Illinois Underclass Showcase: Top Overall Prospects
November 24, 2014
By Ryan Quigley
Illinois Scouting Director
The Prep Baseball Report Underclass Showcase featured 89 prospects in the 2017 and 2018 classes on October 26th indoors at the MAX in McCook, IL. Over the next several days the PBR Scouting staff will roll out position-by-position rankings of the event, culminating with the Top Ten Overall Prospects from the showcase.
Click Here to view the article on top statistical performers from the event.
After highlighting each individual position, today we’ll rank the Top Overall Prospects from the event. A pair of Mount Carmel teammates lead off our list, led by right-handed pitcher Cameron Hupe who earns the nod despite tough competition from several other prospects. Hupe impressed both this fall and at the event with easy mid-80’s fastball velocity, a quality changeup, and an emerging breaking ball. He projects to throw harder in the coming years. Shortstop Zion Pettigrew gives the Caravan yet another Divison-I caliber middle infielder, and will learn well from established upperclassmen Jeremy Houston and Ako Thomas.
Plainfield South’s Austin Marozas was new to the PBR scouting staff and left a lasting impression both with his physical frame and future velocity projection on the mound. The righthander also showed the makings of a four-pitch arsenal, and could make a contribution this spring for the Cougars' varsity squad.
Manteno’s Easton Bertrand showed arm strength in the outfield, and quality corner infield actions. His future position on the diamond may be undetermined, but his athleticism makes him a sure bet to be a highly recruited prospect over the next few years.
Oswego East outfielder Dylan Jones impressed with his athletic frame, arm strength (85 mph from the outfield, 87 mph on the mound), and speed (7.14 60-yard dash). Jones also has plenty of power projection in his left-handed swing.
Later this week we’ll release updated Illinois Class of 2017 rankings, expanded to 50 players gathered from the information our scouting staff has obtained from the fall circuit and from events like the Underclass Showcase.
Let’s take a look at the Top Overall Prospects from this October’s Underclass Showcase.