Our ‘Most Viewed Profiles’ countdown is coming to a close, with LHP Jack Bauer (Lincoln-Way East, 2025; Virginia commit) occupying the second spot on our list. 

Bauer, the top prospect in the Illinois’ 2025 class and a top-15 prospect on a national scale, used a productive year to vault himself into elite-tier status. It started at the Preseason All-State in late February, where Bauer stood out amongst a loaded crop of prospects in attendance.

From 2/25/23: “...emerged as the top prospect in the state last summer, eventually earning an invitation to the PBR Future Games as one of the younger prospects in attendance, ultimately leading to a commitment to Virginia. Bauer clearly put in work this offseason, continuing to see his fastball velocity climb, now up to 92.6 mph. That velocity, however, was not the most impressive part of this smooth operating, easy left-handers bullpen as he showed off a much-improved, high-spinning, mid-70’s slider with all kinds of horizontal action, playing with an average of 16.6 inches of horizontal movement and an average of 2743 rpm. The pitch is thrown with much more arm speed and intent than we have seen in the past and has a chance to be a wipe-out offering if he can harness it moving forward. The changeup was also an above-average offering, landing in the zone 50% of the time with an average of 16.5 inches of horizontal movement, heading the opposite direction as the slider. Highly-impressive early season look at one of the top 2025 left-handed arms in the country.”

With the summer coming to a close, Bauer stood out on a national scale at the Area Code Games, emerging the event with plenty of positive buzz behind him. The 6-foot-3, 175-pound southpaw pumped his fastball with ease in the low-90s and plenty of improvement in his slider - a pitch that reached upwards of 2900 RPM and started to show more swing-and-miss traits. 

From 8/16/2023: “...Bauer is easy to dream on at a square-shouldered, 6-foot-3, 175-pounds, dripping with athleticism while holding significant room to add strength. A simple delivery and boring arm action produced some eye-opening stuff including a fastball that ranged from 90-93 with high likelihood of seeing significant upticks in future looks. Less apt to use a quality changeup (83 mph with fade in this look), the pitch holds above average characteristics, but it is the advancement of the slider which is likely to carry Bauer to the upper echelon in the class with regards to prospect status. Less effective a year ago, the pitch now rips off at 76-77 with sweeping action north of 2900 rpm. Given his physical profile and the spin characteristics, it is hard not to compare Bauer to recent White Sox 1st rounder, LHP Noah Schultz, and similarly to Schultz, Bauer might see remarkable strides forward in as little as a year as he grows into his frame and becomes more comfortable with movement patterns. He struck out three in two innings of work.”

(8/3/23)

Our latest look at Bauer came in late September at the inaugural PBR All-American Game. It was arguably his best showing to date, with Bauer ramping his heater up to 95 while pitching at 92-94 mph. In under eight weeks, Bauer’s slider jumped into the low-80s with even more refinement and harder sweep, and he showed even more comfort with his changeup to add even more upside to an arsenal that’s plenty full of it. 

From 10/16/23: “...pure electricity from the left side. Standing 6-foot-3, 177-pounds with high-level projection remaining, Bauer uses a slower, methodical delivery with a loose arm action out of a three-quarters slot. Fastball will explode out of the hand at 92-94, touching 95 with heavy arm-side run. Shows aptitude to paint both sides of the plate and ability to create swing-and-miss with the pitch. Innate feel to spin (Avg. 2633) a low-80s slider that will get some sweep and can create whiffs. Changeup could be trending towards an above-average pitch at 82-84 with present plus command and arm-side fade while maintaining arm speed. The Virginia commit will miss bats with all three pitches, and shows a ceiling that can remain one of the best pitchers in the class.”

 (9/21/23)

Bauer looks every bit the part of the next upper-echelon arm to emerge from Illinois, following in the footsteps of several high level prospects that came before him. With another off-season of physical development underway, Bauer could continue to climb his way up the national rankings with a push for the top spot not out of the realm of possibility.