On Friday, August 20, the PBR Illinois staff held the first ever White Sox ACE Scout Day. Roughly 50 prospects from the 2023-to-2025 graduating classes were in attendance, several of which offered our staff an up-to-date look on their talents. 

Today, we’ll highlight a few players that stood out to our scouts and we also included a statistical analysis towards the end of this piece, looking at those who put up impressive numbers throughout their workouts. 

POSITION PLAYERS

+ OF Frederick Ragsdale III (Lyons Township) continues to impress our staff each time we see him, trending upward in the Illinois’ 2023 class after a strong showing this summer. A left/left prospect, Ragsdale kicked his day off by tying the fastest 60-yard dash of the day, clocking in at a 6.93 on our lasers; has run a 6.88 in the past. There’s plenty of athleticism and moxy when he steps into the box, attacking the baseball on an uphill plane from his loose left-handed stroke. He stays short to the baseball and he stays on plane, working gap-to-gap in BP. Ragsdale’s athleticism plays in the outfield, where his quick feet and lateral range allow for a high defensive ceiling. He was one of four outfielders to reach an 86 mph high from the outfield, too. 

OF Fredrick Ragsdale III (@Lyons_Baseball, 2023) is an athletic L/L prospect with 6.93 speed.

Elevated the baseball to both gaps in BP, fluid left-handed stroke. Topped at 86 mph to home from the outfield, too. #ACEScoutDay pic.twitter.com/ggOkhLR37V

— PBR Illinois (@PBRIllinois) August 21, 2021

+ OF Khamaree Thomas (Kenwood) continues to pop as an upper tier athlete in the state’s 2024 class. The 5-foot-8, 150-pound left/left outfielder ran a 6.95 in the 60-yard dash - amongst the fastest of the day. His left-handed swing works slightly uphill to contact with loose hands that help him consistently generate line drives to all fields. Thomas showed intentful defensive actions, gliding around the outfield with quick feet that allow him to cover ground. He also showed advanced arm strength for someone his age, topping at 84 mph to home from the outfield.

Another follow ‘24 with a strong start to his day: OF Khamaree Thomas (@KenwoodSports).

Wiry athlete, 6.95 runner. Loose wrists with bat speed, simple swing, repeats and stays on plane. Top-of-the-order type. #ACEScoutDay pic.twitter.com/dLnqarAXlB

— PBR Illinois (@PBRIllinois) August 20, 2021

+ INF/OF Destin Edwards (Kenwood, 2024) is a lanky, athletic 6-foot-1, 165-pound athlete that popped as a follow athlete at this event. Edwards oozes projection given his long-levered, untapped frame as well as the way he floats around the diamond, playing light on his feet. Defensively, Edwards takes long, easy strides both in the outfield and infield. He has a short quick arm action that leads to above-average arm strength, primarily from the outfield where he topped at 86 mph to his target. Offensively, he has athletic, strong hands with natural lift and leverage at times. Edwards gets his foot down early, keeps his eyes still and stays compact to contact with a middle-away offensive approach. 

+ OF/RHP Jonah Weathers (Marian Catholic, 2023) has a lean, lanky build with long levers. Offensively, Weathers has a smooth, loose swing that peppered the outfield with line drives, showing quick twitch athleticism in the box. His bat stays through the zone a long time, allowing the barrel to cover the whole plate while utilizing an all-fields approach. Defensively he has a short, quick arm that topped at 86 mph to home and he glides around the outfield with long, athletic strides. 

+ 3B/OF Savion Flowers (Kenwood) popped at our Underclass Invitational earlier this year as a follow name in the state’s 2024 class and the 6-foot-3, 175-pound athlete continues to look the part. He swings, and repeats, a simple, easy left-handed bat with loose wrists and an innate feel to work to all fields. Flowers’ offers upside at the plate, especially should he further fill out his frame. Defensively, he has the ability to play all over the diamond with his future position still up in the air. 

LHH INF Savion Flowers (@KenwoodSports, 2024) gets things going with a quality BP round at the #ACEScoutDay.

Lanky 6-foot-3, 175-pound frame, 7.14 runner. Simple left-handed stroke, comfortable spraying to all fields. pic.twitter.com/YYY4kYRp70

— PBR Illinois (@PBRIllinois) August 20, 2021

+ MIF Robert Tate (Homewood-Flossmoor, 2023) emerged from this event as one of its’ biggest winners. He’s a slender 5-foot-10, 140-pound high-waisted athlete with plenty of room to add weight to his frame. Tate took a quality round of BP, flashing a whippy barrel at times and feel to spray line drives to all fields. Adding mass to his frame should further enhance his offensive profile, improving the impact potential of his right-handed stroke. Tate’s most reliable asset currently may be his glove, as he’s a savvy, sure-handed defender that’s capable of sticking on the dirt in the long run. He’s a follow name in the state’s incoming junior class. 

INF Robert Tate (@HFHS_BASEBALL, 2023) with a strong showing in BP.

Lanky 5-foot-10, 140-pound frame. Lean, whippy barrel strength, peppered line drives into both gaps. Sure-handed defender up the middle, too. #ACEScoutDay pic.twitter.com/Cj7VP3TWPh

— PBR Illinois (@PBRIllinois) August 20, 2021

+ INF Joey Barboza (De La Salle, 2024) was another up-the-middle defender to show well at this event. Built at a wiry 5-foot-11, 155-pounds, Barboza’s intentful right-handed stroke peppered the entire field with line drives and comfortably took pitches on the outer half to right field. He showed some twitchy hand speed and repeated well, keeping the barrel through the hitting zone a long time. Defensively, Barboza has some of the better actions we have seen to-date in the class. He fields with a different confidence and demeanor than most kids his age with a natural feel for the middle of the infield and the arm and feet to stay up the middle.  His glove to hand exchange is quick and his arm plays short and loose with the ability to throw from multiple slots depending on the play. Barboza topped out at 85mph across the infield.  Barboza is a high follow 2024.  

+ INF Phillip Thigpen (Kenwood, 2025) was a Junior Futures Games participant and is a twitchy athlete with an athletic build. Thigpen has a loose swing that works off a slightly uphill path.  His barrel stays short and direct while staying on plane to generate line drives to all fields. Thigpen impressed on defense as well, showing light, nimble feet that play comfortably on the infield dirt with soft hands to pair. His loose, quick arm played accurate across the diamond, too. 

+ C Sir Jamison Jones (St. Rita, 2024) appears to have added strength since we last saw him in a showcase setting, now standing at a well-proportioned 6-foot-1, 195-pound frame. That added strength continues to enhance his impactful offensive profile. Jones made loud contact seemingly everywhere he went this summer and showed it once again at the event. Jones has a short, compact swing with feel for the barrel and makes hard contact to both gaps. Jones took one of the more polished rounds of BP on the day. Defensively, Jones has long featured above-average receiving abilities and soft hands behind the plate. The biggest takeaway for us was the improvement he has shown in his arm, topping at 74 mph. The velocity plays up as well, due to the fact that he gets on top of the baseball and throws a true ball with carry to the second base bag. Jones should be a name to keep close tabs on moving forward.

C Sir Jamison Jones (@StRitaBaseball, 2024) looks stronger and more physical since our last look, listed at 6-foot-1, 195-pounds.

Loose bat speed with a loud right-handed stroke; max EV at 92.7 mph. #ACEScoutDay pic.twitter.com/ZVpgpZ102S

— PBR Illinois (@PBRIllinois) August 20, 2021

+ CIF Jimmy Downs (Brother Rice, 2025), listed at a compact, strong, 5-foot-8, 154-pounds, emerged as a high-follow offensive threat in the state’s incoming freshman class. Downs stepped into the right-handed batter’s box with a confident aura to him and proceeded to take one of the day’s loudest BP rounds, hammering multiple baseballs deep to his pull-side. One of the younger prospects in attendance, Downs hit the furthest ball of the entire event, barreling one up at 90 mph that traveled 344.25 feet, per TrackMan. The power potential attached to his right-handed stroke is relatively evident. Defensively, he profiles at a corner infield spot, which his bat should fit right in at. 

CIF Jimmy Downs (@BR_Baseball, 2025) with the loudest round of BP thus far.

Present bat strength with intent and feel to elevate to the pull-side. Best barrel came off the bat at 90 mph and traveled 344 ft., per @TrackManBB. #ACEScoutDay pic.twitter.com/hWijA4s42C

— PBR Illinois (@PBRIllinois) August 20, 2021

+ Another athletic follow from this event: OF Anthony Ligon (Thornwood, 2023). The 5-foot-9, 165-pound Ligon tied for the fastest 60-yard dash of the day, running a 6.93 to start off his workout. He showed a simple right-handed stroke in BP, repeating a level path through the zone with advanced rotational athleticism traits, per our Blast Motion sensors. 

+ Joining us from Indiana, OF Mason Jarrett (Munster, 2025) showed off an impressive skill-set, especially for being one of the youngest prospects in attendance. Jarrett is a high-waisted 5-foot-10, 140-pound athlete with thin levers and much more room for continued physical development. He showed impressive rotational athleticism in the box, generating easy bat speed and power with his hands - enough to barrel his best ball up at 92.65 mph. From the outfield, Jarrett topped at 78 mph to home from a long, loose arm action. 

OF Mason Jarrett (Munster, 2025; @PBRIndiana) pops with an impressive round of BP.

Lanky 5-foot-10, 140-pound athlete. Present Twitch with whippy bat speed, hands generate power. Max EV at 92.7 mph with multiple balls over 300 ft. #ACEScoutDay pic.twitter.com/uEfV88OpX8

— PBR Illinois (@PBRIllinois) August 20, 2021

+ INF Omar Alday (St Rita, 2023) emerged as a follow name inside the state’s 2023 class, recently making his way on our updated rankings board. The strong 5-foot-10, 175-pound Alday impressed on both sides of the ball, starting his day with a loud round of BP. He swings an aggressive right-handed bat, flashing whip in the barrel with present strength to the pull-side; Alday barreled a number of balls that way, as his best left the barrel at 95 mph. Alday defends with a smooth rhythm and controlled tempo to him, working comfortably on the infield with a strong arm that topped at 85 mph to first base. 

+ INF Adan Abarca (Munster, 2023; IN) is another intriguing prospect from Indiana in attendance that’s continued to improve each time we’ve seen him. It’s an easy operation at the plate with a loose, short swing that regularly generates line drives across the yard. Defensively, Abarca showed quick feet and a quick arm with loose whip to it that projects to trend upward as he continues to physically mature. 

+ OF Lance Moon (Brother Rice, 2025) is a name we have become familiar with in the state and was, like a few others mentioned above, was on Team Illinois at this summer's Junior Future Games. Moon excelled in the outfield with natural/athletic actions, a smooth transfer, athletic footwork and a strong arm reaching up to 85 mph with carry capped off his outfield session. Offensively, the right-handed hitter starts with an athletic setup, low-hand set and has natural lift throughout. Moon looks to control the barrel and use the whole field. Moon continues to impress and should continue to see his tools tick up as he matures. 

Another member of Team IL from the #PBRJFG21: OF Lance Moon (@BR_Baseball, 2025).

Athletic right-handed stroke, goes with the baseball. Moxy in the box, innate confidence. #ACEScoutDay pic.twitter.com/MdcEfHNeNf

— PBR Illinois (@PBRIllinois) August 20, 2021

+ One of the top athletes on the day was OF Ezra Essex (Marian Catholic, 2025). Having been recorded as a 6.69 60 runner in past events, Essex has all the makings of a true centerfielder at the next level. With quick/athletic footwork and smooth outfield actions, Essex impressed with a jump in his outfield velocity; topping out at 81 mph from a crow-hop. The right-handed bat took one of the most polished rounds of BP on the day; simple, twitchy stroke that stays compact and works inside the baseball. Essex’ barrel-control swing is tailored for a top-of-the-order profile. Has a chance to be a high-level 2025 in Illinois. 

+ C Brandon Stinson (Kenwood Academy, 2025) has true power-hitting potential in the near future. The right-handed bat has loose/quick hands to the ball with a natural uphill path while collapsing his back leg at contact to initiate extra lift. With additional strength, Stinson will be a dangerous bat in the coming years. 

+ INF DaMaurion Butler (Kenwood Academy, 2025) continues to impress on both sides of the ball. On the infield, Butler has some of the smoothest hands in the class while also looking natural in the shortstop position; easy range to both sides of his glove with athletic footwork, quick/clean transfer with a strong/accurate arm across the diamond showing true carry and reaching up to 82 mph. Butler, a right-handed hitter, has athletic hands with a knack for the barrel. Should be one of the better defensive infielders in the class moving forward.

ARMS

+ LHP/1B Justyn Hart (Marian Catholic) came away as arguably the top all-around performer from this event, establishing himself as a true two-way follow in the Illinois’ 2024 class. A physical 6-foot-2, 218-pound athlete, Hart routinely worked on the barrel throughout one of the day’s loudest BP rounds. His best batted ball left his barrel at 95.18 mph and traveled 340 ft., while his 88.48 mph average exit speed was amongst the day's leaders. Hart hopped on the mound later on in the event and strung together an impressive ‘pen, throwing three quality offerings for strikes. He sat at 82-84 mph, while touching 85 mph, with his fastball throughout and consistently spotted it up for strikes, averaging 19.6 inches of Induced Vertical Break, too. Hart’s changeup proved to be his best pitch of the day, showing natural arm-side fade and thrown at fastball arm speed, and he landed his breaking ball for strikes in the zone, too. 

Hart caps our day off with a polished pen.

Feel for three pitches, strikes. Aptitude to spin the SL, throws CH at arm speed. FB at an easy 82-84, T85 mph with late action.

High-follow arm in the state. https://t.co/UcAyKk1l6h pic.twitter.com/ntowIuasQr

— PBR Illinois (@PBRIllinois) August 21, 2021

+ RHP Kenneth Jackson (Rich Township, 2023) featured an upside, projectable profile on the mound worth a follow. A lanky 6-foot, 175-pound athlete, Jackson’s loose, whippy arm produced a low-80s fastball that featured natural arm-side run, reaching an 83 mph with more velocity left in the tank. 

+ We had heard positive reports about LHP Breyan Brooks (Homewood Flossmoor, 2023) and the 6-foot, 180-pound Brooks did not disappoint. Brooks worked with a confident tempo on the mound, repeating a simple delivery downhill and showing loose arm speed, too. He found the strike zone with his fastball, sitting at 83-86 mph throughout and bumping an 87 mph high early. Brooks’ flashed swing-and-miss spin on a sharp mid-60s curveball and threw his changeup at arm speed, spotting it down in the zone. He’s a high-upside southpaw that’s still uncommitted. 

LHP Breyan Brooks (@HFHS_BASEBALL, 2023) pops as an intriguing uncommitted arm in the state.

Strong 6-foot, 185-pound frame, loose arm. Strikes with the FB at 84-86, T87 mph. Flashed sharp swing-and-miss spin on a mid-60s CB, throws CH at arm speed. #ACEScoutDay pic.twitter.com/eNkjaXmyio

— PBR Illinois (@PBRIllinois) August 21, 2021

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS

Below are the statistical leaders from this event: 

TOP 60-YARD DASH

MAX FASTBALL VELOCITY

MAX EXIT VELOCITY

MAX INFIELD VELOCITY

MAX OUTFIELD VELOCITY

MAX CATCHER VELOCITY

TOP POP TIMES

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