Jaden
Fauske

Fauske appears for a second consecutive year on our First Team All-State list after yet another impressive junior season. Currently hitting at a pace to break Nazareth’s school batting average record, he tallied 59 hits in 108 plate appearances, slashing a remarkable .546/.612/.824, including 38 singles, 15 doubles, 3 triples, and 3 home runs. Showing impressive plate discipline and a keen eye for the strike zone, he racked up 23 walks over only 9 strikeouts. Though he DH’d most of the season, Fauske played a major role en route to Nazareth’s undefeated regular season and final 37-1 record. Fauske is currently ranked No. 20 overall nationally and No. 2 in the Illinois 2025 class. Look for him to be one of the top high school draft prospects in the Midwest next spring.

Currently ranked No. 2 in the state, No. 20 in the country. Strong, 6-foot-2, 182-pound frame, present strength with round shoulders and a developed lower-half. Premier left-handed bat, ulta-confident and comfortable appearance in the box, controls the zone, takes pitches with confidence, gets his A-swing off a majority of the time. Loose wrists, stays short to the ball and through the zone. Started at third base, displaying steady hands with comfortable actions, arm plays with well above-average life across the diamond. High-level 2025 in the country.

Louisville commit. Fauske had an impressive week going 7-for-15 with a home run, two doubles, four RBIs and six runs scored. His most impressive performance came in their win over Neuqua Valley where he went 3-for-4 with a home run, double, three RBIs and three runs scored.

Currently ranked No. 2 in the state; No. 35 nationally. Fauske batted out of the three-hole and displayed a mature and disciplined approach on Saturday. The left-handed hitter was in the DH position on Saturday morning and went 1-for-1 with a walk, a hit-by-pitch, and two runs scored. Fauske stands in the box at a physical 6-foot-2, 205-pounds, and has a hitterish look in the box. He has a short leg lift trigger that loads his weight onto his backside. His hands work direct to the ball, swinging with a fluid, slightly uphill path. Fauske is a high-follow junior to continue to watch the rest of the spring.

The 2nd ranked player in Illinois’ Class of 2025 and Nationally ranked No. 35, was batting third and in the Designated Hitter role. Quiet presents in the box with a leg lift load, athletic hands for a quick and easy swing through the zone. First at-bat delivered three runs on a single and hardly hit single up the middle on his third at-bat. Fauske will be a pivotal bat in the middle of the lineup as the Roadrunners look for their third straight State Title.

As a sophomore, Fauske helped lead Nazareth Academy to consecutive 3A state champions, serving as key middle-of-the-order bat while also providing plenty of positive production on the mound. Fauske slashed .487/.585/.723 with 17 doubles, two triples, and three home runs, driving in 38 runs and scoring 38 times himself. He’s capable of playing the outfield, on the infield, and catching too, providing plenty of defensive flexibility for the Roadrunners’ in that regard. Fauske also threw 33 innings, working mostly in relief, punching out 49 batters in that span with a 0.42 ERA. The Louisville commit is one of the premier prospects in the Illinois’ 2025 class and figures to be a name who should be in consideration for these honors each of the final two seasons in his high school career.

Louisville commit. Ranked 2nd in the Illinois class, 136th nationally. Proportionate 6-foot-2, 182 pound frame, defined upper and lower halves with noticeable strength. Started in the outfield and hit in the three-hole for the Roadrunners in the championship game. Quiet at the plate, carries himself confidently, really looks the part. Strong, fast left-handed bat that’s quick in a tight window. Hard on the barrel to all fields, tripled with authority in this look. Capable of playing multiple positions on the diamond - moves around to third base at times, also known for his actions and arm strength behind the dish. Enters the summer circuit as a major arrow-up name in the 2025 class nationally. 

Louisville commit, currently ranked No. 2 in the Illinois’ 2025 class. 6-foot-2, 182-pound, wide-shouldered, athletic frame with room for continued physical development. Hit in the two-hole and started in left-field. Polished, calm, advanced presence in the box, extremely quiet takes and rarely chases out of the zone. Selectively aggressive, advanced bat speed and makes consistent loud contact off the bat. Scorched a double to right-center field in his first at-bat off a left/left 85 mph fastball. Finished 2-for-6 with a run scored. Continued to look like one of the top left-handed bats in the class. 

Louisville commit. Nazareth Academy finished the week 2-2. Fauske had an impressive week going 8-for-12 (.667) with two home runs, a double, nine RBIs, five runs scored, and two walks. In their first game against Benet, Fauske went 3-for-4 with a grand slam, four RBIs and two runs scored. He also earned the win on the mound, striking out three in 1.1 innings of work. In their third game against Benet, he added a home run, with two RBIs, one run scored and a walk. He earned the win on the mound, throwing four innings with 11 strikeouts, one run and two hits. To round out the impressive week, he went 2-for-3 with two RBIs, one run scored and a walk against No. 24 Kenwood.

Louisville commit, currently ranked No. 2 in the Illinois’ 2025 class. 6-foot-2, 182-pound, wide-shouldered, physical, athletically-built, left-handed hitter. Ability to play multiple positions but started at third base and hit in the three-hole against Kenwood. Finished 2-for-3, with two RBI, run scored and a walk. All kinds of presence and confidence in the box. Quiet, relaxed takes, sees pitches deep into the zone with twitchy, strong hands. Ball jumps off the bat, creates bat speed and uses the whole field. Hit a missile, run-scoring single, right back up the middle in his second at-bat of the day. Advanced left-handed bat that continues to impress everytime we see him.

Another one of the top prospects in their respective class in attendance was C/INF Jaden Fauske (Nazareth, 2025), a Louisville commit. Fauske continues to add quality strength to his 6-foot-2, 182-pound frame and showed well across the board. At the plate, the left-handed hitter is calm and relaxed in the box, creating advanced bat strength and jumping off the barrel with ease and confidence. He looks to elevate the baseball with authority and led the event with an average exit velocity of 90.5 mph, his furthest batted ball traveling 354’.  Defensively, he showed a quick, strong arm, especially from behind the plate, topping at 79 mph from the crouch with multiple pop times coming in at sub-2.00. Fauske has a quick glove-to-hand release and profiles equally as well at both defensive spots.

Positional Profile: SS/C
Body: 6-2, 182-pounds. Advanced strength throughout.
Hit: LHH. Narrow, open setup, slightly crouched, fluid load into a controlled medium stride. Loose athletic hands, short to contact, uphill through the zone and works gap-to-gap. Effortless rhythm, ball jumps off the barrel with ease. Middle-of-the-order type bat.
Power: 97 max exit velocity, averaged 90.5 mph. 355’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 79 mph. INF - 84 mph. Firm, strong arm, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: 1.93-2.01 pop times. Worked out behind the plate and on the infield. Hands play low and steady on the infield. Quick glove-to-hand abilities, advanced release. Smooth double play turn on the infield. Athletic and quick behind the plate with advanced glove-to-hand release.
Run: 7.13 runner in the 60. 

Positional Profile: C/INF/RHP
Body: 6-0, 155-pounds. Lean, athletic frame.
Delivery: Quick tempo, repeatable, simple delivery, easy effort, balanced finish.
Arm Action: RH. Short arm action, 3/4 arm slot.
FB: T81.28, 79.6-81.1 mph. 4-seam type, mostly straight, thrown up in zone. T2109, 2004 average rpm.
CB: 66.2-67.5 mph. Big 11/5 shape, feel for spin. T2088, 1967 average rpm.
CH: 69.89-71.94 mph. Advanced fading action, thrown arm-side of plate. T1696, 1566 average rpm.

Hit: LHH. Athletic, balanced setup, leg-kick trigger, smooth, advanced pre-pitch actions. Easy swing, short path, working efficiently through the zone, consistent hard contact, showed gap-to-gap approach in advanced round of BP.
Power: 89.2 max exit velocity, averaged 83.4 mph. 282’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 73 mph. INF - 82 mph. Short, loose arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.08-2.14 pop times. Catcher: athletic footwork, soft hands with a quick release, advance blocking. Infield: smooth footwork to the ball, works with proper direction, advanced double play turn.
Run: 7.61 runner in the 60. 

Lean projectable left-handed hitting athlete. Hits out of the two-hole, comfortable setup, looks confident in the box. Advanced approach, takes repeated quality at-bats, advanced barrel control with ability to foul off tough pitches and work counts, showed his ability to extend at-bats. Went 7-for-14 on the weekend. Athletic delivery on the mound, high ¾ slot. While a high-level prospect as a position player, Fauske also made a couple intriguing appearances from the mound. Started on Sunday in the playoffs and sat 79-82 mph throughout the ballgame, and was up to 83 as late as the fifth inning. Pitches with a highly competitive demeanor.

5-foot-7, 115-pound, left-handed hitting catcher/infielder. Lean, athletic, projectable frame. Balanced setup, smooth load, steady leg lift trigger, drives lower half. Oozes confidence in the box, quick-twitchy hands, uphill path with a gap-to-gap approach. Elevates the baseball, hammered several fastballs middle-in for doubles, advanced bat for age. Quick out of the crouch behind the plate. Quickly emerging as one of the top players in Illinois’ 2025 class. 

Jaden Fauske (2025) showed why the second hitter is just as important as the leadoff hitter. The 13U Cangelosi Sparks’ Fauske didn't waste any time driving in the game's first run with a deep sac fly to left field that he only just missed. Later on, Fauske showed patience in the box by taking a walk and later on went on to score. Jaden ended his night at the plate finding the sweet spot once again for a double over the center fielder’s head that helped add to his RBI total for the game.