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Northwest Suburban Open: Takeaways

July 20, 2023
Illinois Staff

On Tuesday, July 11th the PBR Illinois team hosted the Northwest Suburban Open at Wintrust Field in Carol Stream, IL. This open event was for all high school classes (2024-27), and gave our staff a chance to get a look at 60+ uncommitted prospects before the summer gets into full swing.

To see a list of those that attended, click here. For all of the statistics from this event, click here. 

Today, after compiling our notes and digesting the day as a whole, we’ve put together these ‘Takeaways’ to shine some light on some of the day’s top performers. Below you’ll learn more about a few names-to-know from Last weeks trip to Wintrust Field.

TAKEAWAYS

Arguably the day’s biggest winner, RHP Peter Thompson (Loyola Academy, 2025) only solidified the positive reports that we had heard from him throughout the summer in this ‘pen. The 6-foot-4, 170-pound Thompson pumped his fastball at 85-87 mph from a long arm draw, bumping it up to 2400+ RPM at peak. He spun a downer CB with clear vertical break at 67-70 mph, averaging nearly 2600+ RPM. Thompson rounded out his arsenal with a 76-78 mph changeup that he created some arm-side run on at times in this look. Given his physical stature and easy, fluid movement patterns down the mound, Thompson is certainly an arm to follow in the state’s 2025 group. He will represent Team Illinois at the PBR Future Games next week. 

OF Alexander Clark (New Trier, 2024) was one of the top performers from this event. A left-handed hitter, Clark showed quick, loose hands and he peppered balls gap-to-gap throughout his round of BP. He worked on the barrel throughout and posted one of the highest exit velocities (92.2 mph) of the day. Aside from his efforts at the plate, Clark roamed around the outfield with comfort as well. Still on the market, Clark came away from this event as a follow uncommitted left-handed bat in the state’s 2024 class. 

At 6-foot-1, 170-pounds LHP/OF Zach Ziroli (Downers Grove North, 2025) was a two-way winner from this event. Offensively, Ziroli flashed bat strength at the plate from an uphill right-handed swing that worked gap-to-gap as a result. He played with bounce and an intentful first step from the outfield, flowing freely throughout his defense workout. Ziroli showed a loose arm that peaked at 84 mph on his best bullet and hopped on the mound later on, pitching in the low-80s with his fastball while mixing in a mid-60s curveball, too. 

UTL Maddux Clarence (DeKalb, 2024) did a little bit of everything at this event, showcasing versatility and an aptitude to impact the game in a few ways. Clarence stood out defensively, in particular, with fluid hands both on the dirt and behind the dish. He recorded the event’s fastest pop time (1.96) and topped at 75 mph from the chute, too. Clarence’s twitch translated to the dish, where he showed quick hands and an ability to work on the barrel regularly. His arm continued to play on the mound with a controlled delivery, high leg lift, and a fastball that sat 80-83 mph with quality spin. His breaking ball was efficient and sat in the mid to upper-60s with an average spin of 2255 rpm. Clarence rounded out his arsenal with a change-up that had an average horizontal movement of 14.8 in.

Making his PBR event debut, RHP Braden Grimm (Evanston, 2024) impressed our staff with his performance on the mound. At 6-foot-1, 165-pounds, Grimm has clean and athletic actions down the mound paired with arm traits that match. He threw the hardest fastball at the event (87.7 mph) with his fastball range sitting 84-87 mph. He showed an aptitude to spin both a slider and a curveball in the ‘pen with noticeable differences in the two. The curveball showed 11/5 shape with bite at times, spinning it at an average of 2575 rpm. Grimm’s slider showed 10/4 shape, and he spun it at an average of 2569 rpm (event best). He rounded out his four-pitch mix with a mid-70s change-up that had an average of 17 in. of horizontal movement. Grimm is a name-to-know heading into his senior year at Evanston.

INF Cooper Hanson (Conant, 2024) started off his day on a high note, running an event-best 6.90 60 on the grass track and with our Swift lasers. Offensively, Hanson worked uphill through the zone with a quick hand path that stayed on the barrel throughout his round. His hardest hit ball (94.3 mph) and furthest traveled barrel (342 feet) were amongst the day’s highest marks, too. Hanson showed smooth and fluid infield actions paired with an accurate arm across the diamond on defense. Standing in an athletic and strong 6-foot, 180-pounds, Hanson is an upside prospect to follow.

OF Alex Babich (Maine South, 2025) was another junior-to-be that showed well at Wintrust. Babich is a strong 6-foot, 180-pound left-handed hitter that works slightly uphill through the zone and flashed feel for the barrel throughout his round. 

OF/INF George Holland (Oak Park-River Forest, 2025) had some of the loudest contact at the event where he produced the highest exit velocity (100.3 mph) and had an average exit velocity of 90.2 mph. Holland also led all hitters with max and average hand speed at 25.3 mph and 24.1 mph, respectively. The 6-foot-1, 205-pound prospect is a name to know in Illinois' incoming junior class.

C/1B Carson Stevens (Neuqua Valley, 2025) had one of the loudest rounds of BP at the event on Tuesday, recording the second highest max exit velocity at the event (98.2 mph). Stevens had the highest average exit velocity (92 mph) at the event as well as the farthest batted ball (363 ft.), which he blasted over the left field wall. He stands at 6-foot-2, 210-pounds with clear strength throughout his highly physical frame. Defensively, Stevens popped a 2.09 on his best bullet to the bag. 

MIF Gavin Awbrey (Orion, 2025) and OF Jordan Ortega (Chicago Hope, 2025) are two incoming juniors that showed some upside potential. Awbrey is a projectable 6-foot-1,175-pound prospect with room to grow. When on time and in rhythm, Awbrey was on the barrel with his quick and direct swing. Ortega, sent his farthest ball 309 ft., consistently recorded mid-80s exit velocities, and flashed feel for the barrel. 

OF Max Wille (Normal University, 2025) is a 6-foot-1, 180-pound, left-handed hitter who recently showed well at the Super 16 held at Creekside. He also took one of the day’s most consistent BP rounds. His feel for the barrel was evident (85%) while sending line drives to the middle-in part of the field.Wille produced a max exit velocity of 91.5 mph (84.5 mph avg) and sent his farthest ball 318 ft. He was also up to 84 mph from the outfield where he consistently attacked the baseball.

INF/OF Aidan Calvey (Minooka, 2024) had some of the highest average hand (23.8 mph) and bat speeds (70.8 mph) of the day, helping him produce a max exit velocity of 92.2 mph from the right side of the plate. Calvey consistently was on the barrel (75%) and produced a max batted distance of 332 ft. He moved well on defense in both the infield and outfield. The strong, 6-foot, 185-pound prospect is a name-to-follow heading into his senior year.

RHP/OF Braden Mann (Warren, 2024) is an uncommitted soon-to-be senior to follow. At 6-foot-1, 165-pounds, Mann ran a 7.06 60, was up to 85 mph from the outfield, and sent his furthest ball 325 feet while leaving his barrel at 91.5 mph. Mann also pitched in the low-80s on the mound and featured a 67-69 mph changeup, too. 

RHP/INF Nathan Moline (St. Charles East, 2026) was yet another attendee making his PBR showcase debut who showed well. He has a simple and repeatable operation, and he pairs it with an athletic and clean arm. His fastball sat in the upper-70s while landing his slider for strikes 60% of the time, spinning it at a max of 2323 rpm. His change-up showed quality average horizontal movement (18.1”), mostly sitting in the upper-60s.

RHP/1B Matthew Steinberg (2025) is yet another St. Charles East product to note from the day.The 6-foot-4, 180-pound right-hander sat 81-85 mph, topping out at 85.3 mph with 15.2 in. of induced vertical break. Steinberg’s slider played at 73-74 mph with more lateral action, horizontal action. His curveball, a low-60s offering, had more lateral action than the slider at an average of 14.8 in. of horizontal movement. His change-up sat in the low-70s, and he produced a max horizontal movement of 25.8 in (an event high) with the pitch.

LHP/1B Grant Statler (Hononegah, 2027) made his PBR event debut on Tuesday and was one of the top ‘27s in attendance. On the mound, it’s an easy operation with minimal effort paired with a clean arm. His fastball sat in the mid-70s and topped at 78.3 mph on his last pitch. His fastball averaged 14.5 in. of horizontal movement while his offspeed is still developing at his young age. Certainly one to watch in the coming years.  

CLICK HERE for a complete look at the event page.

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