Prep Baseball Report

Lockport Preseason ID: Preview


By: Peter Hamot
Area Scout, Staff Writer

On Monday, February 20th, the PBR Illinois staff will head to Bo Jackson’s Elite Sports Dome in Lockport, IL., to host the annual Lockport Preseason ID. This event is perennially one of the largest on our winter calendar and is open to all current high school grad classes, providing us an ample opportunity to check-in on some of the area’s top talents prior to the IHSA season commencing.

For additional information on the Lockport Preseason ID, and our Preseason ID series as a whole, click HERE. To see which players will be participating in Monday’s event, click HERE.

Event History 

This is the seventh time we’ll be running this event and it’s consistently provided us with quality talent from this particular area of the state. This event last year was host to a plethora of talent, perhaps most notably INF Jake Zitella (St. Charles East, 2023; Illinois commit). There are few players in the state that rival the pure bat-strength of Zitella, and he put that on full display throughout his round of BP; blasting baseballs at an average of 94 mph and reaching up to 104 mph with a max distance of 365'. 

(Jake Zitella - 2.21.22) 

Another player that stood out from last year's event was OF Tommy Atkinson (St. Rita, 2023). The Heartland commit has been a key piece in St. Rita's lineup since his sophomore year, and he showed an impressive and well-rounded set of tools throughout his showing. 

(Tommy Atkinson - 2.21.22) 

Two players that used this event as a launching pad for invite-only events were INF James Love (Joliet West, 2024) and RHP Jake Perrino (Benet, 2023).

Love popped up on our radar at this event last year as a high-level infielder and had us keeping close tabs on him throughout the spring and into the summer, eventually earning an invite to the Illinois State Games - committing to Eastern Illinois not long after. 

Perrino, a talented right-hander and Bradley commit, emerged as a definite high-follow after his impressive 'pen last year - earning an invite to the Illinois State Games and raising his stock even more as he now finds himself slotted at No. 77 in the state. 

A high-level underclassman that was in attendance last year was C/INF Enzo Infelise (Providence Catholic, 2025). Infelise has been on our radar for some years now, and his performance at last year's event only futher cemented his status as one of the top 2025's in the state, going on to earn an invite to the Future Games and the Illinois State Games at the end of the summer. 

(Enzo Infelise - 2.21.22) 

Roster Preview 

This year’s group, like their predecessors, is already shaping up rather nicely.

A 2025 we are excited to see again is RHP/INF Cody Freitas (Bradley-Bourbonnais). Currently ranked No. 9 in the state, Freitas can work his fastball into the upper 80s to pair with an effective curveball/changeup combination. At the plate, Freitas boasts quick hands with an average hand-speed of 22.1 mph (T25.3 mph) and an average rotational acceleration of 19.6 (T23.6). His strong arm easily translates to the infield, reaching up to 87 mph across the diamond. 

(Cody Freitas - 6.8.22) 

Another high-level 2025 set to attend Monday's event is INF Brady Green (Oak Park-River Forest). Currently slotted No. 29 in the state, Green boasts an athletic right-handed swing that stays on-plane and can reach up to 92 mph for his max exit velocity. He's a quality defender up the middle, ranging easily to both sides of his glove with soft hands and fluid footwork, reaching up to 82 mph across the diamond. 

(Brady Green - 8.9.22) 

A recent Eastern Illinois commit and Illinois State Games standout, OF/RHP Nate George (Minooka, 2024), will be in attendance on Monday. George, listed at an athletic 6-foot, 190-pounds, possesses some serious intrigue on both sides of the ball. As a position player, he has above-average speed (6.64 60-time), a max exit velocity of 97 mph and can reach up to 89 mph from the outfield. Moving over to the mound, the right-hander can bump his fastball up to 87 mph with a three-pitch mix to pair. 

(Nate George - 8.9.22) 

RHP Daniel Cercello (Neuqua Valley, 2024) will toe the rubber on Monday and bring his 6-foot-7, 180-pound frame and big arm with him. Currently slotted No. 49 in the state, we've seen Cercello up to 88 mph with ease in the operation, showing more in the tank as he continues to develop. 

(Daniel Cercello - 2.26.22) 

An underclassman to be on the lookout for is LHP/OF Isaac Harris (Joliet Catholic, 2026). A member of Team Illinois at the Junior Future Games this past summer, Harris is extremely projectable with a lean 5-foot-11, 150-pound frame. He can work his fastball up to 80 mph with feel for three pitches. He shows some intrigue as a position player as well, boasting a L/L profile with an exit velocity up to 90 mph and above-average BLAST metrics - also reaching up to 83 mph from the outfield. 

(Isaac Harris - 7.26.22) 

Check-in Progress

Because of the high number of prospects set to attend Saturday's event, it is imperative that you read our adjusted showcase itinerary below, which will allow our staff to swiftly and efficiently educate and evaluate the players set to attend.

Additionally, in an effort to continue and develop contactless check-in strategies, upon arrival, players will scan a QR Code with their smartphone camera that will lead them to a Google Form. On that Form, players will enter their name (matching the spelling on their PBR profile) and hit submit. Upon submission, players will be prompted to click a link that will direct them to their jersey color and number, located next to their registered name.

Itinerary 

Monday, February 20, 2023

+ Check-in Times:

  • All Players: 8:30 am

  • Catchers will stay for both sessions (catchers should be prepared to be at the event until 3-4pm)

*Times subject to change

More Event Details

Click here to learn more about our tech partners that have enhanced our players showcase experience. Partners like TrackMan, Blast Motion, and Vizual Edge have helped both our in-event evaluation process, as well the compilation of our post-event scouting reports – and they're also a tool for our players to learn more about their measured and collected data, that can be applied to improve upon their game.

Wear baseball clothes; assigned and numbered PBR jerseys will be provided.

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