2023 Super 60: Statistical Analysis

On Feb. 5, Prep Baseball Report hosted its 21st annual Super 60 Pro Showcase at The MAX, in McCook, Ill., on the outskirts of Chicago. Since the event’s inception in 2003, more than 300 players have been selected in the MLB Draft, including nearly 30 first-round picks and over 30 second-rounders.

This year’s event made for another exciting first stop on the road to the 2023 MLB Draft, featuring some break-out performances that surely expanded the follow lists belonging to the professional scouts in attendance, as they outline their next six months. This year’s Super 60 hosted records in both fastball velocity and outfield velocity. There were seven arms that recorded a max fastball velocity at 94 mph or above, spin rate record-breakers, historic exit velocity outputs, and we’ll be examining each of these statistical outliers in finer detail over the next couple of weeks.

Today, our next step in the Super 60’s post-event breakdown will come in the form of a statistical analysis. We’re taking a look at all of the measured data collected at the Super 60, assessing the traditional stats and the leaders among them. We’ll have additional video analysis and scouting reports published in the coming days and weeks, so keep an eye out for that content on the site, as well as the state’s individual landing pages.

Here’s a look at the leaderboards and the top performers among the traditional stats measured:

We’ll get into the pitchers at an even more granular level later this week, but scraping the surface, there were some exceptional pitching performances at the Super 60, headlined by RHP Blake Wolters (Mahomet-Seymour HS, IL; Arizona commit). Wolters’ prototypical pitcher’s frame, at a physical 6-foot-4, 215 pounds, efficiently generates high-end velocity which resulted in an event record 97.7 mph max fastball velocity – and he did so on consecutive pitches near the start of his ‘pen. The fastball spins efficiently at a high rate (2,350 rpm avg.), and from a complementary release height (5.2 feet avg.).

Two-way RHP/INF Jake Hooker (University HS, IN; Xavier) registered a 95.1 mph high with his fastball to emerge as a big winner on the day, especially with his firm and true slider that he continued to weaponize over the offseason.

RHP Chase Meyer (Combine Academy HS, NC; West Virginia) was among the highest rated arms headed into the event, and capitalized on the opportunity in Chicago by showing offseason gains, especially in terms of his control. Meyer’s fastball reached a 94.8 mph max that exploded through the strike zone from a low average release height (4.5 feet) that projects to be a swing-and-miss offering all on its own. Though, he also spun the event's tightest breaking ball, a curve that spins at over 3,100 rpm on average.

Huge 6-foot-7, 230-pound RHP Evan Shapiro (University School HS, OH; Kent State) showcased a steep, heavy fastball that reached a 94.5 mph high, and he flashed an effective changeup that played off his heater well.

Slender 6-foot-4, 175-pound RHP Bishop Letson (Floyd Central HS, IN; Purdue) could be categorized as another ‘winner’ from Sunday’s showcase. Equipped with premium arm speed and control over a three-pitch arsenal, Letson climbed to a 94.3 mph max inside of a frame that looks capable of tacking on strength and weight that should excite the pro scouting community. His riding fastball was one of the best at the event, no doubt.

RHP Luke Guth (Franklin Area, PA; Vanderbilt) intrigued on the mound, even if he wasn’t among the fastball velo leaders. Sitting mostly 89-90 mph, Guth showcased all kinds of alluring metrics with his fastball, most obviously its spin, as it ripped through the zone at an average of 2,559 rpm. His low average release height (4.6 feet), quick arm speed, and lean 6-foot-2 physique are each reasons he remains a close follow this spring.

Letson’s fastball velocity was clocked among the top-five highest in attendance, and its spin traits and peripheral metrics only made the pitch that much more exciting as a prospect. He averaged a spin rate of 2,473 rpm and gained the most ground to home, with an extension measured at 6.5 feet on average, creating the kind of carry through the strike zone that projects to earn plenty of whiffs.

Utah native RHP Brayden Marx (Pleasant Grove; Hawaii) came into the Super 60 as one of the top-ranked arms on the roster, and his spin traits were also some of the best in show. On a fastball that reached a 93.5 mph high, Marx also spun it at an average of 2,381 rpm and it exhibited some of the best vertical action of the event. The spin translates to his breaking ball, which was also one of the event’s best curveballs.

While the 60-yard dash remains the traditional measurement for a player’s straight-line speed tool, the 10-yard split has been gaining popularity as a more applicable showcase-to-field reading. OF Cole Eaton (Elkhorn South HS, NE; Tennessee) was arguably the Super 60’s statistical champ, recording some high-end measurements across each of the categories he participated in, like both of these. Eaton clocked in tied for first with a 6.56 time in the 60, and paced the event with a 1.56 split at the 10-yard mark. His explosiveness showed up elsewhere on the diamond as you’ll soon find out.

Ranked inside the top-125 nationally, OF Parker Picot (Rochester Adams HS, MI; Alabama) recorded a 6.58 in the 60, and his 1.62 split time at the 10-yard line was third overall. His speed and burst complement his accurate right-handed barrel that allows him to use the entire field effectively.

OF Crew McChesney (Lone Peak HS, UT; BYU) was one of the top athletes in attendance, as a quick-footed 5-foot-11, 180-pound left-handed hitter. He tied Eaton with a 6.56 time in the 60-yard dash, and he was also among the fastest runners (21.3 mph max) and highest jumpers, with a max standing vertical of 36.3 inches.

At PBR Illinois’ Preseason ProCase on Feb. 1, SS/3B Cal Sefcik (Marist HS, IL; Indiana) initiated the momentum that eventually allowed him to steal the show at The MAX on Sunday. It was there where Sefcik measured exit speeds routinely in the triple-digits, including a one-of-a-kind 108.2 mph high. Combing through the PBR system, there simply aren’t many 106-plus mph measurements to have been recorded for a prep player at any point in time, and Sefcik did it again at the Super 60 with a 107.1 mph max at a 101.9 mph average, which is even more rare. He’s built at a brawny 6-foot, 205 pounds, and he demonstrates exceptional hand/eye skills that allow him to maximize his raw strength. He lined the majority of his contact to dead center, registered at premium exit speeds.

No other player averaged an exit velocity in the triple-digits, though C Luke Stevenson (Wake Forest HS, NC; North Carolina) and 1B/OF Sam Harris (Urbandale HS, IA; Duke) were closest at 98.7 mph and 98.5, respectively. Both are left-handed hitters, though in somewhat different profiles. Stevenson demonstrated barrel accuracy with a perfect hard-hit rate, while Harris recorded the third-highest single exit speed (105.8 mph) with more naturally lofted contact.

Two 6-foot-7 sluggers recorded some of the hardest and farthest contact of the day: 1B Brett Norfleet (Francis Howell HS, MO; Missouri) and 3B/OF George Wolkow (Downers Grove North HS, IL; South Carolina). Norfleet’s 106.9 mph max exit speed was second to Sefcik alone – and it would have been the highest of last year’s event. As for Wolkow, he’s particularly young for the class, built in a massive, yet athletic, frame. Additionally, he’s a left-handed hitter and he smashed the farthest ball of the day (410 feet) and he recorded a max exit speed of 101.8 mph – and he also ran a 6.75 in the 60 (1.65 10-yard split).

Another Illinois native, C Colin Barczi (Naperville Central HS, IL; Vanderbilt), registered advanced bat strength as one of three players to measure a batted ball at over 400 feet, attached to a max exit speed of 102.5 mph.

SS/OF Sam Shaw (Lambrick Park HS, CAN; Xavier) was a pound-for-pound ‘winner’ on the day, recording a 95.0 mph average exit speed (101.0 mph max) as another one of the event’s top left-handed-hitting performances.

C/OF Eli Small (Elkhorn South HS, NE; Kentucky) is high school teammates with Cole Eaton, mentioned as one of the statistical champs of the event, and Small is his competition for that title. The left-handed-hitting backstop wields huge arm strength behind the plate, and he also ran a 6.68 and recorded a 102.3 mph max exit speed.

The physical first baseman from Iowa, Sam Harris, generated both the highest average bat speed and hand speed (25.0 mph), captured by the Blast Motion sensor. Another hulking first baseman, Norfleet, generated the same kind of upper echelon bat speed metrics which help underscore how he was able to lead Missouri preps in home runs last year. The North Carolina catcher Stevenson took a memorable round of batting practice from the left side, and his Blast metrics were similarly impressive.

Two-way LHP/1B Amari Allen (Sherwood HS, MD; Chipola JC) performed well on both sides of the ball, averaging an exit speed of nearly 95 mph (101.5 max), created from big bat and hand speed. He also reached an 89.2 mph high on the mound with above-average spin, run, and carry.

While this year’s crop of infielders didn’t exhibit any record-setting numbers across the diamond, what separates this group from years past is the bat strength that enhances their overall profiles.

SS/OF Nazzan Zanetello (Christian Brothers College HS, MO; Arkansas) was one of the top athletes at the Super 60, as a 6.62 runner who moves well both on the infield and in the outfield, equipped with arm strength that plays at both positions. He topped 90 mph across the infield here and also averaged an exit speed of 94.7 mph (100.6 max) from the right side. Zanetello was also one of Blast Motion’s top performers, posting high-end metrics across the board, from bat speed (76.4 mph avg.) to rotational acceleration (24.2g avg.).

Sefcik’s unique strength plays on the left side of the infield as well, as he matched Zanetello’s high across, tied for first in this category. Fellow Illinois stand-out Wolkow was 89 mph across the infield and also showed as an outfielder, reaching a 92 mph high from there.

As Nebraska high school teammates Eaton and Small duked it out through the day, Eaton buzzed those in attendance with upper-90s velocity on his throws home, and ultimately registered a 100 high followed up by a record-setting 101 max on his next throw.

OF/3B Drew Burress (Houston County HS, GA; Georgia Tech) is an explosive athlete who reached a 99 mph high to home from the outfield after averaging an exit speed over 94 mph in BP (100.7 max).

And Small matched Eaton in this day-long battle by leading all catchers with an elite 89 mph high on his throws to second, yielding pop times in the 1.90-1.95 range. Small’s diverse tool set was among the most interesting of the event.

The aforementioned Agresti looked like one of the top defenders in attendance, and not just for his raw skill set as a backstop with 85 mph arm strength and a quickness that resulted in the lowest average pop time of the showcase. He’s a natural receiver and blocker, with advanced athleticism for the position.

C Luke Vaughn (Elder HS, OH; Alabama) is another natural at the catch-and-throw, with an 84 mph high on his throws through the infield, and as one of the consistently quickest to second base.

While Barczi is more of a bat-first backstop, his impressive strength translates defensively where he recorded an 86 mph high on his throws down, good for a 1.86-2.01 pop range.