potential from the left side. On the mound, he threw in the upper 70s with some arm-side sink. His best pitch was a sharp late-breaking curve, which has the potential of being a plus outpitch. Wolff also showed feel for a changeup.

 

T.J. Onstott, C, Tuscola HS, Class of 2012: The 5-foot-9, 174-pound Onstott is a strong defensive catcher. He receives exceptionally well, demonstrating soft hands and sound footwork behind the plate. He also showed solid arm strength (75 mph from the crouch), with a top pop time of 2.2.

 

Dillon Hoel, MIF, Tuscola HS, Class of 2012: The 5-foot-11, 155-pound Hoel has an athletic frame and quick defensive actions and feet. The middle infielder moves well laterally, and he was one of the top runners at the event: his best time was a 4.14 home-to-first.

 

Jake Hickey, C-3B, Lincoln-Way East HS, Class of 2012: A strong-bodied athlete, Hickey is a physical 6-foot-1, 185-pound prospect. He possesses arm strength both as a catcher (74 mph) and a third baseman (80 mph). Hickey’s top pop time registered at an event-best 2.02, with all other throws below 2.1 or below. At the plate he showed power potential.

 

Adam Glogovsky, OF, Warren HS, Class of 2012: The 6-foot, 165-pound Glogovsky is an athletic switch-hitting outfielder. He put on an impressive hitting display from both sides of the plate, displaying excellent bat speed, hand quickness, rotation and extension through the ball. Also ran a 4.14 home-to-first time.

 

Dylan Prejna, C, Mundelein HS, Class of 2012: Prejna is a 6-foot-2, 180-pound left-handed hitting catcher who put on an impressive hitting display. As one of the top hitters at the event, Prejna showed quick, explosive hands and the ability to drive the ball to either power alley. His top pop time was 2.11 behind the plate.

 

Dylan Pinto, MIF, Lincoln-Way East, Class of 2012: Pinto demonstrated advanced defensive actions with precise footwork, soft hands and quick exchange. The 5-foot-8 Pinto ran a 4.37 home-to-first time.

 

Chris Nesbitt, LHP/1B, York HS, Class of 2012: The 6-foot, 170-pound left-hander showed feel for three pitches, particularly a 65-68 mph changeup that had late fade. Nesbitt’s fastball topped at 74 mph.

 

Bobby Kosola, MIF, Lincoln-Way East, Class of 2012: The 5-foot-7 middle infielder showed good lateral quickness and was one of the top runners at the event with a 4.11 home-to-first time. At the plate, Kosola has a quiet, line drive-producing approach.

 

Click Here for Complete showcase statistics.