All-State Games: Top Overall Prospects

On Tuesday, June 29, the PBR Illinois staff hosted the All-State Games at The MAX in LaGrange, IL. The invite-only event featured over 50 of the top 2023s from Illinois and Wisconsin, with several high-follow prospects emerging after strong showings from the day. 

Shortly after the event’s conclusion our staff rolled out multiple post-event content pieces, which you can find by clicking HERE.

We recently finished rolling out all of the scouting reports from this event, which you can find by clicking here: catchers, outfield, infield, pitchers. 

Today, we’ll conclude this event by ranking the top prospects we saw on this particular day, below. 

TOP OVERALL PROSPECTS

1. Evan Gustafson, Altoona (WI), 2023; Oregon State commit
Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 6-foot-2, 185-pounds. Athletic frame.
Hit: LHH. Slightly open setup, leg kick trigger, strides slightly closed, easy pre-pitch actions. Smooth, whippy swing, advanced bat speed, flashes effortless pop in barrel, gap-to-gap approach, line-drives throughout.
Power: 95.46 max exit velocity, averaged 85 mph. 310’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 79 mph. Best pop-time at event; short arm action, throws have carry and play true.
Defense: 1.93-2.01 pop times. Advanced actions behind the plate, quick exchange/release, fluid footwork, throws consistently on the bag.
Run: 7.15 runner in the 60. 

2. Thomas Burns, Hortonville (WI), 2023
Positional Profile: RHP/OF. Represented Team Wisconsin at the 2021 Future Games.
Body: 6-foot-3, 180-pounds. Lanky, thin-levered frame with plenty of future projection attached.
Delivery: Smooth, tempoed tall/fall type delivery with fluid movement patterns downhill. Front side stays closed, open-toed landing, athletic finish through release.
Arm Action: RH. Long and loose arm action, high 3/4 slot.
FB: T89, 86-89 mph. Four-seam fastball, mostly straight with some finish through the zone. T2082, 2004 average rpm.
CB: 72-73 mph. 12/6 shape, used more to expand the zone low. T2101, 2040 average rpm.
CUT: 72-74 mph. 10/4 shape, landed for strikes more consistently. 

3. Jake Zitella, St. Charles East (IL), 2023; Illinois commit.
Positional Profile: 3B/SS
Body: 5-foot-11, 185-pounds. Wide-shouldered, strong build.
Hit: RHH. Tall setup, balanced stance, subtle load action, easy pre-pitch actions. Short, strong swing, with intent, repeatable, level path, ball jumps off barrel, consistent hard contact, gap-to-gap approach with advanced ability to drive the baseball.
Power: 98.12 max exit velocity, averaged 91.55 mph. 331’ max distance.
Arm: RH. INF - 82 mph. Loose arm action, high 3/4 arm slot.
Defense: Third base type, easy infield actions, steady hands, athletic footwork, quick exchange, plays with proper direction, ability to change arm angle.
Run: 7.19 runner in the 60. 

4. Charalambos Nicoloudes, Naperville Central (IL), 2023
Positional Profile: 3B
Body: 6-foot, 188-pounds. Wide-shouldered frame with strength throughout.
Hit: RHH. Narrow set up, slightly open, short, quick leg lift. Strong hands, advanced bat speed, loose, quick swing, short path, slightly uphill, consistent hard contact, advanced ability to drive baseball, gap-to-gap approach.
Power: 92.85 max exit velocity, averaged 85.54 mph. 306’ max distance.
Arm: RH. INF - 82 mph. High 3/4 arm slot, flashed athletic release.
Defense: Clean third base actions, steady hands, flashes athleticism, fluid feet, plays with proper direction and with ease throughout.
Run: 7.11 runner in the 60.

5. Riley Iffrig, Edwardsville (IL), 2023; Indiana State commit.
Positional Profile: 1B/LHP
Body: 6-foot-2, 178-pounds. Strong-bodied frame.
Hit: LHH. Slightly open setup, short leg-lift trigger, gets separation in load. Strong, loose swing, short, level bat path, ball jumps off his bat, consistently on barrel with line drives, gap-to-gap approach with pull-side tendencies.
Power: 96.53 max exit velocity, averaged 91.4 mph. 331’ max distance.
Arm: LH. INF - 81 mph. 3/4 arm slot, loose arm action.
Defense: Athletic actions,steady hands, clean exchanges, ability to change arm angles.
Run: 7.42 runner in the 60. 

6. Anthony Edge, Jacobs (IL), 2023. Bradley commit.
Positional Profile: C/RHP. Represented Team Illinois at the 2021 Future Games.
Body: 5-foot-9, 180-pounds. Proportionally strong frame, sturdy shoulders.
Delivery: Smooth tall/fall type delivery, fluid movement patterns downhill, strong front side, works in line to target and lands square into a strong lead leg block.
Arm Action: RH. Short, quick arm circle with above-average arm speed, loose shoulder, high 3/4 slot.
FB: T87, 86-87 mph. Two-seam type that plays with late run and sink, averaged 12 inches of horizontal movement, strikes.  T2187, 2076 average rpm.
SL: 73-75 mph. Thrown with fastball intent, tight 11/5 spin, feel to land for strikes.  T1958, 1905 average rpm.
CH: 78-79 mph. Thrown with fastball arm speed and from a similar slot, flashed arm-side action.

7. Ryan Geraghty, Carmel Catholic (IL), 2023. Wichita State commit.
Positional Profile: 3B/RHP. Represented Team Illinois at the 2021 Future Games.
Body: 6-foot-1, 175-pounds. Athletic, well-proportioned frame.
Delivery: Tall/fall type, early separation out of the glove, heavy disengage off the rubber, closed toe landing, slightly rotational at times.
Arm Action: RH. Long arm action, high 3/4 slot.
FB: T90, 86-89 mph. Straight, four-seam type.  T2381, 2162 average rpm.
CB: 69-71 mph. Flashed sharp action off an 11/5 plane.  T2348, 2315 average rpm.
CH: 69-72 mph. Occasional fading action to the arm-side, straighter action on average. 

8. Ryan Niedzwiedz, West Aurora (IL), 2023
Positional Profile: SS
Body: 6-foot, 180-pounds. Athletic frame.
Hit: LHH. Even setup, weight loaded on backside, leg kick trigger, short stride. Loose, repeatable swing, quick hands, short, level path, consistently on time/on barrel, advanced round of BP, gap-to-gap approach, line drives.
Power: 96.34 max exit velocity, averaged 89.36 mph. 284’ max distance.
Arm: RH. INF - 90 mph. Short, loose arm action, high 3/4 arm slot, strong throws carry across infield, best infield velocity at the event.
Defense: Sure-handed, fields with two hands, funnels to center, plays with proper direction, flashed ability to change arm angles and play on the move.
Run: 7.28 runner in the 60. 

9. Adam Schilz, Warren (IL), 2023
Positional Profile: SS
Body: 6-foot-2, 175-pounds. Lean, athletic, upside frame.
Hit: LHH. Athletic, balanced setup, quiet pre-pitch actions. Short, loose levered swing, creates easy bat speed, effortless pop, path works slightly uphill, looks to make contact out front, consistently on barrel, gap-to-gap line drives.
Power: 94.85 max exit velocity, averaged 89.06 mph. 360’ max distance.
Arm: RH. INF - 80 mph. Long arm action, high 3/4 arm slot.
Defense: Steady hands, quick exchange at times, plays through ball toward target.
Run: 7.15 runner in the 60. 

10. Caleb Karll, Madison West (WI), 2023; Ohio commit.
Positional Profile: OF/C
Body: 6-foot-1, 190-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Slightly open setup, toe-tap trigger, long stride. Short, strong swing with intent, ball jumps off barrel at times, line drives, gap-to-gap approach, pull-side tendencies.
Power: 96.09 max exit velocity, averaged 89.83 mph. 298’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 78 mph. OF - 90 mph. Over-the-top arm slot, throws downhill from outfield, best outfield velocity at event.
Defense: Catcher: fluid feet, clean exchanges, quick release. Outfield: corner outfield type, plays aggressively through the ball.
Run: 7.37 runner in the 60. 

11. Dominic Kibler, New Berlin West (WI), 2023; Kent State commit
Positional Profile: C. High-level left-handed hitter in the 2023 class.
Body: 5-foot-8, 180-pounds. Strong, compact build.
Hit: LHH. Balanced, simple setup, short stride, smooth pre-pitch actions. Advanced short bat path, direct to the ball, easy effort, barrel works efficiently through the zone, consistent hard line-drives, used middle of the field.
Power: 94.46 max exit velocity, averaged 91.92 mph. 317’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 77 mph. Short arm action, high 3/4 arm slot, throws flash carry.
Defense: 2.06-2.15 pop times. Quick transfer, feet quickly gain ground toward second base, ability to deaden balls when blocking.
Run: 7.27 runner in the 60.

12. Noah Dreier, Brookfield Central (WI), 2023
Positional Profile: SS/RHP. Represented Team Wisconsin at the 2021 Future Games.
Body: 5-foot-10, 170-pounds.
Delivery: Clean directional delivery, athletic and compact, smooth rhythm, good balance point, lands square to target.
Arm Action: RH. Short arm action, over-the-top arm slot.
FB: T86, 83-86 mph. Straight four-seam action, plays true with backspin. T2091, 1963 average rpm.
CB: 66-71 mph. 11/5 shape, depth and tight spin; late action at times. T2466, 2294 average rpm.
SL: 72-75 mph. Showed tight action, 10/4 shape, potential swing and miss offering. Best of two breaking balls. T2301, 2206 average rpm.

13. Christian Graves, Marengo (IL), 2023
Positional Profile: RHP/3B
Body: 6-foot-2, 200-pounds. Physical build with advanced strength throughout frame.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, smooth comfortable load and short leg-lift timing trigger. Physicality plays in the box. Strong hands, advanced bat strength, uphill path and looks to lift the baseball with authority.
Power: 100.52 max exit velocity, averaged 91.39 mph. 369’ max distance. Present power in bat. Was consistently on the barrel with authority.
Arm: RH. INF - 81 mph. Long arm action, plays over-the-top.
Defense: Plays tall through release at times, easy effort.
Run: 7.52 runner in the 60. 

14. Justin Gorski, Rockford Christian (IL), 2023; Miami (OH) commit.
Positional Profile: SS/2B
Body: 5-foot-8, 150-pounds. Live-bodied frame.
Hit: LHH. Took a number of quality at-bats during the game play portion of the at-bat. Athletic, balanced, slightly open setup, short stride, simple pre-pitch actions. Quick, loose swing, short/direct to ball, repeatable, attacks inside of ball, gap-to-gap approach.
Power: 86.67 max exit velocity, averaged 78.58 mph. 298’ max distance.
Arm: RH. INF - 82 mph. Short, loose arm action, quick arm and release, high 3/4 arm slot.
Defense: Advanced, clean infield actions, shows athleticism, soft hands, fluid footwork, plays with proper direction.
Run: 6.96 runner in the 60. Above average runner.

15. Nicholas Gottfried, Jacobs (IL), 2023
Positional Profile: OF/LHP
Body: 5-foot-9, 160-pounds.
Hit: SH. Slightly narrow setup, balanced, sets hands low, quiet pre-pitch load, similar setups from both sides of plate Short, loose swing, level bat path, consistently on the barrel, gap-to-gap approach, line drives, flashed ability to use opposite field, athletic swing from both sides.
Power: 91.47 max exit velocity, averaged 81.75 mph. 326’ max distance.
Arm: LH. OF - 86 mph. Over-the-top arm slot, slight carry, loose arm action.
Defense: Athletic outfield actions, quick, fluid feet, clean exchange, steady hands.
Run: 7.11 runner in the 60. 

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