Prep Baseball Report

Top-10 Stories of 2022: No. 10 Team Illinois Goes Undefeated at PBR Future Games


By Drew Locascio
Illinois Scouting Director

Coming in at No. 10 on the Top-10 Stories Countdown from the 2022 calendar season is the impressive performance by Team Illinois at this summers PBR Future Games. The premier amateur scouting event of the summer featured the top 2024 and 2025 uncommitted prospects from across the country and draws over 250 college and pro scouts every year. The event takes place over a course of four-days with the first day consisting of a Pro-style workout and athletic testing for position players, followed by single games the following three days. 

Illinois was represented by 20 of the state's top prospects and went on to finish gameplay with a perfect 3-0 record; knocking off Pennsylvania 8-7 in game one, Team Midwest 10-1 in game two and New Jersey 4-2 in game three. Their toughest challenge arguably came in game one when they came from behind against Team Pennsylvania, ultimately holding on for a one-run win. In total, 10 of the 20 Illinois prospects have committed to Division I schools so far, with many more to come.

The star of Game 1, when it comes to position players, was left/left outfielder, Brendan Tunink (Newman Central Catholic, 2024), who was awarded the “Big League Chew” Player of the Game. Tunink led off the sixth inning with a deep solo home run to right-center field. Tunink finished 2-for-3 on the day and came away from the event as one of the biggest risers. Tunink, a recent Notre Dame commit, who was unranked before the Future Games now sits at No. 10 in the Illinois’ 2024 class and No. 351 Nationally. Here is what the Vice President of Scouting Shooter Hunt had to say about Tunink’s performance at the Future Game:

What began as a “sleeper pick” after the workout day, quickly turned into a must-see upside prospect by the end of the event, as Tunink was at peak form throughout his residency at Lakepoint. Hitterish in the fullest sense of the word, the 5-foot-11, 165-pound outfielder went 5-for-9 on the week with a home run, and showed off some of the highest upside of any player at the plate. The left-handed hitter carries a quiet confidence to the plate, and utilizes a short stride to rock the hands back before working uphill through the zone, staying behind the ball with some intent to lift. There is some heaviness to the barrel, and while the frame is still developing, the ball comes off the barrel at an impressive clip with plate coverage coming naturally. Relaxed throughout a smooth approach, there is likely much more power on the way, and the 6.87-runner was likely a name that many colleges walked away with.

Game two was the most impressive all-around performance Team Illinois put together on the week, knocking off Team Midwest by a convincing score of 10-1 over eight innings. The offense pounded out eight hits in the first two innings to jump out to an early 6-1 lead. OF Khamaree Thomas (Kenwood, 2024; Michigan State commit) lined an RBI double into left-center field for the first run of the game and came around to score on a OF Brendan Tunink (Newman Central Catholic) line-drive single to left field.

Despite a number of position players standing out over the course of the game, is was INF Kenny Perez (De La Salle; Cincinnati) who ultimately earned the second “Big League Chew'' Player of the Game for Team Illinois. Like Tunink, Perez was a big riser coming out of the event, finishing the game 2-for-3 with a double, RBI and runs scored along with playing stellar defense all over the infield. Perez is currently ranked No. 9 in Illinois and No. 350 nationally.

Another 2024 position player who stood out over the course of the event, ultimately winning the “Big League Chew'' Player of the Game for Team Illinois in their game three win was catcher Jimmy Janicki (Downers Grove North). Janicki was on the barrel throughout the week and finished 2-for-3 with a triple in the finale of the event. Janicki is a polished receiver with ease to his game behind the plate and he creates easy thump off the barrel in his right-handed swing. Janicki committed to Troy this fall and rose up the rankings, now sitting at No. 16 in the class and No. 466 Nationally.

OTHER STANDOUTS FROM TEAM ILLINOIS

Jack Bauer LHP / Lincoln-Way East, IL / 2025

Virginia commit. Bauer, the lone 2025 arm on Team Illinois, turned in two highly-impressive innings in his two stints at the event and showed one of the higher ceilings of any arm of the event, regardless of class. 

Here is what VP of Scouting Shooter Hunt had to say about the No. 1 2025 in Illinois and No. 37 Nationally:

Silky smooth throughout a clean delivery, it was easy to dream on the upside from Bauer with what he presented at the Future Games. Square-shouldered at 6-foot-3, 175-pounds, the big left-hander was up to 90.4 mph with a strong likelihood of adding even more in the near future. Garnering some whiffs on the fastball with upwards of 2440 rpm, he also flashed feel for a slower, 71-74 changeup which he killed spin on (1559 rpm avg.) for strikes. The breaking ball showed a more gradual, curveball shape at a slower mid 60s clip, but given the arm strength and athleticism, there is a chance that it morphs into a firmer slider, or perhaps cutter, down the road. Overall, Bauer emerged as an arm that will be followed very closely by college coaches moving forward, and for good reason.

Ethan Eberle LHP / Normal Community, IL / 2024

Eberle, still uncommitted, was a standout at the event and yet another arm that caught Shooter Hunt's attention:

Easily one of my favorite arms with upside as an outlier with a loose left arm, Eberle shined in his final appearance that closed out Team Illinois’ stay at the Future Games. At 6-foot-5, 210-pounds, there is present strength and durability, but still much more room for physical development. The southpaw was up to 86.4 mph with much more in the tank with a short arm stroke that allowed the ball to come out of the ear and play up at the plate. Perhaps most exciting about the potential was a sweeping breaking ball at 71-72 that looked the part of a future weapon. It was an excellent final look at the big left-hander, and as he continues to find more consistency, there is a chance that he makes significant advancements as a must-follow moving forward.

Nate Harris SS / RHP / Yorkville, IL / 2024

Harris was one of the few two-way prospects for Team Illinois at the event. Despite showing big tools and turning in an impressive Game three with the bat, his game two, two-inning stint on the mound opened up a number of eyes.

Game 2 Recap:
Arguably the biggest winner of the day on the mound was Harris, who came in and flashed some of the best velocity for Team Illinois, so far on the week. Harris, who is built at a physical 6-foot-4, 205-pounds, was running his FB into the low-90’s while flashing an above-average CB at 72 mph and a SL at 77 mph. That arsenal led to three strikeouts, along with two innings of hitless baseball for Harris.

Enzo Infelise C / 3B / Providence Catholic, IL / 2025

Enzo was one of two 2025 position players chosen to represent Team Illinois at the event. Infelise spent time behind the plate and manning first base but it was his right-handed bat that stood out throughout the week. Despite being one of the youngest players in attendance and facing high-level throughout, Infelise was unfazed in the box and took a number of quality swings and at-bats throughout the course of the three games. 

The uncommitted sophomore has established himself as one of the top right-handed bats in the state and should be following closely moving forward. 

Here is what Shooter Hunt had to say about Infelise:

In looking for a northern hitter to follow, Infelise might be a good one to start with. The 6-foot-2, 190-pounder was an intriguing underclassmen at the PBR Future Games in July where he showcased a powerful right-handed stroke that worked short-to-long through the zone in driving the ball from gap-to-gap. Behind the dish, his strong arm (79 mph) produces accurate throws with carry, and his defensive ability should continue to trend up with further game repetitions. However, it is the bat, and more specifically the whippy barrel that he turns with some authority, that is likely to garner interest from schools in the future.

Wyatt Mammen RHP / Lincoln, IL / 2024

Mammen is another Team Illinois prospect that remains on the market and should garner plenty of attention moving forward. Mammen rose up the rankings, now sitting in the Top-20 in the state thanks to his impressive two-innings at the Future Games. At the Future Games Mammen threw a high-volume of strikes, firing a 90.8 mph bullet on his hardest pitch, sitting at 87-90 mph from a 6-foot-3, 205-pound frame. Rounding out his arsenal with a curveball and changeup, Mammen’s upside on the mound given his size and ability to generate velocity without much effort has him slotted amongst the top prospects in this class.

 

 


+ Team Illinois Statistical Analysis
+ Game 1 Recap
+ Game 2 Recap
+ Game 3 Recap

TEAM ILLINOIS ROSTER

NAME STATE SCHOOL CLASS POS COMMITMENT
Nick Baffa IL Notre Dame College Prep 2024 RHP  
Jack Bauer IL Lincoln-Way East 2025 LHP Virginia
Samuel Chapman IL Woodstock 2024 OF  
David Cox IL Nazareth 2024 SS Northwestern
Ethan Eberle IL Normal Community 2024 LHP  
Tom Ford IL Lisle 2024 RHP  
Nate Harris IL Yorkville 2024 SS Northwestern
Jaxon Hyde-Hererra OK Putnam City West 2024 C  
Enzo Infelise IL Providence Catholic 2025 C  
Jimmy Janicki IL Downers Grove North 2024 C Troy
Bryce Koch IL Barrington 2024 RHP  
Wyatt Mammen IL Lincoln 2024 RHP  
Alec Marchetto IL Edwardsville 2024 RHP  
Dayton Murphy IL Crystal Lake South 2024 SS Michigan State
Jackson Natanek IL Brother Rice 2025 SS  
Malachi Paplanus IL Huntley 2024 RHP Wright State
Kenny Perez IL De LaSalle 2024 SS Cincinnati
Khamaree Thomas IL Kenwood 2024 OF Michigan State
Brendan Tunink IL Newman Central Catholic 2024 OF Notre Dame
Jonah Weathers IL Marian Catholic 2024 3B  
Luke Weber IL Highland Park 2024 RHP Illinois
 

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