Illinoisans at the 2019 Super 60

February 1, 2019
By Andy Sroka
Staff Writer

All throughout this month, PBR National Supervisor Nathan Rode has been spotlighting each and every one of the participating prospects set to take part in this year's illustrious Super 60 showcase at The MAX facility in McCook, Ill., on Sunday, Feb. 2.

The 17th annual Super 60 will feature seven Illinois-bred prospects from all around the state. All seven are representing the class of 2019 and are among the top talents within the Midwest – if not, the country.

Jason Hodges OF / 1B / Marist, IL / 2019

Rankings StateRank: 3 / POS: 1 OverallRank: 75 / POS: 13

The highest ranked prospect in the group is OF/1B Jason Hodges, from Marist. A booming 2018 labeled him as one of this entire class' top power threats. He's the No. 75-ranked prospect on PBR's overall 2019 rankings and will certainly elicit audible gasps from the evaluators surrounding the batter's box on Sunday. His explosive pop will be provide his audience one of its most exciting moments of the event, surely.

Kendal Ewell OF / Marist, IL / 2019

Rankings StateRank: 6 / POS: 2 OverallRank: 264 / POS: 49

Hodges' high school teammate Kendal Ewell has been leaping up the Illinois rankings for the last year and it has culminated in a career-best No. 6 ranking in the Illinois senior class. He's begun to actualize the tremendous raw talent that he's had throughout his high school tenure and it's granted him some of the best long-term upside within this group.

Matt McCormick C / St. Laurence, IL / 2019

Rankings StateRank: 4 / POS: 1 OverallRank: 116 / POS: 12

The reigning PBR Illinois High School Player of the Year has some of the best hand-eye coordination in this class and it's allowed him to become one of the most natural hitters around. His experience as a catcher has allowed him to grasp an innate feel for the strike zone from the left-handed batter's box and is capable of barreling balls anywhere between the foul poles.

Zachary Lee RHP / OF / Effingham, IL / 2019

Rankings StateRank: 5 / POS: 2 OverallRank: 119 / POS: 41

Illinois' top arm in attendance is set to be Effingham's Zach Lee. The righty has a quick arm and lives down in the strike zone and has been up to 91 mph in front of our staff in the past, most notably at the 2017 Future Games. The Kentucky commit was at the Area Codes this past summer where he sat in the 90-93 mph range, showing off that trademark arm-side run, and also mixed in a heavy changeup. We didn't get many first-hand looks at Lee in 2018, so it'll be exciting to see which aspects of his game he's developed over the offseason.

Grant Leader RHP / Lyons Township, IL / 2019

Rankings StateRank: 10 / POS: 3 OverallRank: 363 / POS: 128

The extremely competitive Grant Leader from Lyons Township is the No. 10-ranked prospect in Illinois and has been one of the most consistent performers in the state for the last four years. He has an advanced four-pitch mix and is able to sit in the low 90s with his fastball. Leader, an Illinois commit, gets the most out of his 5-foot-9 frame and his on-mound IQ helps play up the feel he already has over his four-pitch arsenal.

Dylan Post C / Lincoln-Way Central, IL / 2019

Rankings StateRank: 11 / POS: 2 OverallRank: 365 / POS: 42

The Houston-bound backstop from Lincoln-Way Central, Dylan Post, put together an exceptional 2018 that saw his in-state stock rise all the way to No. 11 in the Illinois senior rankings. His improvement both as a blocker and a receiver has helped him up the 2019 board. Post has always been one of the top hitters in this class, too, and another strong spring could help his stock climb even higher.

Jalen Greer SS / 2B / St. Rita, IL / 2019

Rankings StateRank: 31 / POS: 7

Middle infielder Jalen Greer, a Mizzou commit, has comfortably carried with him next-level projection over the last three-plus years. His collection of tools has resulted in a smooth all-around profile with easy actions across the diamond and in the right-handed batter's box. Greer consistently shows well, especially statistically, in the showcase environment, so we're looking forward to seeing how he performs on Sunday.

Follow along on Twitter this Sunday at both @PBRIllinois and at @PrepBaseball for both live and on-the-spot updates on how this crop of Illinois talent is doing at the Super 60.