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Team Illinois Future Games: Takeaways

August 12, 2024
By: Illinois Scouting Staff

From Wednesday, July 24th, through Saturday, July 27th, the Prep Baseball Future Games took place at the LakePoint Sports Complex in Emerson, Georgia. This event featured select uncommitted 2026 prospects from our 40-plus state coverage area and Canada.

For more information about the event, click HERE.

On Wednesday, Team Illinois participated in a pro-style workout, collecting unrivaled data with the help of our tech partners, such as athletic testing, batted ball data, and positional velocities. To see all of the stat leaders from the event, click HERE.

Following Wednesday’s workout, Team Illinois played three simulated games over the next three days, finishing the week 2-1. Team Illinois fell to Wisconsin in the opener 3-2, defeated Kansas 9-7 in game two, and wrapped up the event with a 6-2 win over Missouri on Saturday evening.

Now, at the conclusion of this year’s Future Games, we’ve taken the time to compile our notes and summarize the week in totality within these takeaways. Below, broken down by position, you’ll learn more about the members of Team Illinois and their performances throughout the week.

CATCHERS

+ Max Heineman (Normal Community) had a quality showing at this year’s event, which included being named the Dicks Sporting Goods Player of the Game in Illinois’ win over Kansas. In that game, Heineman went a perfect 3-for-3 with a double, RBI and one run scored. The 5-foot-10, 188-pound backstop impressed with his catch-and-receive, as well his motor behind the dish and ability to block the baseball. At the plate, the right-handed hitter took quality at-bats and proved to be a tough-out for opposing pitchers. During the workout portion of the event, he posted a max exit velocity of 95.9 mph, while averaging 87.1 mph, and sending his farthest hit ball 338 feet. Defensively he posted a pop time of 1.97 with a 76 mph velocity on his best ball down to second base.

+ Dylan Kassab (Hinsdale Central) was on the barrel throughout the week during gameplay. The strong and well-proportioned 5-foot-10, 205-pound right-handed hitter tallied two doubles throughout the week, while juicing baseballs to the middle/pull-side parts of the field. Kassab’s power was on display during batting practice as well where he put up a max exit velocity of 99.7 mph (avg. 91.1), while his furthest ball traveled 390 feet, which was among the event’s best. Kassab’s bat speed also stood out during the workout, where his average bat speed of 82.3 mph was good for third-best in the entire event, while maxing out at 85.8 mph. Defensively, what stood out the most about Kassab’s play was his overall motor both behind the plate and also when he got time at first base. On one play in particular while playing first base, Kassab ranged a long way and made a sliding attempt at a ball in foul territory, and despite not making the play, it was a display of the type of effort and attitude Kassab plays the game with. He finished the week with four hits, two doubles, and four RBI.

+ Brandon Thomsen (St. Viator) showed well all week behind the dish, a theme our staff has become accustomed to seeing out of the 6-foot-1, 188-pound backstop. The incoming-junior displayed advanced actions in the crouch and also seemed to be comfortable catching arms he had never handled in the past. His defensive tools shined brightly during the workout portion earlier in the week as well, where he had a 1.95 pop time, while tossing his best bullet at 80 mph from the crouch. Thomsen also showed the ability to barrel the baseball from the right side during batting practice, where his average exit velocity was 94.4 mph (T99), which was good for top-20 in the entire event. His average distance of 316 feet during BP, was another metric that found him among the event’s best.

INFIELDERS

+ Hunter Baugh (Edwardsville) is an intriguing middle infielder from one of the top high school baseball programs in the entire state. At 5-foot-9, 140-pounds, Baugh has all kinds of athleticism with room still to grow. He’s a quality defender with soft hands and fluid footwork, showing the ability to range to both sides of the ball. Baugh also possesses an accurate arm across the diamond with some strength, topping out at 84 mph at the Future Games. At the plate, the right-handed hitter has simple, easy swings with a slightly uphill path, producing a max exit velocity of 91.1 mph during his round of batting practice. Baugh remains a name-to-follow in Illinois.

+ Jory Crocker (Willowbrook) showed to be one of the more intriguing prospects on Team Illinois with what he was able to do as both a position player and as a pitcher. Crocker presents a broad-shouldered 6-foot-1, 175-pound frame, with all sorts of room to fill out down the road. He had an athletic showing to begin the week during the workout, where he ran a 6.81 60, topped out at 88 mph across the diamond, and also posted a max vertical of 33.4”. The long-levered infielder also swung the bat well during batting practice, with a max exit velocity of 97.5 mph to pair with a max batted ball distance of 366 feet. During gameplay, Crocker’s tools translated over where he displayed easy range in the infield with a strong arm to pair, that should allow him to stick on the left side of the infield. Offensively, he swung an athletic, flat path that allowed for line drive contact. Crocker hopped on the mound to close the book for Team Illinois at this year’s Future Games, and showed upside in his outing. He was able to sync up his levers down the mound to make for a loose, repeatable delivery. Crocker also hides the ball well in his delivery, which paired with his clean and whippy arm action, made for added perceived life on his fastball that sat 86-88 mph (T89). He tossed in a mid-70’s curveball to keep hitters off balance and finished his outing allowing no hits, no walks, while punching out two.

+ There’s plenty to like about the upside and athleticism from Kamrin Jenkins (Oswego). The 6-foot, 174-pound middle infielder showed impressive defensive actions throughout his week in LakePoint, displaying soft hands, fluid feet, the ability to throw on the run, and a strong (T86 mph) and accurate arm across the infield. He’s a right-handed hitter at the plate with a calm and fluid approach, showing bat speed (avg. 73.8 mph) and twitch through contact. During the showcase, Jenkins produced a max exit velocity of 95.6 mph, staying on the barrel for an average of 87.4 mph. He also ran a 7.03 60 time while jumping a max vertical of 30.7 inches. The uncommitted incoming-junior has plenty of intrigue with his upside and all-around game.

+ Brody Landgraf (Columbia) proved to be a threat with the bat during his week at the Future Games. The big, 6-foot-4, 231-pound first baseman has all kinds of strength in his frame. His eye-opening performance came in the nightcap of Team Illinois’ final game on Saturday night, where he earned the Dicks Sporting Goods Player of the Game honors after going 4-for-4 with two RBI and two stolen bases. He took quality at-bats throughout the game, working counts, fouling off pitches, and creating tough outs for pitchers. Landgraf has power in his left-handed bat, showing the ability to barrel balls to the pull-side, and during Wednesday’s showcase, he posted a max exit velocity of 97.8 mph. He remains an uncommitted follow after the event.

+ Gavin Michaels (Normal Community) left the Future Games a big winner for Team lllinois. An athletic, wiry frame with plenty more to come, Michaels checks in at 6-foot, 155-pounds. Throughout gameplay, he reached base multiple times on infield singles, showcasing his speed and baserunning IQ around the base paths throughout the entire event. He’s an athletic, clean defender, too, showing the ability to play many different positions on the field. Michaels showed some intriguing tools during the showcase, starting off by running a 6.67 60 time and jumping 32.2 inches. During batting practice, he averaged 86.7 mph (T95.8 mph) off the bat, while sending his farthest hit ball 350 feet. His BLAST metrics were intriguing as well, as his average bat speed was 75.2 mph (T81.8 mph), and his average rotational acceleration was 21.5 mph, good for the second highest on Team Illinois. He’s a highly athletic prospect with plenty of upside, and he remains a must-know uncommitted prospect from the event.

+ Participating in his first ever Prep Baseball event, Landon Thome (Nazareth) continued to show to be one of the more advanced hitters in the class. Standing at an athletic 6-foot, 170-pounds, the left-handed hitter stood out with the bat throughout the week, both with results and his overall approach to the game. He started the week off with an impressive showing during the workout day where he posted a 6.87 60, an 85 mph infield velocity, and a max exit velocity of 94.2 mph. His bat speed metrics also impressed on the workout day with an average speed of 74.6 mph, and a max of 78.6 mph. Thome’s overall game translated even better in-game where his feel for the game shined. Offensively, he has been known to have a very mature and advanced approach, and that was no different down at LakePoint. In a tough left-on-left matchup during the last game of the week, Thome showed the ability to be patient, let the ball travel, and work the middle of the field for a hard single; which is something he did in the spring against tough southpaw arms. Defensively, he made one play in particular at third base in the same aforementioned game, where he made an advanced read on a tough ground ball, making the play look routine. Thome finished the week with three hits, including a double, two walks, and a stolen base.

+ Johnny Nelson (Oak Park-River Forest) was another member of Team Illinois that had a strong showing during the event’s workout portion. A lean and athletic 6-foot, 177-pounds, Nelson started the event by running a 6.98 60, while also reaching a max vertical of 30.9”. During batting practice, he showed some of the quicker hands on average for the event at 23.3 mph (T24.8), which allowed for added bat speed from the right side, with a max of 77.6 mph. A primary third baseman defensively, he showed a strong arm on the infield where his top bullet registered at 87 mph. Nelson would get time in the outfield as well during gameplay where he showed comfortable actions and athleticism.

OUTFIELDERS

+ Recent Kentucky commit, Nolan Ramoley (Brother Rice) came away one of the event’s biggest winners. Listed at a muscle-bound 6-foot-1, 191-pounds, Ramoley boasts some of the loudest tools in the state across the board. Ramoley has a valuable combination of power and speed, cruising to a 6.52 in the 60 while also having reached up to 104 mph for his max EV. A right-handed hitter, he put up some eye-opening BLAST metrics in his workout, averaging 22.1 mph for his hand speed, 77.7 mph for his bat speed and 20.8 Gs of rotational acceleration. His defense continues to improve with more in-game reps, and he has the makings of a well-above average defender with his aforementioned speed and advanced arm strength (T92 mph OF). After an impressive workout day, Ramoley continued to show well throughout the week in gameplay; leaving the yard for a home run and also jumping on a fastball for a pull-side double in the nightcap. Currently ranked No. 10 in the state, the future Wildcat has cemented himself as one of the state’s top prospects.


+ Adam Swanson (Ottawa) had a strong overall showing at the Future Games, leaving the event a winner on Team Illinois. He owns a strong and athletic 5-foot-10, 181-pound frame with all kinds of tools. His 101.1 mph max exit velocity was up there with one of the highest at the entire event, and he stayed on the barrel throughout his round, posting an average exit velocity of 93.1 mph and a max distance of 381 feet. He worked out at both a catcher and an outfielder during the showcase, throwing his best bullet to home at 86 mph, recording a 1.98 pop time, and a 78 mph velocity on his hardest ball down to second base. His athleticism shined throughout, running a 6.66 60 time while jumping a max vertical height of 32.5 inches.

PITCHERS

+ RHP Hunter Baugh (Edwardsville) had a brief showing on the mound and it was a good one. Though he only fired one inning, he didn’t allow a single hit or run, walked just one and struck out one. The right-hander moves athletically down the mound while staying in-line, pairing with a loose and whippy arm that works into a high ¾ slot. He attacked the zone with his three pitch mix, starting with his fastball that sat around 83-85 mph. To pair off the fastball he showed an 11/5 curveball with quality shape and feel (73-75 mph), as well as a fading changeup in which he kept down in the zone, 78-79 mph.

+ RHP Luke Blackwell (Valmeyer) is a talented arm from Southern Illinois to know. He stands in a strong, 6-foot-3, 200-pound frame with athleticism to pair. The big right-hander has simple and easy mechanics, with a compact and quick arm out of a ¾ slot. In his two-inning stint, he showed composure and confidence, and continued to show better as he went on. He worked his fastball up to 90 mph, touching it three times, but sat mostly 87-89 mph with mostly straight actions. Working off of his fastball, Blackwell showed feel for both a slider and a change-up, the former sitting 77-82 mph with short horizontal actions, and the latter sitting 81-83 mph with arm-side fade. He’s a multi-sport athlete with plenty of upside still to come on the mound.


+ RHP RJ Duncheon (East Peoria) continues to get better on the mound each time we see him. Standing in a strong 6-foot-1, 191-pound frame, Duncheon is an athletic mover down the mound. He works out of a stretch-only delivery with a loose, quick arm that works out of a ¾ slot. His fastball has life through the zone, topping out at 92 mph, while sitting mostly 86-91 mph with arm-side run at times. He also mixed in two separate breaking balls; his curveball showed 11/5 shape with feel to throw for strikes, sitting mostly 72-74 mph, and his slider showed more horizontal actions, sitting 78-81 mph. A must-know arm with more velocity on the way.

+ RHP Connor Elenteny (Mount Carmel) certainly turned some heads with his easy velocity and long-levered frame. Listed at 6-foot-3, 193-pounds, Elenteny has a loose and free-flowing delivery, working with minimal perceived effort into a drop/drive delivery that stays in-line, creating noticeable hip/shoulder separation. His arm works with a clean path and high ¾ slot to create a fastball in the 89-92 mph range, topping out at 93 mph while filling up the zone. His out-pitch was a slider at 76-77 mph, holding quality 10/4 shape with some depth and late action. He finished his two innings of work with no hits or runs allowed, one strikeout and one walk. High-ceiling right-hander with more velocity to come.


+ RHP Dylan Huff is yet another talented arm coming out of Glenwood High School. A multi-sport athlete, he still has plenty of upside in his 6-foot-3, 170-pound frame. His delivery is loose and easy with minimal effort down the mound, and his arm has clean actions that work out of a high ¾ slot. His fastball sat 87-89 mph, and topped out at 90 mph multiple times. Huff’s slider is a standout off-speed pitch, sitting mostly 74-77 mph with 2400-2500 rpm, showing true swing-and-miss potential. He’s continued to polish up his repertoire since we first saw him this past winter, and he’s a must-know name in Illinois’ rising junior class.

+ Chase Lockwood (Libertyville) gave one of the more polished looks from Team Illinois with a quality three-pitch mix for strikes. Listed at 6-foot-2, 175-pounds, Lockwood has an athletic frame that still holds plenty of room to add strength. His delivery is simple with a shorter balance point that moves in-line with a tall/fall lower-half, repeating with ease. His arm plays with a clean circle out of the glove, consistently working out of a high ¾ slot. His fastball played with natural sink in the low-80s (T84 mph), setting up both a curveball and a changeup that he could land for strikes, with the curveball playing over 2,500 rpm. Over his two innings of work, he didn’t allow a single run on two hits, no walks and two strikeouts.


+ Chase Milburn (Edwardsville) continued to throw well in front of our staff down at LakePoint after an impressive spring season where he helped lead the Tigers to the 4A State Finals as a sophomore. Milburn showed a lot of what we were accustomed to seeing from him in the past; the ability to throw all pitches for strikes and a high level of competitiveness. Despite only one inning of work, he allowed just one walk while striking out two, allowing no runs. The 6-foot-2, 195-pound right-hander worked his fastball up to 86 mph, while sitting 82-85. His slider held plane at 73-75 mph, while also turning over a changeup at 76 mph. Milburn is a high-follow arm in the southern part of the state to continue to watch.


+ LHP Michael Pettit (Lincoln-Way West) is an uncommitted southpaw to know, and he’s quickly proved to be one of the top left-handers in the state just in the past few months. Standing in a high-waisted 6-foot-1, 165-pound frame, Pettit has an extremely projectable frame with wiry limbs. He’s an easy mover with a simple operation, working into a medium/high balance point before working down the mound with a level front side, staying in-line. He hides the ball well in the back out of the glove before firing through with a loose ¾ release. He gets natural sinking action to his fastball, playing around 86-88 mph, topping out at 89 mph in this look - though we’ve seen him up to 91 mph in the past. He’ll also go to a slider at 72-73 mph that flashes tight, sharp 10/4 action, and he backs it up with a sinking changeup in the 76-77 mph range that he sells with arm-speed. Over his two innings of work, Pettit allowed only one run, one hit, two walks and struck out three.

+ RHP Keaton Reinke (St. Charles North) immediately stands out in his 6-foot-3, 205-pound frame, and he has the arm-talent to match. A WR1 on his school’s football team, Reinke is also a 6.81 runner and has been up to 91 mph in past looks. Throughout his two innings of work, the big right-hander didn’t allow a single hit or run, walked just one and struck out three. He has a long-levered operation that creates extension out front, delivering a fastball in this look that cruised around 86-87 mph with carry up in the zone. He showed confidence in his breaking ball, throwing it for strikes in any count, playing with depth in the low-70s. High-level athlete that is just starting to scratch the surface of his ceiling.


+ Paddy Roth (St. Patrick) kicked things off for Team Illinois in their first game down at LakePoint. The 6-foot-3, 212-pound prospect tossed two innings, allowing one run on two hits, one walk, while recording two strikeouts. Roth is an easy mover down the mound, with a long/loose arm action out of a ¾ arm slot. His mix was headlined by a fastball that sat 85-89 mph (T90) with arm-side run. He would mix in a slurve-type slider at 72-75 mph, while showing a changeup at 80 mph.

+ RHP Kaeden Schatsiek (Brimfield) stands in a hard-to-miss 6-foot-3, 191-pound frame with plenty of strength and athleticism throughout. He works out of a stretch-only delivery, utilizing simple and easy movement patterns down the mound. His arm stays compact in the back with clear acceleration out front, working out of a high ¾ slot. His fastball sat 86-89 mph, topping out at 90.5 mph, with mostly straight actions, paired with a hard-throwing slider at 77-79 mph, playing with sharp, 11/5 actions. A must-know arm talent out of Central Illinois.

+ LHP Ian Tosi (Mount Carmel) was about as dominant as it gets over his two innings of work, not allowing a single hit, run or walk while striking out two. Listed at 5-foot-11, 175-pounds, the southpaw has been a mainstay at the top of Mount Carmel’s rotation as an underclassman, and he got to show his stuff on the biggest uncommitted stage. He fearlessly attacked the zone with his fastball, cruising in the mid-80s and touching 88 mph with carry through the zone. He showed feel for both his curveball and changeup, landing them both for strikes when he wanted. High-level compete factor paired with his advanced feel to pitch and arsenal makes him one of the more sought after southpaws in the state.


+ Tyler Townsend (Sycamore) is an intriguing 6-foot-2, 185-pound arm to know from Team Illinois. Despite battling command issues early in his outing, Townsend showed resilience later in the outing where in his second inning of work, he tossed a four-pitch inning collecting a quick three outs. Working from a stretch-only delivery, he showed explosive quick, compact arm action from a ¾ slot. His fastball sat 82-86 mph (T87), he would also mix in a 69-72 mph slider to round out his repertoire.

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