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.

Earlier this week we started our positional analysis with the catchers. Today we take a look at the pitching prospects in attendance.

TOP PITCHING PROSPECTS

1. Noah Farmer, RHP/OF, Massac County, 2017
Southern Illinois commit. 6-foot-4, 185-pound, strong, projectable, athletically built, two-way prospect. Ran a 6.94 laser-timed 60. Future looks to be on the mound; right-handed pitcher with a raw, live arm. Smooth delivery, coiled lower half at balance point, lands square and finishes athletically. Long, quick arm action from a high ¾ slot. Fastball flashes life, late, hard run and sink; sat 87-88 mph. Curveball, inconsistent at times but flashed late, sharp, powerful action at times and sat 76-78 mph. Changeup, flashed late sink and fade action, 74-77 mph. Offensively, right-handed hitter, pull approach, uphill path and strength through contact; 90 mph exit velocity from a tee. Tall, balanced setup, short stride and average balance through contact. Defensively, big arm strength from the outfield; clocked at 90 mph with life and carry. Plays through the baseball, fluid feet and clean transfer.

2. Austin Chapman, RHP, Sacred Heart Griffin, 2017
6-foot-2, 210-pound right-handed pitcher, average build. Easy delivery, tall and fall approach, stays upright throughout. Arm action is short and loose, high ¾ slot. Fastball showed advanced action to arm side with run and sink, showed control, sat 82-84 mph, touched 86 mph. Curveball has 11/5 shape, feel for the zone, showed depth and spin, 66-70 mph. Changeup fades to arm side, thrown with arm speed, showed control, 76 mph. Splitter has downer action, swing and miss potential pitch, 71-74 mph, aggressive and showed confidence.

3. Giuseppe Mattera, OF/LHP, Pleasant Plains, 2018
5-foot-11, 152-pound, wiry, two-way prospect. Ran a 7.19 laser-timed 60. Offensively, present bat speed and quick twitch in swing. Stays on top of the baseball, uses the middle of the field, line-drive approach and hard contact; 87 mph exit velocity from a tee. Balanced open setup, short stride and fluid rhythm. Defensively, live arm from the outfield, carry and life to throws; clocked at 87 mph. Athletic actions, aggressive crow hop and quick, fluid footwork. On the mound, left-handed pitcher, three-pitch feel repertoire. Short, quick, loose and live arm action from a high ¾ slot. Delivery works with rhythm, stays on-line, lands square with regular effort throughout. Fastball, thrown for strikes, arm-side-run, sat 80-82 mph, touched 83. Curveball, tight sharp spin and depth, 1/7 shape, located down and sat 64-67 mph. Changeup, maintains fastball arm speed, fade action, 70-72 mph.

4. Pierce Jones, RHP, Richland, 2018
6-foot-4, 153-pound right-handed pitcher, long lean projectable frame. Strong upside on the mound, continues to make significant strides and growth. Drop and drive style delivery with high front side, regular effort, works online and showed some ability to get on top of the baseball. Arm action plunges on the back side, long and loose, quick arm, over the top slot. Fastball is mostly straight, four seam type, occasionally got on top showing tilt down in the zone, 81-82 mph, touched 83 mph. 12/6 type curveball, tends to guide at ties, flashed depth and spin, 63-66 mph. Straight changeup ranged 71-77 mph, erratic at times, inconsistent velocity, threw harder from the stretch.

5. 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.

5. 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.

Best of the Rest (Listed Alphabetically)

Jackson Bland, C/RHP, Pawnee, 2019
6-foot, 185-pound two-way player. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, quick leg lift stride, average balance. Showed bat strength for age, gap to gap contact in BP. 79 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm action is short, 70 mph out of the crouch. Pop times ranged 2.26-2.33. Ran an 8.53 in the 60. On the mound arm played from a high ¾ slot. Uptempo delivery, occasional cross fire. Fastball sat 75-77 mph, topped at 78 mph. Curveball has some depth, gradual action, 63-65 mph. Changeup played from a slightly lower slot at times, 67-72 mph. Flashed a knuckleball at 62-65 mph.

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.

Andy Cruthis, RHP, Greenville, 2017
6-foot-1, 200-pound right-handed pitcher. Delivery gets rushed to landing at times, some deception, controls body best when stays on line. Arm action is long and loose, works from a side arm slot. Fastball showed sink, topped at 77 mph, sitting 73-75 mph with ability to control the zone. Curveball has 10/4 shape, occasional sweep with frisbee type action, showed feel and flashed occasional above average action, 62-64 mph. Changeup sinks, 64-67 mph.

Dominic DiLello, OF/RHP, Sacred Heart-Griffin, 2018
6-foot, 175-pound, athletically built, well proportioned, two-way prospect. Offensively, right-handed hitter, aggressive swinger, consistent hard contact and flashed pull power; registered an 83 mph exit velocity. Open, balanced setup, late hand load, short stride gets back to square and fluid rhythm throughout. Defensively, short arm from an over-the-top slot, strong accurate arm, flashed carry and clocked at 85 mph. Plays through the baseball and flashed reliable hands in the outfield. Also, ran a 7.34 laser-timed 60. On the mound, right-handed pitcher, smooth rhythm, stays on-line and regular effort throughout. Clean arm from an over-the-top slot. Fastball, straight action, thrown for strikes, 75-76 mph, touched 77. Curveball, thrown near fastball arm speed, 12/6 shape, with depth and 61-63 mph. Also, threw a knuckle-curveball, similar action as curveball, slightly tighter, 12/6 action, 67-69 mph. Changeup, sinking action, down in the zone, sat at 70 mph.

Garrett Eggleston, OF/RHP, Williamsville, 2017
5-foot-8, 165-pound, two-way prospect. Ran a 7.27 laser-timed 60. Offensively, right-handed hitter, balanced, tall setup, short leg-lift timing trigger and a long, uphill path; registered an 82 mph exit velocity. Defensively, steady hands and a clean transfer in the outfield. Short arm action from a ¾ slot, accurate throws clocked at 77 mph. On the mound, right-handed pitcher, works on-line, lands slightly closed, with some rhythm throughout. High ¾ slot and regular effort. Fastball, straight action, sat 73-75 mph. Curveball worked 11/5, occasional depth, 58-60 mph. Slider, works more 10/4, good feel, and sat 62-64 mph.

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.

Clay Leach, OF/LHP, Glenwood, 2017
6-foot, 165-pound lanky two-way prospect. Defensively, quick exchange in the outfield. Arm works easy and short from a ¾ slot; clocked at 78 mph from the outfield. Offensively, open, balanced setup, short stride and average balance through contact. Registered a 76 mph exit velocity from a tee. Also, ran an 8.04 laser-timed 60. On the mound, left-handed pitcher, tall and fall, uptempo delivery with regular effort throughout. Short, loose arm from a high ¾ slot. Fastball sat 72-74 mph, touched 75. Slider, worked 10/4, sat 66-67 mph. Changeup, sink and fade action and sat 68-70 mph.

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.

Benjamin Nichols, LHP, New Berlin, 2018
6-foot-1, 195-pound left-handed pitcher. Delivery is methodical and mechanical, stays balanced throughout, squared finish. Arm action is long and firm, high ¾ slot. Fastball played with slight arm side run, 78-79 mph, touched 81 mph. Curveball has 1/7 shape, less than fastball arm speed, gradual action, ranged 62-68 mph. Changeup was best secondary pitch, thrown with comparable arm speed, showed fading action to arm side with feel for the zone, 68-72 mph, flashed advanced action.

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.

Cody Womack, OF, Williamsville, 2017
5-foot-10, 150-pound two-way prospect with lean strength. Ran a 7.20 laser-timed 60. Offensively, right-handed hitter, natural lift in swing and made consistent hard contact. Balanced, open setup, short stride and a long, uphill bat path; 80 mph exit velocity from a tee. Defensively, plays through the baseball with steady hands in the outfield. Short arm action from a ¾ slot, throws flashed carry at 80 mph. On the mound, right-handed pitcher, arm works long, out of a high ¾ window and flashed quickness. Delivery works with some rhythm, stays on-line, lands closed with some effort throughout. Fastball, arm-side-run at times, sat 79 mph, touching as high as 80. Slider has sharper action than curveball; works 10/4 and sat 69-72 mph. Curveball 11/5 action, some depth and ranged between 64-67 mph.

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