Prep Baseball Report

Class of 2021 Showcase: Pitcher Analysis


By Illinois Staff

On July 17, the PBR Illinois team held a Class of 2021 Showcase at Lee Pfund Stadium in Carol Stream, Ill. Over 50 incoming juniors attended this bi-annual event and it, as usual, helped shine a light on some budding prospects in the 2021 class.

Throughout this week, we’ll be breaking down each and every prospect who attended this event, and we started the week with the event’s catchers, outfielders, and infielders. For previous analysis on this event, check out our rapid analysis inside our Quick Hits post, as well as a more statistical look in our Stats Story.

For now, continue on below to see the top-five-ranked infielders in Carol Stream, and reports on the rest of the players who made it out.

TOP PITCHING PROSPECTS

1. Drew Martin, Mt. Pulaski, 2021
Positional Profile: RHP/OF
Body: 6-foot-1, 190-pounds. Athletic, strong frame, squared-shoulders.
Delivery: Tall and fall delivery, smooth rhythm, works on-line and lands square.
Arm Action: RH. Long, quick arm action from an over-the-top slot.
FB: T84, 81-83 mph. Plays mostly straight, occasional cut, thrown for strikes.
CB: 69-71 mph. Thrown aggressively, 11/5 shape, sharp spin and feel for the zone.
SL: 69-73 mph. 10/4 shape, tight spin.
CH: 74-76 mph. Down in the zone, straight action.

2. Andrew Jimenez, St. Charles North, 2021
Positional Profile: 3B/RHP Emerged as a high-follow 2021 prospect.
Body: 6-foot-3, 195-pounds. Wide-shouldered, athletic build with defined muscle.
Delivery: Tall and fall delivery, works with rhythm, stays on-line and lands square. 
Arm Action: RH. Long arm action, high 3/4 slot and quick arm out front.
FB: T83, 81-82 mph. Thrown for strikes, slight arm-side-run.
SL: 66-68 mph. 10/4 shape, short wrinkle.
CH: 70-72 mph. Feel for the zone, maintains arm speed, sinking action.

3. Aidan Kress, Fenton, 2021
Positional Profile: RHP/3B
Body: 6-foot-2, 205-pounds. Strong, durable build.
Delivery: Drop and drive delivery, coiled at balance point, stays on-line and lands front-toe open.
Arm Action: RH. Long arm action, quick out front, high 3/4 slot.
FB: T85, 82-84 mph. Finish at the bottom of the zone, slight arm-side-run.
CB: 70-72 mph. 12/6 to 11/5 shape, sharp action at times.
CH: 73-77 mph. Near fastball arm speed, fade action and down in the zone.

4. Lucas Nielsen, Downers Grove North, 2021
Positional Profile: RHP/SS
Body: 6-foot-1, 185-pounds. Highly-athletic, strong frame.
Delivery: Tall and fall delivery, works on-line and lands front-toe closed.
Arm Action: RH. Long draw out of the glove, loose out front, high 3/4 slot.
FB: T83, 81-83 mph. Arm-side-run action, late finish.
CB: 67-68 mph. 11/5 shape.
SL: 71-72 mph. Lateral break, cutter action at times.
CH: 73-76 mph. Fastball arm speed, fade action.

5. Owen Rudolphi, Eureka, 2021
Positional Profile: LHP/1B
Body: 6-foot, 160-pounds. Lean, high-waisted frame.
Delivery: Smooth, slight drop and drive delivery, works on-line down the mound, lands front-toe open.
Arm Action: LH. Long arm swing, loose arm action, 3/4 slot.
FB: T78, 76-77 mph. Pounded the bottom of the strike zone, run and sink action.
CB: 64-68 mph. 2/8 shape, tight spin, underneath it at times.
CH: 72-75 mph. Near fastball arm speed, sinking action.

Best of the Rest (Listed Alphabetically)

Alec Bulak, Hall, 2021
Positional Profile: RHP/1B
Body: 6-foot-1, 185-pounds. Strong, wide-shouldered frame.
Delivery: Tall and fall delivery, works on-line, lands front-toe closed and finishes upright.
Arm Action: RH. Long arm action out of a high 3/4 window.
FB: T83, 80-82 mph. Heavy, late run and sink at times.
SL: 67-72 mph. 10/4 shape.
CH: 72-77 mph. Fastball arm speed, straight action.

Conor Clyde, Loyola Academy, 2021
Positional Profile: RHP/
Body: 6-foot-5, 220-pounds. Extra large, physically-imposing frame.
Delivery: Crossfire, rotational delivery, lands front-toe open.
Arm Action: RH. Long arm action, high 3/4 slot and regular effort.
FB: T80, 78-80 mph. Tilt when down in the zone and occasional arm-side-run.
CB: 60-66 mph. 11/5 shape.
CH: 70-72 mph. Thrown aggressively at times.

Ethan Davis, Olympia, 2021
Positional Profile: RHP/SS
Body: 5-foot-10, 160-pounds. Well-proportioned build.
Delivery: Tall and fall , linear delivery, on-line direction, lands front-toe open and finishes upright.
Arm Action: RH. Short, loose arm action, high 3/4 slot.
FB: T80, 77-78 mph. Comes out easy, arm-side-run action.
CB: 63-66 mph. 11/5 shape, near fastball arm speed.
CH: 63-66 mph. Cut action.

Justin Fine, Deerfield, 2021
Positional Profile: RHP/OF
Body: 6-foot, 160-pounds. Lean, athletic frame.
Delivery: Uptempo delivery, works slightly across his body and lands front-toe open.
Arm Action: RH. Long arm action, over-the-top slot, quick out front.
FB: T82, 79-82 mph. Works straight, thrown for strikes, occasional tilt to the bottom of the zone.
CB: 56-58 mph. 11/5 shape.
SL: 59-62 mph. 11/5 shape, tighter than curveball.
CH: 67-69 mph. 

Ben Franson, Genoa-Kingston, 2021
Positional Profile: RHP/OF
Body: 5-foot-10, 150-pounds. Lean, high-waisted build.
Delivery: Tall and fall delivery, on-line direction, lands square.
Arm Action: RH. Long, loose arm action, high 3/4 slot.
FB: T80, 78-79 mph. Easy out of the hand, slight arm-side-run.
CB: 61-64 mph. 11/5 shape, occasional depth.
CH: 66-68 mph. Near fastball arm speed, cut action.

Jalen Hardiman, Kenwood, 2021
Positional Profile: LHP/OF
Body: 5-foot-9, 120-pounds. Lean frame.
Delivery: Repeatable delivery, works slightly across his body and lands closed.
Arm Action: LH. Short, over-the-top arm action and regular effort
FB: T75, 73-74 mph. Mostly straight action, occasional cut.
CB: 61-63 mph. 1/7 shape.
CH: 69-72 mph. Thrown for strikes, works mostly straight.

Micah Johnson, Stillman Valley, 2021
Positional Profile: LHP/OF
Body: 6-foot-1, 155-pounds. Athletic, well-proportioned frame.
Delivery: Tall and fall delivery, on-line direction, front-toe closed landing and easy effort.
Arm Action: LH. Long, loose arm action, high 3/4 slot.
FB: T79, 75-78 mph. Arm-side-run and thrown for strikes.
CB: 60-63 mph. 1/7 shape, lands for strikes consistently.
CH: 64-66 mph. Works mostly straight, thrown for strikes.

Zachary Kim, Glenbrook North, 2021
Positional Profile: SS/RHP
Body: 5-foot-11, 165-pounds.
Delivery: Tall and fall delivery, level shoulders, on-line direction, squared landing and athletic finish.
Arm Action: RH. Clean, loose arm action, high 3/4 slot and easy effort.
FB: T82, 77-82 mph. Works mostly straight, slight arm-side-run and thrown for strikes.
CB: 64-66 mph. 11/5 shape, depth at times.
CH: 68-71 mph. Straight action.

Jared Lockmiller, Monticello, 2021
Positional Profile: 1B/RHP
Body: 6-foot-2, 195-pounds. Thick, strong frame.
Delivery: Stretch only, drop and drive approach, on-line direction and lands front-toe open.
Arm Action: RH. Short, loose arm action, high 3/4 slot.
FB: T78, 75-77 mph. Works mostly straipght, flashed cut.
CB: 62-68 mph. 12/6 shape, depth at times.
CH:  mph.
KN: 60-63 mph. Some tumble.

Eric Mueller, Brookfield Central, 2021
Positional Profile: LHP/1B
Body: 6-foot-3, 195-pounds. Athletic, wide-shouldered frame.
Delivery: Tall and fall delivery, linear direction and lands front-toe closed.
Arm Action: LH. Arm works short and out of a 3/4 slot.
FB: T76, 73-76 mph. Thrown for strikes, slight arm-side-run.
SL: 61-67 mph. 2/8 shape, short wrinkle.
CH: 67-72 mph. Near fastball arm speed, fade action.

Max Pesola, Yorkville, 2021
Positional Profile: OF/RHP
Body: 6-foot, 150-pounds. Lean frame. Plenty of room for continued physical development.
Delivery: Tall and fall delivery, works on-line, lands front toe closed and upright finish.
Arm Action: RH. Long, loose arm action, high 3/4 slot with easy effort throughout.
FB: T78, 73-76 mph. Works mostly straight, occasional arm-side-run.
CB: 62-65 mph. 10/4 shape.
CH: 66-69 mph. 

Joe Seiber, Lockport, 2021
Positional Profile: RHP/
Body: 5-foot-11, 160-pounds.
Delivery: Stretch only, tall and fall delivery. Works on-line, lands front-toe closed.
Arm Action: RH. Compact, loose arm action, quick out front, high 3/4 slot.
FB: T82, 78-81 mph. Straight action, works up in the zone.
CB: 62-67 mph. 11/5 shape, late action at times.
SL: 67-69 mph.
CH: 67-73 mph. Best secondary offering, maintains arm speed, fade action.

Matthew Smith, Marian Central, 2021
Positional Profile: LHP/
Body: 5-foot-10, 155-pounds. Well-proportioned frame.
Delivery: Full windup, high-leg kick, works on-line and lands square.
Arm Action: LH. Short, clean arm action, over-the-top slot.
FB: T78, 76-78 mph. Works straight.
CB: 59-63 mph. 1/7 shape, maintains arm speed.
CH: 61-66 mph. Down in the zone, straight action, occasional cut.

Trey Sykes, Thornwood, 2021
Positional Profile: OF/SS
Body: 5-foot-10, 150-pounds. Wiry frame.
Delivery: Stretch only, tall and fall delivery, short stride, works on-line and lands front-toe closed.
Arm Action: RH. Long draw out of the glove, high 3/4 slot
FB: T71, 68-70 mph. Slight arm-side-run.
CB: 59-64 mph. 11/5 shape.
CH: 63-66 mph. 

Jack West, Mount Carmel, 2021
Positional Profile: RHP/3B
Body: 6-foot-1, 155-pounds. Lean frame with plenty of room for continued physical development. 
Delivery: Delivery works with rhythm, uptempo, stays on-line and lands front toe slightly closed.
Arm Action: RH. Long, loose arm action, high 3/4 slot.
FB: T80, 78-79 mph. Works mostly straight, occasional late running action.
CB: 65-69 mph. 11/5 shape, up in the zone at times.
CH: 72-73 mph. Fade action, works arm side.

Kevin White, St Charles North, 2021
Positional Profile: SS/RHP
Body: 5-foot-11, 170-pounds. Athletic frame with room for continued physical development.
Delivery: Delivery works slightly across body, lands closed.
Arm Action: RH. Long arm action, quick out front, high 3/4 slot.
FB: T83, 79-83 mph. Slight arm-side-run, heavy at times.
SL: 66-69 mph. 10/4 shape, lands it for strikes. 

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