By Drew Locascio
Illinois Scouting Director

Often times, prospects dwelling south of I-80 can go under the radar for quite some time. After visiting Lincoln-Land CC in Springfield, IL earlier this month, we’ve found several prospects that should be putting their names in the spotlight as they continue their high school career.

Yesterday we started our positional analysis with the catchers. Today we take a look at the infield prospects in attendance. Underclassman Kooper Loehr (Mt. Zion, 2019) was one of the better defenders at the event.

6-foot-4, 225-pound 1B Justin Beggs (Williamsville, 2018) had feel around the first base bag and took one of the better rounds of batting practice at the event.

Another 2018 who impressed with the bat was Lucas Unland (Beardstown). Unland is a left-handed hitter with a loose, fast bat and found a lot of barrels in his round of BP.

2018 Kyle Werries (Chatham-Glenwood) profiles as a third baseman with soft, receptive hands and has a gap-to-gap approach at the plate.

INFIELDER’S (Listed Alphabetically)

Justin Beggs, 1B, Williamsville, 2018
6-foot-4, 225-pound, strong frame, first baseman. Offensively, right-handed hitter, fluid rhythm, hard contact pull-side approach, level path through the zone; exit velocity registered at 88 mph. Slightly open setup with a short stride. Defensively, soft hands, fluid footwork, athletic fielding actions. Short, loose arm action from a high ¾ slot; throws clocked at 74 mph across the infield. 7.77 runner in the laser timed 60.

Anthony Clark, INF/RHP, Springfield Southeast, 2018
5-foot-9, 150-pound, two-way player Offensively, right-handed hitter, gap-to-gap approach, long, uphill path through the zone; exit velocity clocked at 79 mph. Tall, open setup with a leg lift timing trigger. Defensively, reliable hands, athletic fielding actions. Short arm action from a high ¾ to ¾ arm slot; throws clocked at 72 mph across the infield. 7.71 runner in the laser timed 60. On the mound, right-handed pitcher, smooth rhythm, stays in line, lands closed. Long arm action from an over the top angle. Fastball, mostly straight, sat 71-74 mph. Two seam fastball, slight arm side run, 73-74 mph. Curveball, varied between 12/6 and 11/5 shape, features some depth, 61-63 mph.

Will Elvers, INF, Sacred Heart-Griffin, 2018
5-foot-9, 155-pound, right-handed hitting infielder. Offensively, present bat speed, short, level path through the zone, ability to get extension, pull-side approach; exit velocity clocked at 82 mph. Slightly open setup, long stride, maintains balance through contact. Defensively, athletic fielder, quick exchange, reliable hands. Short, arm action from a high ¾ slot, accurate at times; throws clocked at 79 mph across the infield. 7.39 runner in the laser timed 60.

Benjamin Fricke, 1B, Mount Pulaski, 2019
5-foot-10, 160-pound, right-handed hitting first baseman. Offensively, flashed ability to find barrel, long, uphill path through the zone; exit velocity clocked at 77 mph. Balanced setup with a short stride. Defensively, reliable hands on the infield. Long arm action from a high ¾ slot, flashed accuracy; throws clocked at 68 mph across the infield. 8.46 runner in the laser timed 60.

Andrew Herpstreith, INF, Nokomis, 2017
5-foot-11, 185-pound, right-handed hitting middle-infielder. Offensively, gap-to-gap approach, quick twitch, long, uphill bat path; exit velocity registered at 84 mph. Balanced setup with a leg lift. Defensively, reliable hands, clean exchange, fields deep at times. Short, accurate arm from a high ¾ to ¾ arm slot; throws clocked at 75 mph across the diamond. 7.09 runner in the laser timed 60.

William Horve, RHP/3B, Maroa Forsyth, 2018
6-foot, 170-pound, two-way player. On the mound, right-handed pitcher, in line direction, toe lands closed, finishes athletically. Long, loose arm action from a high ¾ slot. Fastball, thrown for strikes, slight run, sat 78-80 mph. Curveball, maintains fastball arm speed, 72-74 mph. Changeup, mostly straight, 69-72 mph. Offensively, average bat speed, uphill path through the zone; exit velocity registered 80 mph. Tall, narrow setup, short stride. Defensively, long arm action from an over the top to high ¾ slot, flashed accuracy; throws clocked at 80 mph across the diamond. 7.46 runner in the laser timed 60.

Jacob Jurgens, LHP/1B, Chatham Glenwood, 2019
5-foot-11, 160-pound, two-way player. On the mound, left-handed pitcher with a three pitch feel. Easy effort, tall and fall delivery, in line direction, finishes upright. Short arm action from an over the top to high ¾ angle. Fastball, mostly straight, sat 73-74 mph. Curveball, 12/6 shape, gradual action, tendency to slow arm, 63-65 mph. Changeup, fade action, 67-70 mph. Offensively, left-handed hitter with a gap-to-gap approach, tendency to find barrel, long path through the zone; exit velocity registered at 80 mph. Balanced setup with a short stride. Defensively, clean exchange, short arm action from an over the top to high ¾ slot; throws clocked at 71 mph. 8.06 runner in the laser timed 60.

Kooper Loehr, INF, Mount Zion, 2019
5-foot-7, 120-pound, right-handed hitting infielder. Offensively, fluid rhythm, line drive approach, tendency to find barrel. Short, level path through the zone; exit velocity registered at 81 mph from a tee. Balanced setup, smooth pre pitch load, short stride. Defensively, soft hands, clean exchange, fields position athletically. Short arm action from a high ¾ slot; throws clocked at 70 mph across the diamond. 7.66 runner in the laser timed 60.

Sergio Marchizza, RHP/1B, Glenwood, 2020
6-foot-2, 170-pound, lanky, two-way prospect. On the mound, right-handed pitcher, flashed rhythm, stays in line, lands closed, finishes athletically. Long arm action from a high ¾ angle. Fastball, occasional run, sat 73-76 mph. Curveball, 11/5 shape, gradual action, 65-67 mph. Cutter, 73-75 mph. Offensively, right-handed hitter, present bad speed, level path through the zone; exit velocity registered at 81 mph from the tee. Balanced setup with a short stride. Defensively, long arm action from a high ¾ slot; throws clocked at 65 mph. 7.93 runner in the laser timed 60.

Austin McDowell, INF, Nokomis, 2018
6-foot-1, 150-pound, lanky, middle infielder. Offensively, right-handed hitter, pull-side approach, level path through the zone; exit velocity registered at 80 mph. Tall setup with a short stride. Defensively, clean exchange, athletic fielding actions, reliable hands. Short arm action from a high ¾ slot; throws clocked at 75 mph across the infield. 7.28 runner in the laser timed 60.

Braeden Reed, INF/RHP, West Central, 2017
5-foot-10, 175-pound, two-way player. Offensively, right-handed hitter, line drive, pull-side approach, some hard contact; exit velocity clocked at 81 mph. Open setup, hands load pre pitch, short stride. Defensively, long arm action from a high ¾ to ¾ slot, flashed accuracy; throws clocked at 74 mph across the diamond. 7.61 runner in the laser timed 60. On the mound, right-handed pitcher, compact, directional delivery, repeats well, toe lands slightly closed, finishes upright. Long arm action from a high ¾ slot. Fastball, thrown for strikes, mostly straight, sat 76-77 mph. Curveball, 11/5 shape, 67-69 mph. Slider, 66-68 mph. Changeup, feel, maintains arm speed, mostly straight, 70-72 mph.

Brandon Roth, SS/RHP, Normal West, 2019
6-foot-2, 165-pound, lanky, athletic, two-way prospect. Offensively, right-handed hitter, pull-side approach, uphill path through the zone; exit velocity registered at 79 mph. Wide setup, back load, leg kick timing trigger. Defensively, stays low, short arm action from a high ¾ slot, accurate at times; throws clocked at 80 mph across the diamond. 7.50 runner in the laser timed 60. On the mound, right-handed pitcher, some rhythm, lands closed, finishes upright. Long arm action from a high ¾ angle. Fastball, heavy, arm side run, sat 78-79 mph. Curveball, 11/5 shape, 63-67 mph. Changeup, feel, sink and fade action, 68-70 mph.

Lucas Unlad, LHP/1B, Beardstown, 2018
6-foot-1, 170-pound, two-way player. Offensively, left-handed hitter, present bat speed, consistent barrel, fluid rhythm, gap-to-gap approach, uphill path through the zone; exit velocity registered at 84 mph. Balanced setup, pre pitch back load, maintains balance through contact. Defensively, short arm action from a ¾ slot; throws clocked at 72 mph. 7.55 runner in the laser timed 60. On the mound, left-handed pitcher, long arm action from a high ¾ slot. Fastball, run action, sat 71-73 mph. Curveball, 1/7 shape, gradual break, 59-63 mph. Changeup, near fastball arm speed, 61-65 mph.

Gavin Wahlbrink, RHP/INF, Chatham-Glenwood, 2019
5-foot-10, 140-pound, two-way player. On the mound, right-handed pitcher with a three pitch feel. Easy effort, smooth rhythm, stays in line, lands square. Long, quick arm action from a low ¾ angle. Fastball, thrown for strikes, features run and sink action, sat 77-78 mph. Curveball, feel, 10/4 shape, slurve action, tight spin, maintains arm speed, 63-65 mph. Changeup, fastball arm speed, slight arm side run, thrown for strikes, 73-75 mph. Offensively, right-handed hitter, level path through the strike zone; exit velocity registered at 78 mph from a tee. Tall, open setup with a toe tap trigger. Defensively, long arm action from a low ¾ arm slot, flashed accuracy; throws clocked at 75 mph across the diamond. 7.69 runner in the laser timed 60.

Carter Weiters, 1B, Pleasant Plains, 2018
6-foot-1, 220-pound, right-handed hitting first baseman. Offensively, long, uphill path through the zone; exit velocity registered at 79 mph. Crouched setup with a short stride. Defensively, reliable hands, clean exchange, tendency to field deep. Short arm action from an over the top to high ¾ slot, flashed accuracy; throws clocked at 70 mph across the diamond. 8.49 runner in the laser timed 60.

Kyle Werries, 3B/RHP, Chatham-Glenwood, 2018
5-foot-11, 180-pound, strong frame, two-way prospect. Offensively,right-handed hitter, above average bat speed, gap-to-gap approach, uphill path through the zone; exit velocity clocked at 84 mph. Balanced setup, short stride, ability to maintain balance through contact. Defensively, soft hands, clean exchange, athletic fielding actions. Long arm action from a high ¾ slot; throws clocked at 75 mph across the diamond. 7.97 runner in the laser timed 60. On the mound, right-handed pitcher with a three pitch feel.  Smooth rhythm, repeats well, stays in line, lands square, finishes athletically. Long, loose arm action from a high ¾ angle. Fastball, mostly straight, sat 79-80 mph Curveball, 11/5 shape, sharp action, depth, 65-66 mph. Changeup, fading action, 69-72 mph.

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