On Wednesday, June 23, the PBR Illinois staff hosted the Underclass Trials - South Showcase at Ozinga Field in Crestwood. The event was open to players in the classes of 2023, 2024 and 2025. The event served as an identifier to select, invite events like the Underclass Games and All-State Games, among others.  The event featured around 25 prospects spanning on grad classes.

Today we start the analysis of the event by taking a look at the position players. 

2024 C/INF Luke Landrus (Charleston) had one of the better all-around performances on the day. The athletic, high-waisted, 6-foot, 170-pound, multi-positional prospect has a loose, upside right-handed swing. Landrus flashed bat speed, natural lift and created occasional whip through the zone thanks to his long, loose levers. Defensively, he is natural behind the plate with flexible hips, soft, quiet hands and registered a low pop time of 1.95.

Sebastian Wagner (Nazareth, 2024) was one of the top infield defenders on the day. He plays with above-average rhythm and timing for his age. Quick, active feet, soft hands and gets rid of it in a hurry, when needed. His arm plays short from a high ¾ slot. and throws flashed carry. Also, registered a max exit velocity of 85 mph.

One of the higher ceilings of the event belongs to INF Justin Lang (Marist, 2023). The 6-foot-2, 165-pound, long-limbed, high-waisted, right-handed hitter has a fundamentally sound swing, whole field approach and feel for the barrel. Lang hits with fluid rhythm, flashes loose hands and should only continue to ascend as he adds strength. The 7.26 runner in the 60 also showed athletic actions on the infield.

Two other infielders worth noting were Niko Bilgi (Homewood-Flossmoor, 2023) and Brayden Mobley (Fremd, 2023). Bilgi, a left-handed hitter, has a simple, barrel-control swing and is a steady middle infield defender. He also flashed confident hands and an accurate arm across the diamond. Mobley tied for the top infield velocity (83 mph) and top fastball of the event, 81 mph.  Mobley also showed well at the plate thanks to a compact, repeatable right-handed swing.  He routinely barreled balls to the pull side, creating backspin and carry off the barrel.  Defensively he showed feel for the infield with fluid footwork and clean release.

The top exit velocity of the day came off the bat of INF Christian Jackson (Warren, 2023) at 94 mph. The 6-foot, 168-pound, right-handed hitter has a long, level swing with strength to the pull-side of the diamond.

Read on below for a look at all of the position players from the Underclass Trials - South.

POSITION PLAYERS (LISTED ALPHABETICALLY)

Charlie Bergin, Hinsdale Central (IL), 2023
 Positional Profile: C/3B
 Body: 6-1, 190-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Balance open setup with a long stride to launch. Short swing stays level through the zone.  Line drive pull side approach. 
Power: 87.3 max exit velocity, averaged 78.46 mph. 316’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 72 mph. Short arm action from a high 3/4 slot.  Throws were accurate and on the bag.
Defense: 2.19-2.30 pop times. Soft hands with fluid footwork and clean exchange.
Run: 7.91 runner in the 60. 

Niko Bilgi, Homewood-Flossmoor (IL), 2023
Positional Profile: SS/RHP
Body: 5-8, 150-pounds.
Hit: LHH. Balanced athletic stance, leg kick for timing. Loose, short, direct pat.  Stays on plane to and through extension.
Power: 84.72 max exit velocity, averaged 78.45 mph. 273’ max distance.
Arm: RH. INF - 78 mph. Loose, athletic, short arm action, high 3/4 slot with life and carry.
Defense: Feel for the position, efficient feet and takes quality angles. Steady hands.
Run: 7.65 runner in the 60.

Alexander Clark, New Trier (IL), 2024
Positional Profile: OF/LHP
Body: 5-10, 150-pounds.
Hit: LHH. Balance, open stance. Short, uphill, swing, generates top spin.
Power: 85.81 max exit velocity, averaged 77.97 mph. 293’ max distance.
Arm: LH. OF - 78 mph. Long arm action, high 3/4 slot.  
Defense: Fluid footwork, clean exchange, plays through the ball.
Run: 8.09 runner in the 60. 

Terry Ferguson III, Reavis (IL), 2025
Positional Profile: C/RHP
Body: 5-8, 195-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Quiet, balanced setup, minimal load and long stride. Aggressive swing, uphill path, looks to lift and works gap-to-gap.
Power: 84.1 max exit velocity, averaged 73.76 mph. 293’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 61 mph. Short arm action, plays from an over-the-top slot.
Defense: 2.46-2.65 pop times. Active receiver, clean direction out of the crouch.
Run: 8.70 runner in the 60. 

Andreas Flores, Jones College Prep (IL), 2025
Positional Profile: SS/2B
Body: 6-0, 150-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Balanced tall stance.  Smooth load with a short stride.   Short level swing, with a direct path to contact.
Power: 77.74 max exit velocity, averaged 73.76 mph. 241’ max distance.
Arm: RH. INF - 74 mph. Long, high 3/4 slot.  Accurate throws with some carry. 
Defense: Moves with rhythm and fluidness.  Good feel and actions. 
Run: 7.83 runner in the 60. 

Ray Gaida, Marist (IL), 2025
Positional Profile: RHP/OF
Body: 5-11, 150-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Balanced, athletic, wide stance. Level swing in and out of the zone.
Power: 80.37 max exit velocity, averaged 74.74 mph. 270’ max distance.
Arm: RH. OF - 61 mph. Long arm action, over the top slot.
Defense: Fluid footwork, clean exchange, plays through the ball.
Run: 7.40 runner in the 60. 

Jaden Harmon, St Charles North (IL), 2024
Positional Profile: 2B/RHP
Body: 5-11, 150-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Balanced, crouch, open stance.  Long stride to launch position. Long, level bat path quickly in and out of the zone.
Power: 81.66 max exit velocity, averaged 70.99 mph. 288’ max distance.
Arm: RH. INF - 80 mph. Long, high 3/4 slot.   Throws have carry.
Defense: Soft hands, fluid footwork, plays through the ball well.
Run: 7.46 runner in the 60. 

Ryan Hartz, Brother Rice (IL), 2024
Positional Profile: OF/RHP
Body: 6-0, 175-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Balanced, crouched, stance, smooth load and short stride. Long, level swing, In and out of the zone.
Power: 84.23 max exit velocity, averaged 78.09 mph. 276’ max distance.
Arm: RH. OF - 72 mph. Short arm action, high 3/4 slot, loose and accurate.
Defense: Fluid footwork, clean exchange, plays through the ball.
Run: 7.80 runner in the 60. 

Michael Hultman, Andrew (IL), 2024
Positional Profile: C/SS
Body: 6-1, 170-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, smooth load and short stride. Simple swing, short to the baseball with gap-to-gap approach and minimal effort throughout.
Power: 89.25 max exit velocity, averaged 77.68 mph. 332’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 68 mph. INF - 68 mph. Short arm action, over-the-top slot.
Defense: 2.25-2.37 pop times. Steady hands, works low to high, quiet receiver.
Run: 7.99 runner in the 60. 

Christian Jackson, Warren Township (IL), 2023
Positional Profile: SS/2B
Body: 6-0, 168-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Balance stance with a smooth load and short stride. Long, level bat path.
Power: 93.8 max exit velocity, averaged 76.22 mph. 254’ max distance.
Arm: RH. INF - 74 mph. Long, over the top arm action.
Defense: Fluid footwork, clean actions, soft hands.
Run: 7.20 runner in the 60. 

Luke Landrus, Charleston (IL), 2024
Positional Profile: C/SS
Body: 6-0, 170-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Balanced open stance. Loose, athletic, short, level swing.
Power: 86.35 max exit velocity, averaged 77.25 mph. 303’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 75 mph. INF - 83 mph. Strong arm, Long arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: 1.95-2.13 pop times. Soft hands, quick exchange, quick feet, athletic.
Run: 7.40 runner in the 60. 

Justin Lang, Marist (IL), 2023
Positional Profile: SS/RHP
Body: 6-0, 145-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Balanced, athletic, tall stance.  Leg kick for timing.  Short, level swing.  Barrel is direct to contact. 
Power: 82.8 max exit velocity, averaged 76.14 mph. 256’ max distance.
Arm: RH. INF - 81 mph. Long arm path, high 3/4 slot.  Athletic arm is quick.
Defense: Athletic movements.  Good feel for infield.  Active feet allows him to play through the ball well.
Run: 7.26 runner in the 60. 

Mason Maleck, St Rita (IL), 2024
Positional Profile: C/RHP
Body: 6-1, 200-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup slight leg kick dive to launch position. Short swing in and out of the zone with an uphill plane.
Power: 79.9 max exit velocity, averaged 71.19 mph. 247’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 69 mph. Short arm action with over the top delivery.
Defense: 2.21-2.31 pop times. Reliable hands with fluid footwork and clean exchange.
Run: 8.35 runner in the 60. 

Andrew McCormick, Mount Carmel (IL), 2025
Positional Profile: SS/RHP
Body: 5-8, 135-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Balanced, open stance.  Arm bar load to a wrap. Long, level swing with extension. 
Power: 78.22 max exit velocity, averaged 72.21 mph. 267’ max distance.
Arm: RH. INF - 72 mph. Long arm action, high 3/4 slot.  Accurate throws with some carry. 
Defense: Soft hands, fluid footwork, plays through the ball well.
Run: 8.66 runner in the 60. 

Brayden Mobley, Fremd (IL), 2023
Positional Profile: 2B/RHP
Body: 5-10, 175-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Balanced, tall, stance.  Uses toe tap for timing. Repeatable, loose, short swing.  Consistently found the barrel.
Power: 91.68 max exit velocity, averaged 87.2 mph. 334’ max distance.
Arm: RH. INF - 83 mph. Long, high 3/4 slot.  Athletic arm is quick.
Defense: Quick feet, quick hands, athletic actions and movements.
Run: 7.34 runner in the 60. 

Jack Pellikan, Lane Tech (IL), 2023
Positional Profile: OF/OF
Body: 5-9, 145-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Balanced, athletic, open stance, short stride. Long, rotational, uphill swing. 
Power: 81.12 max exit velocity, averaged 69.89 mph. 254’ max distance.
Arm: RH. OF - 77 mph. Loose, short arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Moves well, active feet, soft hands, clean exchange.
Run: 7.68 runner in the 60.

Bennett Reich, Homewood Flossmoor (IL), 2023
Positional Profile: OF
Body: 6-0, 165-pounds.
Hit: LHH. Balanced, athletic, tall stance.   Short stride, short swing, level through the zone, extends through contact. 
Power: 86.94 max exit velocity, averaged 81.28 mph. 305’ max distance.
Arm: LH. OF - 72 mph. Long, loose arm action, 3/4 slot.
Defense: Fluid footwork, clean exchange, plays through the ball.
Run: 7.38 runner in the 60.  

Joe Rodriguez, St. Rita (IL), 2024
Positional Profile: 3B/RHP
Body: 5-4, 145-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Balanced stance, smooth load, leg kick for timing. Uphill swing, in and out of the zone, generates top spin.
Power: 83.33 max exit velocity, averaged 74.26 mph. 288’ max distance.
Arm: RH. INF - 65 mph. Long, high 3/4 slot.  Accurate throws with some carry. 
Defense: Soft hands quick release. Quick feet lead to athletic actions. 
Run: 7.57 runner in the 60. 

Joey Severson, Lyons Township (IL), 2024
Positional Profile: SS
Body: 5-10, 150-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Open stance, back side load, short toe tap for timing. Short, uphill swing in and out of the zone.
Power: 81.57 max exit velocity, averaged 72.26 mph. 251’ max distance.
Arm: RH. INF - 72 mph. Short, over the top slot, accurate arm.
Defense: Soft hands, fluid footwork, plays through the ball well.
Run: 7.63 runner in the 60. 

Cameron Smith, Reed Custer (IL), 2024
Positional Profile: C
Body: 5-11, 150-pounds.
Hit: LHH. Balanced stance, with a short toe tap stride. Short, level swing with a gap to gap line drive approach.
Power: 84.92 max exit velocity, averaged 77.79 mph. 277’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 72 mph. Short arm action with a high 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.39-2.43 pop times. Soft hands with fluid footwork and clean exchange.
Run: 7.11 runner in the 60. 

Joe Stellano, Reed Custer (IL), 2024
Positional Profile: SS/RHP
Body: 5-9, 140-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Balanced, athletic stance. Short repeatable swing.  Direct to contact.  Consistently barreled balls.
Power: 78.7 max exit velocity, averaged 70.22 mph. 234’ max distance.
Arm: RH. INF - 70 mph. Long, high 3/4 slot.  Throws were accurate with carry.
Defense: Soft hands, fluid footwork, plays through the ball well.
Run: 7.58 runner in the 60. 

Sebastian Wagner, Nazareth (IL), 2024
Positional Profile: SS/2B
Body: 5-9, 150-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Balanced, athletic stance. Uses left kick for timing. Short, repeatable swing. Direct to contact.  Consistently barreled balls.
Power: 85.04 max exit velocity, averaged 79.28 mph. 243’ max distance.
Arm: RH. INF - 77 mph. Short, high 3/4 arm slot.  Throws have carry and some life.
Defense: Steady feet and took quality angles. His hands are soft and actions are athletically fluid.
Run: 7.22 runner in the 60. 

Scott Walker, Naperville North (IL), 2024
Positional Profile: OF/SS
Body: 5-7, 135-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Balanced, open stance, smooth load. Long, level swing with extension. 
Power: 85.47 max exit velocity, averaged 73.46 mph. 267’ max distance.
Arm: RH. OF - 73 mph. Loose, short arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Moves athletically with fluid footwork and quick exchange.
Run: 7.36 runner in the 60. 

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