Chase
Milburn

2024 Future Games: Chase Milburn (Edwardsville) continued to throw well in front of our staff down at LakePoint after an impressive spring season where he helped lead the Tigers to the 4A State Finals as a sophomore. Milburn showed a lot of what we were accustomed to seeing from him in the past; the ability to throw all pitches for strikes and a high level of competitiveness. Despite only one inning of work, he allowed just one walk while striking out two, allowing no runs. The 6-foot-2, 195-pound right-hander worked his fastball up to 86 mph, while sitting 82-85. His slider held plane at 73-75 mph, while also turning over a changeup at 76 mph. Milburn is a high-follow arm in the southern part of the state to continue to watch.

Uncommitted. Currently ranked No. 42 in the state, Milburn got the start for the Tigers in the 4A third place game Saturday afternoon. He stands in at 6-foot-2, 195-pounds, with a simple and easy operation down the mound. The arm plays loose from a ¾ slot with some armspeed out front. His fastball was sitting in the 81-83 mph range with feel for the zone, while showing strong feel for his slider at 73-77 mph with 2300+ rpm of spin at times for swing and miss. Final line: W, 0 R, 2 H, 1 BB, 5 K.

6-foot-2, 195-pound frame with well-proportioned strength throughout and room to tack on more, ranked No. 50 overall in the state’s sophomore class. Turned in an excellent start for the Tigers in their regional semi-final win, tossing a complete game shutout with three hits, one walk, and four strikeouts on just 69 pitches. Works in rhythm and controls the game with a slowed heart rate. Hunched at balance point, front side stays closed, drop/drive delivery with an in-line finish through a firm lead leg. Arm plays with some reach on the backside, continuous through release from a high ¾ slot. Advanced feel to pitch, knows how to mix-and-mitch and keep hitters off balance. Showed four pitches in this look, all of them for strikes. Fastball played in the low-80s, touching 84 mph a handful of times in the first two innings, with some downhill action on the corners. Spun two different breaking balls; a tight upper-70s slider that holds plane with late action to it and a high-arching, bendy curveball at 64-66 mph that he used as a change of pace pitch. Threw a changeup at fastball arm speed to left-handed hitters at 74-75 mph that showed natural fade. Starter profile that has done nothing but perform when called upon for the Tigers this season.

Physical 6-foot-2, 195-pound frame that holds strength throughout and still has room for more. Came in relief for the Tigers and tossed a pair of scoreless innings to notch the save; gave up a leadoff single and retired the next six batters in order. Simple, in-line mover, crouched at balance point, strong glove side and stays closed to front footstrike. Finishes onto a firm lead leg, repeats. Short compact arm stroke, high ¾ finish. Fastball comes out clean, sat 83-85, touching 86 mph multiple times, strikes. Advanced confidence and feel for a slider with tight spin and some sweep at 77-79 mph. Turned to it often, able to land it for strikes and tunnel it out of the strike zone for whiffs. A polished arm with spin feel that’s a name-to-know in the sophomore class.

Uncommitted. 6-foot-2, 203-pound, physical, well-proportioned, right-handed pitcher. Came out of the bullpen and flashed well above-average stuff in his two innings of work. Results were mixed but his arm worked clean and strong, sitting 83-86 mph, T87 with his fastball. He also showed a three-pitch mix with his slider playing firm at 79-80 mph with 2050+ rpm and late hard horizontal action at times. His changeup played with fade at 77 mph. The repeatability and pitchability are still developing but the frame, arm talent and pitch mix deserve a high-follow moving forward and give the Tigers a young arm to be excited about moving forward. Struck out five in two innings. Also scattered three hits, three walks and one earned run.