Unsigned Senior Showcase: Top Overall Prospects
October 27, 2014
By Ryan Quigley
Illinois Scouting Director
The Prep Baseball Report Unsigned Senior Showcase took place on Sunday October 12th at the MAX in McCook, IL in front of over forty collegiate programs and featured 98 prospects in the class of 2015 that are still uncommitted. Last year’s same event saw over 35 collegiate commitments reported to PBR, and we expect more of the same after witnessing this year’s impressive crop.
CLICK HERE to see complete statistics from the event in PDF format.
After highlighting individual positions around the diamond, today we will take a look at the Top Ten Overall Prospect’s at this October’s Unsigned Senior Showcase. St. Charles North’s Sam Hubbe takes the top overall spot thanks to a consistent mid-80’s fastball and an athletic frame that projects him to throw harder down the road.
Grayslake Central’s David Llorens comes in at number two, touching 88 mph from the left side, a significant velocity increase over the last year for the lanky and projectable southpaw.
St. Rita’s Esteban Martinez has the tools to contribute for a loaded Mustangs program next spring. The switch-hitting third baseman impressed with his all-around game, and runs extremely well, as evidenced by his 6.78 60-yard dash time.
Downers Grove North’s Nic Laio may have a higher ceiling than any prospect at the event, thanks to his clean, repeatable delivery that already delivers 84-85 mph fastballs from a 6-foot-5 frame.
Morgan Park’s Tyler Hill impressed with his athleticism, arm strength (90 mph from the outfield), and explosive bat speed.
Let’s take a look at the top overall prospects from this October’s Unsigned Senior Showcase.
Top Overall Prospects
1. Sam Hubbe, RHP, St. Charles North, IL
6-foot-3, 190-pound lanky and athletic right-handed pitcher impressed as one of the top overall arms at the Unsigned Senior Showcase, and remains a top uncommitted prospect in the state of Illinois’ 2015 class. Currently ranked No. 216 in Illinois’ 2015 class, but is rising. Works from a long, over-the-top arm slot, slight stab in back of arm swing, leans back at balance point, slow and controlled tempo, front hip drives towards home plate before upper half, tall-and-fall type delivery, toe up at balance point lands slightly open, but finishes athletically. Leg kick stays high in the stretch as well, deliberate to the plate. Fastball sat 85-87 mph with arm side run. Aggressive with 12/6 curveball thrown from 69-71 mph. Sinking 73-76 mph changeup flashed sinking action, thrown with fastball arm action.
2. David Llorens, LHP, Grayslake Central, 2015
Recently committed to Heartland shortly after the Unsigned Senior Showcase. Projectable left-handed pitcher, tall frame, 6-foot-4, 185 pounds, long limbed. Delivery works across his body, tall and fall approach, closed landing, creates tough angles. Arm action is short, quick and loose, high ¾ slot. Fastball is mostly straight, flashed occasional slight cut, ranged from 83-88 mph, sat mostly 84-86 mph. Curveball is a slow 12/6 breaker with depth, 60-62 mph, showed feel. Changeup is 68-69 mph, showed cut action with some sink, occasional feel. Llorens is a tough at bat coming from a tall left handed arm slot that works across his body. Flashing upper 80’s velocity at times will make him a strong follow in junior college at Heartland.
3. Esteban Martinez, INF, St. Rita HS, 2015
One of the top overall performers at October’s Unsigned Senior Showcase, Martinez opened eyes with his all-around skill set. Solidly built 6-foot, 185-pound frame; has the ability and tools to play multiple infield positions. Posted impressive numbers across the board: ran a 6.78 60, was clocked at 83 across the infield, registered 88 mph exit velocity. Offensively, shows natural switch-hitting abilities; repeats swing from both sides of the plate, each with similar approaches. Has aggressive plate approach, legitimate bat speed and rhythm from both sides. Defensively, may be best suited at third or second base, but possesses the arm strength, hands and overall athleticism to play shortstop if needed. Some effort in throw, with good carry across infield. Although Martinez didn’t get playing time on St. Rita’s loaded team as a junior last spring, he looks to be one of the top uncommitted infielders in Illinois’ 2015 class.
4. Nic Laio, RHP, Downers Grove North, 2015
Extra-large frame, 6-foot-5, 195-pound right-handed pitcher, long and athletic, good projectability. Tall and fall delivery, regular effort, smooth rhythm, stays closed. Arm action is quick, high ¾ arm slot, loose arm. Fastball showed running action, sat 84-85 mph, controlled the zone well. Curveball has steep shape, flashed 12/6 action, more consistently 11/5 shape, flashed bite, 70-73 mph, fastball arm speed. Throws a splitter at 73-75 mph, occasional tumble action. Laio has a high ceiling with his long frame and loose athletic arm action, should be a strong follow his senior year.
5. Tyler Hill, OF, Morgan Park, 2015
6-foot-1, 185-pound lanky and athletic right-handed hitting outfielder was one of the most impressive prospects at the Unsigned Senior Showcase, showing off an outfield arm touching 90 mph from a long, high ¾ slot. Defensively, played through the baseball. Offensively, hits from a wide, crouched setup, hands load smoothly, short stride, explosive bat speed, hit several line drives with pull tendencies during batting practice. 82 mph exit velocity. Ran a 7.18 60. Hill is a prospect to keep tabs on this spring and has a considerable ceiling thanks to his quick twitch athleticism.
6. George Swedie, RHP, Lisle, 2015
6-foot-1, 165-pound lanky and projectable right-handed pitcher proved to be one of the most electric arms at the Unsigned Senior Showcase with his fastball/splitter combination. Threw strikes with fastball at 85-86 mph from quick, loose, high ¾ arm slot, regular effort, toe down at balance point, points lead toe up during stride towards home plate, shoulders stay level in delivery, lands square with home plate, but hard on heel of front foot. Rushes at times in delivery, but flashes arm speed to catch up. Slider with late breaking 10/4 shape was thrown at 71-73 mph. Chokes 77-78 mph changeup thrown down in the zone. 73-75 mph splitter is a legitimate strikeout pitch, showing hard, late, downward action thrown from the same window as fastball. Swedie is also an accomplished high school golfer, and does not lack for athleticism.
7. Kyle Schulz, OF, Bradford, WI
5-foot-10, 160-pound outfielder/left-handed pitcher, right handed hitter, left handed thrower, athletic build. Quick fluid footwork make Schulz one of the best outfield defenders in the class, lockdown centerfield defender. Posted one of the top 60 times at 6.71, besting his previous time of 6.72 that he ran at the Top Prospect Showcase in June. In the outfield runs accurate and fluid routes, feet work really well, high level athleticism, plays through the ball aggressively and fluidly. Soft hands, arm works from a high ¾ slot at 84 mph. Offensively hits from an open stance, short stride, maintains strong balance through contact. Hands work well in swing, bat control hitter, shows the ability to find the barrel, middle of the field approach. 84 mph exit velocity from the tee. Delivery is athletic, tall and fall approach, works slightly across body. Arm works clean, athletic and loose. Fastball has slight run, 79-81 mph. Curveball has 1/7 shape, 64-66 mph, shows feel for the pitch. Changeup is mostly straight, showed control of the zone, 73-74 mph.
8. Chase Scharnek, OF/RHP, Waukesha West, WI
Long projectable left handed hitting two-way player, 6-foot-3, 195-pounds, frame projects well. Displayed advanced tools at the Unsigned Senior Showcase. Posted event best 60-yard dash at 6.68 as well as event best arm strength from the outfield at 92 mph. Defensively showed the ability to play through the baseball, arm showed carry from an over the top slot, accurate to target. Left handed hitter, wide setup, drops hands at load, heel lift trigger, lower half showed some activity, good balance throughout. Found the barrel repeatedly in BP, bat speed present, slight uphill bat path. 81 mph exit velocity from the tee. Highly projectable left handed hitting outfielder. Works with a tall and fall style delivery, shows some effort. Arm action is short, over the top slot, quick arm. Fastball was mostly straight, occasionally heavy feel, 79-82 mph. Slider had downward action, showed some feel, showed more depth than lateral action, 72-75 mph, near fastball arm speed. Changeup is mostly straight, near fastball arm action, 71-72 mph.
9. Ramon Padilla, C, Andrew, 2015
5-foot-9, 170-pound right-handed hitting catcher with a strong lower half hits from a tall, open setup, hands load smoothly, short stride, creating short, level bat path producing line drives during batting practice from gap-to-gap. Above average 83 mph exit velocity off the tee. Defensively, was one of the top catch-and-throw prospects at the Unsigned Senior Showcase reeling off pop times in the 2.01-2.09 range. Above average velocity throwing from the crouch at 78 mph from a short, over the top slot. Ran a 7.14 60.
10. Joe Lucas, 1B/C, Kenwood, IL
5-foot-11, 200-pound strong, defined lower half, left-handed hitting first baseman/catcher hits from an open setup, short stride, hands load smoothly, explosive bat speed, short bat path creating line drives from gap-to-gap with power. Lucas has natural lift to his swing, and showed power to the opposite field gap during batting practice. Defensively, threw 79 mph from the crouch from long, over the top arm slot with pop times ranging from 2.26-2.36. Impressed at first base with soft hands, especially on backhand plays. Ran a 7.30 60.
Related Unsigned Senior Showcase Content
- IL Unsigned Senior Showcase: Pitching Analysis10.24.14
- IL Unsigned Senior Showcase: Outfield Analysis10.23.14
- IL Unsigned Senior Showcase: Catching Analysis10.20.14
