Prep Baseball Report

Underclassmen Prospect ID: Player Analysis



The Prep Baseball Report hosted is Underclassmen Prospect ID on Wednesday, June 13th at Oakton Community College.  The staff was extremely impressed with the level of young talent at the event and are excited about the years ahead of these players.  The event was highlighted by Will Corn, an OF from Kirkland-Hiawatha HS, who showed big-time power potential from the left side.    

Below is a look at the top prospects from the event.

1. Will Corn, OF, Kirkland-Hiawatha, Class of 2015
Corn is a physically advanced 6-foot-1, 200-pound outfielder who showed big-time power potential from the left side.  Corn has an explosive lower half and maintains excellent balance throughout contact, getting good extension on his swings.  He has an aggressive approach at the plate, creating good whip as he barreled everything up with backspin carry and loft to right field.  Defensively, Corn moved well in the outfield, taking good routes to the baseball.  He was able to get through the ball and into his throws well, touching 83 from right field.  Additionally, Corn ran a 7.42 60.

2. Steven Skolarz, RHP/1B, Lincoln Way West HS, Class of 2015
Skolarz is a wide-shouldered 6-foot-4, 185-pound right-handed pitcher who looks to be one of the premier pitching prospects in the Class of 2015. On the mound, he showed command of three pitches.  His curveball was sharp and his fastball showed late arm-side life, topping at 81 mph.  Skolarz also showed off a 72-75 mph changeup that had arm-side sink.  At the plate, he showed some raw power potential.

3. Neil Lambert, MIF, Pontiac HS, Class of 2015
Lambert is a 5-foot-9, 145-pound athletic middle infielder who impressed at the plate with his left-handed swing.  Lambert has a balanced setup and an advanced approach.  He maintains excellent balance throughout contact using an explosive lower half to generate whip through the zone.   Defensively, Lambert exhibited quick, concise footwork and feel for the position.  He displayed smooth actions and took good angles to the baseball.  Additionally, Lambert showed his athleticism by running a 7.06 60. 

4. Jack Szott, RHP, Metea Valley, Class of 2015
Szott is a big-bodied 6-foot-4, 225-pound right-handed pitcher.  Szott has a quick arm and throws from a high 3/4 arm slot.  He throws a heavy 78-80 mph fastball with sink.  His off-speed pitches are a 66 mph curveball and a 65-67 mph changeup.

5. Mitchell Janssen, RHP, Princeville HS, Class of 2015
Janssen is a 6-foot-1, 165 pound right-handed pitcher who impressed with his arm quickness.  He showed effective sink on his 78-81 mph fastball that topped out at 83 mph.  Janssen had two secondary pitches; a 66-69 mph curveball and a 71-77 mph changeup.

6. Alex Ragusa, RHP/OF, Joliet Catholic, Class of 2015
Ragusa is a 5-foot-11, 150-pound two-way player who excelled in facets of the game.  Offensively, Ragusa has a wide-balanced setup and takes an economical approach to the baseball.  He gets to the ball quickly, creating whip through the zone and barreling up the baseball to all fields.  Defensively, Ragusa moves with fluidity, getting good reads, and playing through the baseball.  He was clocked at 80 mph from the outfield with accurate throws showing carry.  On the mound, Ragusa throws from an over the top arm slot with a fastball that sat in the 72-74 mph range with one running up to 76 mph.  He has two secondary pitches a 60-61 mph curveball and a 70-71 mph changeup.  Additionally, Ragusa ran a 7.63 60.    

7. Alfred Lewis, C/3B, Mount Carmel HS, Class of 2016
Lewis is a 5-foot-8, 155-pound catcher who showcased an advanced approach at the plate with a polished swing.  Lewis features a balanced setup with a smooth load and efficient approach to the baseball.  He generates good whip through the zone as he sprayed line drives to all fields.  Defensively, Lewis is a mature catcher for his age, showing advanced footwork and an accurate arm from behind the plate.  He had a best pop time of 2.12.  Additionally, Lewis ran a 7.22 60.

8. Connor Manous, RHP/SS, Munster HS, Class of 2016
Manous is a 5-foot-9, 130-pound two-way athlete who impressed on the mound with his quick arm.  Manous features a 78-81 mph fastball with run that comes from a high ¾ arm slot.  His secondary pitches consist of a 65-68 mph curveball that flashed tight spin and late break, he also has a 68 mph changeup.  Defensively, Manous showed soft hands from the shortstop position and an accurate arm (74 mph from across the diamond).  At the plate, Manous has a line drive swing that barrels up the baseball.

9. Jack Glosson, OF/C, McHenry HS, Class of 2015
Glosson is a 5-foot-10, 155-pound multi-positional talent who ran one of the fastest 60 times of the event a 6.96.  Defensively, Glosson displayed an accurate arm from the outfield, getting on top of his throws and showing good carry on his ball (79 mph).  Glosson moved well in the outfield, playing through the ball well.  Behind the plate, he had a best pop time of 2.28 and was clocked at 68 mph.  Offensively, Glosson has a balanced setup and generates bat speed through the zone.

10. Jimmy Marchese, MIF, Stevenson HS, Class of 2015
Marchese is an athletic bodied 6-foot, 170-pound middle infielder who had the best 60 time of the event, running a 6.95.  Defensively, Marchese took good routes while playing through the baseball.  He showed good hands and body control in his accurate throws across the diamond.  Offensively, Marchesehas a balanced setup that is slightly open.  He exhibited good whip through the zone with a tendency to barrel up the baseball. 

11. Jonathan Eng, 3B/RHP, Whitney Young, Class of 2015
Eng is a lanky, athletic 6-foot-1, 160-pound two-way player who impressed at the plate by squaring the baseball up to all fields.  Eng has a short stride and creates solid whip through the zone.  He uses an active lower half and has a good approach at the plate which allows him to use the whole field.   Defensively, Eng plays through the ball and moves well to his back hand.  He had an accuracy arm from third base that was  mph.  On the mound, Eng showed good command and run on his fastball, which topped out at 76 mph.  He had three secondary pitches; a 61-65 mph curveball, a 67-68 mph changeup, and a 68-69 mph splitter.

12. Nathan Cooney, SS/RHP, Wheeling HS, Class of 2015
Cooney is a 5-foot-10, 155-pound two-way player who impressed defensively, displaying soft hands and a smooth exchange.  He moved well laterally demonstrating quick feet, fluid footwork.  Cooney exhibited an accurate arm across the infield that was clocked at 77 mph.  Offensively, Cooney maintains balance throughout contact and features an economical approach to the baseball.  On the mound, Cooney throws from an over the top arm slot and has a fastball that tops out at 77 mph.  His secondary pitches consist of a 62 mph curveball and a 67 mph changeup.  Additionally, Cooney ran a 7.13 60.

13. Nicholas Wheeler, OF/1B, Mount Carmel, Class of 2015
Wheeler is an athletic, raw 6-foot, 195-pound multi-positional player who impressed with his athleticism. He showcased some arm strength from the outfield (80 mph) with throws that had solid carry.  Offensively, Wheeler uses his strong lower half and takes an economical approach to the baseball.  Wheeler has good whip through the zone and has a solid approach at the plate, spraying line drives to all fields.  Additionally, Wheeler ran a 7.44 60.

14. Michael Lorenzi, 1B/LHP, Mount Carmel HS, Class of 2015
Lorenzi is a physical 6-foot, 220-pound two-way player who impressed on the mound, showing good rhythm throughout.  He throws from over the top with a 78-79 mph fastball.  Lorenzi’s secondary pitches are a 59-62 mph curveball and a 64-67 mph changeup.  Offensively, Lorenzi swings from the right side, showing strong pull side power.  He uses his legs well to get behind the baseball and drive the baseball.  Additionally, Lorenzi ran a 7.5 60.   

15. Ryan Williams, MIF/RHP, St. Francis DeSales, Class of 2016
Williams is a 5-foot-5, 115-pound middle infielder who looks to be one of the top middle infielders for the Class of 2016.  Williams showed an advanced feel for the game, displaying soft hands and quick feet in the field.  He plays through the ball with ease and was clocked at 69 mph across the infield.  Offensively, Williams has good hands and showed the ability to stay inside the baseball as he consistently barreled up the ball to all fields.

15. Aram Wilkinson, RHP/MIF, Whitney Young, Class of 2015
Wilkinson is a 5-foot-8, 160-pound two-way player who impressed defensively with his soft hands and fluid footwork.  Wilkinson was clocked at 72 mph from across the diamond.  Offensively, Wilkinson creates good rhythm and tempo with his compact, line drive swing.  Wilkinson takes an advanced approach at the plate and stays inside the ball well which helps in spraying line drives to all fields.  On the mound, Wilkinson exhibited some rhythm and threw the ball with an easy effort.  He comes at the hitter from a high ¾ arm slot with a fastball that topped out at 77 mph.  His secondary pitches include a 60-63 mph curveball and a 71 mph changeup that flashed sink.

Best of the Rest (Alphabetically)

Nick Amaya, C/RHP, Urbana HS, Class of 2015
Amaya is a 5-foot-11, 152-pound two-way player who was clocked at 73 mph  from the crouch and had a best pop time of 2.25.  On the mound, Amaya has a fastball that topped out at 73 mph.  His secondary pitches are a 62 mph curveball and a 64-66 mph changeup that flashed cut.

Zach Baird, RHP/SS, South Elgin HS, Class of 2015
Baird is a 5-foot-9, 145-pound two-way player who impressed on the with his ability to throw three pitches for strikes.  Baird throws from an over the top slot and features a 74-76 mph fastball with run and sink.  His secondary pitches include a 62-63 mph curveball and a 69-71 mph changeup.  Offensively, he had a balanced stance with a smooth load. 

De’Jon Collins, SS/RHP, Simeon, Class of 2016
Collins is a 5-foot-10, 140-pound middle infielder who moved well and had good actions in the field.  Offensively, he had a slightly open stance and takes an economical approach to the baseball.  Additionally, Collins ran a 7.33 60.

Satchel Deleo, INF, Boylan Catholic, Class of 2015
Deleo is a 6-foot-1, 160-pound infielder who has a level swing and maintains good balance throughout contact.  Defensively, Daleo showed some life on his throws across the diamond (65 mph).  He has smooth actions with his hands and  receives the ball well.  Additionally, Daleo ran a 7.71 60.   

Jake Dunham, C/3B, Plainfield North HS, Class of 2016
Dunham is a 5-foot-9, 170-pound multi-positional player who showed a loose swing and good extension.  Dunham is able to generate good whip through the zone and consistently barreled up the ball.  Defensively, Dunham displayed sound foot work and had a best pop time of 2.26.  He was clocked at 65 mph from the crouch.

Grant Farmer, RHP/3B, Illinois Lutheran, Class of 2015
Farmer is a 6-foot-1, 170-pound two-way player who threw the pitches for strikes.  On the mound, Farmer was 74-75 mph with his fastball that showed some run to it.  He threw a 64-65 mph curveball that had a nice 11/5 shape.  He also threw a 64-67 mph changeup with solid sink to it.  Offensively, Farmer had good balance and bat speed in his swing.  When he connected with a pitch he exhibited power potential.  

Jeremy Gaines, OF/SS, Oak Park-River Forest HS, Class of 2016
Gaines is a 5-foot-5, 135-pound outfielder who displayed good routes to the baseball and was clocked at 67 mph.  Offensively, Gaines has a balanced set up with a smooth load.  He displayed a good approach at the plate and found occasional barrel.  Additionally, Gaines ran a 7.22 60.

George Karavidas, SS/RHP, Glenbrook South HS, Class of 2015
Karavidas is a 5-foot-10, 160-pound left-handed hitting two-way player.  Offensively, Karavidas has a balanced setup with a decent lower half and pull side power potential.  On the mound, Karavidas throws from over the top and had a fastball that sat in the 75-76 mph range.  His off-speed pitches consist of a 62-64 mph slider and a 62 mph changeup.

Aaron Saper, LHP/OF, Stevenson HS, Class of 2015
Saper is a 5-foot-11, 160-pound two way player who impressed with his left-handed swing.  Saper showed good fluidity in his swing, getting whip through the zone as he barreled up the baseball.  On the mound, Saper showed some feel throwing from a high 3/4 delivery with a fastball that topped out at 75 mph.  His secondary pitches include a 61-63 mph breaking ball and a 66-67 mph changeup.

Brian Schrimmer, RHP/SS, Vernon Hills HS, Class of 2015
Schrimmer is a 5-foot-7, 135-pound middle infielder who exhibited concise routes to the ball.  He was clocked at 72 mph across the infield.  On the mound, Schrimmer showed the ability to throw three pitches for strikes.  He throws from an over the top arm slot and his fastball sat at 68-70 mph with some arm side run.  Schrimmer secondary pitches consist of a 64 mph changeup and a 56-57 mph curveball.

Zach Simmons, C/OF, Princeville HS, Class of 2015
Simmons is an athletic 5-foot-10, 170-pound catcher who displayed sound foot work and had a best pop time of 2.42. Simmons was clocked at 64 mph from the crouch.

Joey Strem, 3B/RHP, Willowbrook HS, Class of 2016
Strem is a 5-foot-11, 170-pound two-way player who exhibited good looseness defensively, showing soft hands at third base.  Offensively, Strem has a balanced setup and showed some whip through the zone, keeping his inside the baseball well. On the mound, Strem throws from over the top with a fastball that topped out at 73 mph.  He has two secondary pitches; a 61 mph curveball and a 54-58 mph changeup.

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