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Top Tier HQ: Takeaways

September 1, 2023
By: Illinois Staff

On Tuesday, June 6th, the PBR Illinois staff traveled to Triton College to host the Top Tier Scout Day, where 150+ players from the Top Tier program participated in a pro-style workout in front of our staff.

To see a full list of players that attended, click HERE. For all the statistics collected at this event, click HERE.

Today we’ll dive deeper into a few of the players who popped to our scouts on the day of this event. We broke down the event into individual takeaway stories from each Top Tier affiliate. Below you’ll learn more about a handful of names to know from the Top Tier HQ team. 

TOP TIER HQ

SS/RHP Ethan Bass (Glenbrook North, 2026) solidified himself as one of the top prospects in the Midwest throughout the summer and this event was no different. The Illinois commit is a versatile athlete that can play the infield, outfield and also jump on the mound and show well above-average stuff. Listed at 6-foot-1, 165-pounds with more lean strength to come down the road, Bass ran a 6.97 60, was 88 mph across the infield, T97 exit velocity, 361’ max distance and topped at 88 mph on the mound as well. The right-handed hitter has a knack for hard, lifted contact working with an uphill swing and averaged 91.9 mph off the bat, well above-average for his age. Defensively, he is a natural athlete that moves with all kinds of pace and bounce to his step. Even with his impressive showcase performance, Bass tends to elevate and show even better in a game setting where his baseball IQ, athleticism, pitch recognition and multiple other attributes shine. On the mound, Bass showed off a long and loose arm that played well, topping his fastball at 87.9 mph, and sitting 85-87 mph. He mixed in two separate breaking balls. His curveball showed 11/5 shape, with tighter action, and his slider showed 10/4 shape, and was thrown from a slightly lower slot. Bass is a big name to follow in the coming years in Illinois’ 2026 class.

RHP Aidan Hayse (Joliet Catholic, 2024) did well for himself across a couple of National events this summer and was also one of the top arms of the Top Tier Scout Day. The 6-foot-3, 175-pound, athletically-built right-hander continued to move well down the mound and showed a low-effort, clean arm out of a ¾ slot with noticeable acceleration out front. His fastball sat 89-91 mph, topping at 91.2 mph (tied for the event high) with life through the zone. He mixed in a slider with sharp 10/4 shape that sat 76-80 mph, T2536 rpm. Rounding out his three-pitch mix, Hayse threw a change-up that showed heavy fade to the armside (19.8” HM avg), sitting 82-84 mph. Top-10 prospect in the Illinois’ 2024 class.

RHP Luke Weber (Highland Park, 2024) was a member of Team Illinois at the PBR Future Games last summer and impressed yet again in our look in early June. The Illinois commit is an athletic 6-foot-1, 180-pound quick operator with a quality pace during his bullpen, showing a repeatable and athletic delivery. Weber moves fluidly and clean down the mound, working over his front leg. Working with a three-pitch mix, Weber’s fastball sat 89-91 mph, topping out at 91.2 mph (tied for the event high) from a low release height; also averaged 15.4” of horizontal movement, T19.1”. His change-up his arguably his best secondary and showed heavy fade to the armside (20.1” HM avg). Rounding out his arsenal, Weber threw a firm slider that sat 76-78 mph with 12.6” of horizontal movement and 2141 average rpm.

One of the top two-way prospects in the class is Kansas State commit 1B/LHP Conor Essenburg (Lincoln-Way West, 2025). The right-handed hitter provided one of the more powerful rounds of batting practice at the event producing a max exit velocity of 98.6 mph, an average exit velocity of 90.6 mph, and a max batted distance of 363 feet. On the infield, Essenburg is an advanced first baseman with soft hands, athletic actions and a strong arm that plays clean and topped at 84 mph. He later hopped on the mound and sat 84-86 mph, topping out at 86.8 mph with natural armside run (17.1” HM avg). Essenburg mixed in a short breaking slider with 1/7 shape in the low-70s (2085 average rpm). He also showed off an advanced changeup that led the event with the most horizontal movement (21.4” avg). 

LHP/1B Tomas Valincius (Baylor, 2024), is yet another high-level two-way prospect to note. Valincius is originally from Illinois and now attends Baylor Academy (TN). The Virginia commit has a 6-foot-2, 210-pound, strong, physical frame and is one of the top prospects in the Tennessee 2024 class. On the mound, Valincius has a smooth delivery, clean, quick arm and works with ease and polish. His fastball played comfortably at 90-91 mph topping out at 91.2 mph (tied for the event high) with arm-side life out of the hand. He spun two different breaking balls which played anywhere from 78-81 mph with similar shapes and tight spins. He spun his curveball at T2706 rpm (2660 avg) with 13” of horizontal movement on average, and his slider at T2684 rpm (2588 avg). His change-up played at the bottom of the zone with armside run and some downer action at 81-82 mph (18.8” HM avg). Valincius also showed easy power from the left-side of the plate during BP. He produced a max exit velocity of 97.3 mph and an average exit velocity of 93.1 mph. He also was towards the top in a number of Blast categories as well. 

RHP Bryce Koch (Barrington, 2024) was another member from Team Illinois at the PBR Future Games last summer who remains uncommitted and continues to show one of the higher ceilings in the class. Currently ranked No. 53 in Illinois’ 2024 class, the 6-foot-4, 190-pound, long-limbed, athletic, right-hander works primarily out of the stretch and is an easy mover down the mound with a drop and drive delivery that works slightly across his body. The arm works clean with acceleration out front, from a ¾ slot. Fastball worked in the zone 67% of the time and sat in the mid-80s, T87.3 mph (average 2429 rpm). Slider played out of a similar window as his fastball, flashing sweeping action at 76-77 mph. Koch rounded out his three-pitch mix with a changeup that he kills spin on at 82 mph with some run and sink action.

RHP Jackson Clark (Hinsdale Central, 2025) is an upside arm to note from the event. At 6-foot-6, 180-pounds, Clark moves well with a controlled tempo, while accelerating through release. His arm plays loose and he worked a three-pitch mix with his fastball topping out at 84.2 mph with slight cutting action to it. He showed a short-breaking curveball that had downer action at 72-73 mph and a fading changeup that had the ability to land for strikes. 

3B/OF TJ McQuillan (Mount Carmel, 2026) is an alumni of the PBR Junior Future Games and one of the top bats in the 2026 class. Heading into the event, the Louisville commit was coming off an impressive freshman spring where he slashed .327/.425/.551 with five home runs, nine XBHs, and 28 RBI. At the plate he continues to show big bat speed and power with the quickest bat speed at the event on average (78.7 mph). He also consistently barreled the baseball to the pull-side with power, recording a max exit velocity of 98.4 mph, an average exit velocity of 94.2 mph, and a max distance of 377 feet. He also ran a 7.13 60 time, above-average for his age and frame. McQuillan continues to solidify himself as a name to know in the Midwest. 

OF Jalen House (Downers Grove South, 2024) is a left/left 5-foot-11, 175-pound prospect that just committed to Northern Illinois and showed his high-level of athleticism running the top 60-time (6.37; event record) at the recent Illinois State Games. House ran a clean 6.80 at this event and showed a loose and easy swing and stayed on the barrel for much of the round; recorded a max exit velocity of 93.8 mph and a max distance of 309 feet. Defensively, he plays light and easy on his feet with body control on the move, clean release and topped at 85 mph. 

INF/RHP Eddie Olszta (Providence Catholic, 2025) helped his stock coming out of the event after running a 6.76 60, taking a repeatable, athletic round of BP and showing actions that can stick on the infield moving forward. The 5-foot-9, 170-pound right-handed hitter has a loose, handsy swing that lived on the barrel throughout BP, highlighted by his average exit velocity (88.9 mph) being just 1.2 mph off his max exit velocity (T90.1 mph). Defensively he showed fluid, athletic actions, showing range to both sides with a strong and quick arm (86 mph). On the mound he showed a three-pitch mix with a fastball that sat 81-82 mph, feel to spin a upper-60s curveball with depth and 2433 average rpm. His changeup played in the mid-70s with 11.7 inches of horizontal movement on average.

INF Kenny Perez (De La Salle, 2024), a former PBR Future Gamer, recently decommitted from Cincinnati and is back on the market. Currently the top ranked uncommitted prospect in the 2024 class, Perez does everything on the diamond with fluidity and has the ability to play anywhere on the infield at a high level. His arm topped at 88 mph across the infield to go along with advanced actions and the 5-foot-10, 180-pound, right-handed hitter swings with all kinds of rhythm, athleticism. Perez recorded a T95.9 mph exit velocity, average of 89.7 mph, and his furthest batted ball traveled 374 feet. Also, ran a 7.06 60. Should garner plenty of attention after coming back open.

UTIL/RHP CJ Deckinga (Minooka, 2025) was arguably the biggest riser out of any 2025 in Illinois this summer. He started his summer in front of us at this event and ultimately earned an invitation to the PBR Future Games where he shined over the four-day event and has garnered plenty of attention from colleges since. The 6-foot-3, 180-pound, long-limbed, athletically-built right-handed hitter with plenty more strength to come down the road has a loose, athletic swing and versatility to his overall game. At this event he ran a 7.08 60-yard dash and showed upside bat speed (70.5 mph average) and hand speed (22.5 mph) while registering a peak exit velocity of 92.3 mph, 87.1 mph average. Defensively, he can play a corner infield spot or slot into a corner outfield spot easily but at this event he worked out on the infield. On the infield he plays with natural actions, clean footwork and sure hands all while showing off an 86 mph arm that played relatively easy. He also jumped on the mound and ran his fastball up to 85.9 mph with a slider at 74-75 mph and a 79-80 mph changeup with an average of 15.6 inches of horizontal movement.

C/RHP James Spellman (Notre Dame College, 2025) is another two-way 2025 who intrigued out of the event. The 6-foot-3, 190-pound, upside, broad-shouldered, left-handed hitter started his workout by clocking a 7.03 60 yd dash while also posting one of the highest max exit velocities of the day, T97.4 mph. Offensively, he has strong levers, looks to elevate the baseball, and when synced up and on time the ball jumps off the barrel. Behind the plate he registered one of the top pop times of the day at 2.06. Spellman works from an over-the-top slot on the mound and ran his fastball up to 86.9 mph, while throwing it for strikes 100% of the time.

OF Mason Atkins (West Aurora, 2026) has a 6-foot-2, 175-pound, athletic, upside frame and ran a clean 7.25 60 that is bound to improve down the road. He swings a controlled, intentful right-handed bat that stays on-plane and was on the barrel while staying up the middle of the field. In the outfield, he works aggressively to the baseball and breaks down through release with controlled natural actions and sure hands. His arm topped at 77 mph. 2026 prospect with upside to all parts of his game. 

Former Junior Future Gamer, OF Joseph Kelly (Loyola Academy, 2026), showed true two-way potential this summer but only hit and played the outfield at this event. Listed at 6-foot 175-pounds, Kelly has been steadily adding on strength since we first saw him over a year ago and it continues to translate in the right-handed batters box where he has flashed pull-side power. He works with controlled fluidity, big leg-lift trigger and stays on balance with loose, athletic hands and a heavy barrel. His furthest batted ball traveled 324’. Follow 2026 prospect.

6-foot, 185-pound, INF Aidan Conners (Hinsdale Central, 2024), put himself on the radar with his performance. Conners is a strong athlete with some quick-twitch in his right-handed swing. He swings with controlled bat-speed, stays mostly flat through the zone with extension out front and pull-side/middle approach. He registered a T95.5 mph exit velocity, 87.4 mph average, launched his furthest ball 330’ and has some of the best rotational acceleration (26.9 mph average) and hand speed (24.3 mph average) in the state. On the infield, hands are soft and confident with a fluid/clean transfer, active footwork pre-pitch and through the ball. Arm is quick to release from a high ¾ slot, reaching up to 85 mph across the diamond. Unsigned senior to follow closely moving forward.

INF Logan Wroughton (Mount Carmel, 2026) is an intriguing athlete to know moving forward. Started off his day by cruising to a 6.95 in the 60-yard dash. Athleticism clearly translates to the infield; fluid actions with easy range to both sides, plays on the move. Hands are soft and confident, receives the ball out front. Athletic arm that plays on the move, reaching up to 76 mph across the diamond. At the plate, the right-handed hitter has a fluid load that works into a simple, handsy swing, works to spray the ball to the whole field. 

CLICK HERE for a link to the event page. 

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