Prep Baseball Report

Top Prospect - St. Louis: Analysis


By Diego Solares and Drew Locascio
Illinois Scouting Staff

On Tuesday, June 9, the PBR Illinois and Missouri staffs held the annual Top Prospect - St. Louis showcase at The Sports Barn in Wentzville, Mo., where some of the area’s top 2021 prospects gathered to perform alongside one another at the start of the summer showcase circuit. Both states had several high-follow, uncommitted incoming seniors at the event who showed well ahead of an important summer for their recruitment. Since the event seven players have already made their college commitment with plenty more to come.

Today we take an in-depth look at the event, ranking the Top-15 prospects as well as releasing our scouting reports of all of the participants from the day. 

TOP OVERALL PROSPECTS

1. Cole Luckey, Glenbrook South (IL), 2021 (Bradley commit)
 Positional Profile: OF. A rising prospect this summer with a complete all-around profile.
Body: 6-foot-3, 185-pounds. Twitchy athlete with more room to add muscle.
Defense: Athletic outfield actions, active feet that come to the baseball and work in rhythm, clean to release, plays through the baseball.
Arm: RH. OF - 91 mph. Quick arm that works from a short arm path, high 3/4 slot. Accurate throws with easy carry.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, minimal load, quick leg kick trigger, drives lower half. Twitchy hands, present bat speed, short bat path with a gap-to-gap approach. Clear barrel feel, ball jumps off the bat, high-upside offensive profile.
Power: 95 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Run: 6.63 runner in the 60. 

2. Josh Turner, St. Charles Lutheran (MO), 2021 (Parkland JC commit)
Positional Profile: OF.
Body: 6-foot-2, 196-pounds. Athletic frame with proportional strength throughout. More room to fill out.
Defense: Athletic actions, quick feet that attack with aggression, plays through the baseball.
Arm: RH. OF - 88 mph. Quick and short arm path, high 3/4 slot.
Hit: LHH. Balanced setup, minimal load, quick leg lift timing trigger. Twitchy hands, natural bat speed, uphill bat path, easy power to the pull-side. Loud offensive tools.
Power: 91 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Run: 6.49 runner in the 60. 

3. Jacob Frost, Oakville (MO), 2021
Positional Profile: 1B/LHP. An impact left-handed bat that remains one of the top uncommitted prospects in Missouri's 2021 class.
Body: 6-foot-2, 210-pounds. Strong, well-proportioned frame. Sturdy lower half.
Defense: Fluid footwork around the bag, soft hands that secure the baseball, clean to release.
Arm: LH. INF - 86 mph. Loose arm works from a high 3/4 slot.
Hit: LHH. Open setup, narrow base, smooth load, short stride, aggressive hip drive to the baseball. Loose in the box with clear confidence in himself. Natural bat speed created by whippy hands, uphill bat path, consistent barrel feel, easy gap-to-gap power.
Power: 91 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Run: 7.32 runner in the 60. 

Delivery: Methodical drop and drive type delivery, weight sinks onto back leg prior to pushing downhill. Works in line to target, lands square, athletic finish.
Arm Action: LH. Short arm action, high 3/4 slot. Quick arm.
FB: T85, 84-85 mph. Showed both arm-side and glove-side action.
CB: 71-73 mph. Tight 1/7 shape, breaks late. Feel to spin.
CH: 77-79 mph. Fastball arm speed. Plays straight, flashed slight arm-side run at times. 

4. Landon Klein, Lutheran (MO), 2021
Positional Profile: OF
Body: 6-foot, 165-pounds. Wiry, high-waisted frame with plenty of room for projection.
Defense: Athletic actions, active feet that work in rhythm around the ball, steady hands, plays through the baseball.
Arm: RH. OF - 85 mph. Short arm action, high 3/4 slot. Accurate throws from the outfield.
Hit: RHH. Open setup, smooth load, leg kick timing trigger, easy balance through contact. Natural bat speed, athletic hands, bat stays level through the zone, steady line drive contact. Ball jumps when he finds the barrel. Hits with confidence and in rhythm.
Power: 86 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Run: 6.65 runner in the 60. 

5. Daniel Contreras, Boylan Catholic (IL), 2021
Positional Profile: C
Body: 5-foot-11, 195-pounds. Strong frame with a sturdy lower half.
Defense: 2.01-2.10 pop times. Advanced defensive actions for age. Quick out of the crouch, fluid feet that work in line to target, soft hands with sturdy wrists, clean to release, plays through the baseball. Adept blocker.
Arm: RH. C - 76 mph. Short arm action, high 3/4 slot. Accurate throws with carry.
Hit: RHH. Tall, slightly open setup, smooth load, short stride, balanced throughout. Present bat speed, strong hands and wrists, level bat path, gap-to-gap approach. Natural feel for the barrel, consistent loud contact, hits in a smooth rhythm.
Power: 90 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Run: 7.51 runner in the 60. 

6. Gavin Baldwin, Nashville (IL), 2021 (John. A Logan JC commit)
Positional Profile: OF
Body: 6-foot-3, 215-pounds. Strong build with present physicality.
Defense: Gets around the baseball, feet move in rhythm at times, clean exchange with length to release. Corner outfield profile.
Arm: RH. OF - 91 mph. Short arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, smooth load, short stride, strong hip drive to the baseball. Relaxed in the box, quick hands, long and uphill bat path. Prodigious raw power for age with natural pull-side pop.
Power: 93 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Run: 7.40 runner in the 60. 

7. Evan Funkhouser, Edwardsville (IL), 2021
Positional Profile: SS
Body: 6-foot, 175-pounds. Athletic, well-proportioned frame.
Defense: Athletic infield actions that are advanced for age. Fluid feet that play confident and in rhythm on the move. Soft hands field out in front, clean funnels, strong double play actions, plays through the baseball. Glove will stick up the middle moving forward.
Arm: RH. INF - 82 mph. Quick and loose arm that works from a high 3/4 slot.
Hit: RHH. Open setup, hands stay back, short stride. Twitchy hands, short and level bat path, creates leverage at times, gap-to-gap approach with a pull-side tendency.
Power: 85 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Run: 7.03 runner in the 60.

8. Brayden Closs, Warrensburg-Latham (IL), 2021
Positional Profile: LHP 
Body: 6-foot-2, 210-pounds. Strong, broad-shouldered build.
Delivery: Quick tempo'd drop and drive type delivery with a fluid lead hip drive, strong front side, creates extension downhill, repeats.
Arm Action: LH. Long arm path in the back, high 3/4 slot.
FB: T86, 82-85 mph. Lively action, plays straight. Works down in the zone.
CB: 72-75 mph. Thrown with aggression and intent. Sharp 1/7 shape, tight spin.
CH: 76-78 mph. Fastball arm speed. Flashed arm-side action and fade, feel. 

9. Nolan Self, Sikeston (MO), 2021
Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 6-foot-2, 190-pounds. Broad-shouldered, compact frame. Defined lower half.
Defense: 2.08-2.12 pop times. Worked out in the infield and behind the dish. Patient to the ball in the field, hands field out in front, long to release at times. More natural actions behind the plate, athletic feet that shuffle in rhythm, soft hands, quick to release, square blocker. Confident catcher that looks the part.
Arm: RH. C - 74 mph. INF - 76 mph. Short arm action, high 3/4 slot. Accurate throws around the bag.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, smooth load, toe-tap timing trigger. Loose at the plate, quick hands, short and level bat path, extension through contact. Raw bat strength, loud contact when he finds the barrel.
Power: 95 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Run: 7.27 runner in the 60. 

10. Bradin Baucum, Altamont (IL), 2021 (Lake Land JC commit)
Positional Profile: RHP
Body: 6-foot-1, 175-pounds. Athletic, well-proportioned frame.
Delivery: Fluid athleticism on the mound, tempo'd drop and drive type delivery, closed front side, athletic finish through release.
Arm Action: RH. Compact arm path, 3/4 slot.
FB: T85, 83-85 mph. Worked around the zone, late arm-side action.
CB: 63-70 mph. Sharp 12/6 curveball that's thrown with intent.
CH: 73-76 mph. Near fastball arm speed. Plays with arm-side action and occasional fade.

11. Josh Heyder, Washington (IL), 2021
Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 6-foot, 210-pounds. Physical build with proportional, all-around strength.
Defense: 2.06-2.19 pop times. Worked out behind the plate and in the infield. Athletic feet in the field, steady hands, clean funnel and smooth to release. Steady hands behind the dish, feet work in line to target, secure transfer, adept blocker.
Arm: RH. C - 81 mph. INF - 90 mph. Quick, compact arm path that works from a high 3/4 slot. Premium arm strength for age.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, steady load, short stride, balanced through contact. Simple swing, strong hands and wrists, long bat path, easy gap-to-gap power with juice to the pull-side.
Power: 93 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Run: 7.71 runner in the 60.  

12. Jackson Bell, Sikeston (MO), 2021
Positional Profile: RHP
Body: 6-foot-4, 210-pounds. Strong, long-levered build. High-upside frame that projects.
Delivery: Tall/fall type delivery that works on a downhill plane, open-toed landing, intentful finish with some effort.
Arm Action: RH. Long arm action, over-the-top slot.
FB: T85, 83-84 mph. Heavy pitch with late arm-side action and occasional sink.
CB: 67-69 mph. Thrown with intent. 12/6 shape with depth to it, gradual action.
CH: 73-74 mph. Fastball arm speed. Natural sinking action, stays down in the zone. 

13. Tyler McClure, Centennial (IL), 2021
Positional Profile: OF
Body: 6-foot-3, 185-pounds. Lean, twitchy frame with plenty of room to add good weight.
Defense: Sits back on the baseball, glove works out in front, clean exchange.
Arm: RH. OF - 86 mph. Compact arm path, high 3/4 slot.
Hit: RHH. Relaxed in the box, balanced setup, smooth load, short stride to even, balanced through contact. Quiet and simple swing, short and level path, sprays line drives throughout.
Power: 88 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Run: 6.73 runner in the 60. 

14. Drew Baughman, Christian Brothers College (MO), 2021 (St. Charles CC commit)
Positional Profile: OF 
Body: 5-foot-10, 155-pounds. Proportional, athletic frame.
Defense: Athletic outfield actions. Quick and active feet that attack the baseball, steady hands, clean transfer with length to release, plays through the baseball.
Arm: RH. OF - 85 mph. Quick arm that maintains a short path, high 3/4 slot.
Hit: RHH. Crouched setup with a slightly open front foot, smooth load, quick leg kick trigger, aggressive lower half. Quick hands with easy bat speed, uphill bat path. Gap-to-gap approach, showed natural pull-side power and barrel feel. Hits in rhythm.
Power: 81 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Run: 7.06 runner in the 60. 

15. Chase Heath, Christian (MO), 2021
Positional Profile: C
Body: 5-foot-10, 170-pounds. Athletic, well-proportioned frame.
Defense: 2.00-2.12 pop times. Quick and efficient out of the crouch, soft hands, clean to release, plays through the baseball.
Arm: RH. C - 75 mph. Short arm action, high 3/4 slot. Throws play with carry.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, smooth and simple load, slight stride to even, strong hip drive to the baseball. Fast hands, long and uphill path, sprays line drives into the gaps.
Power: 84 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Run: 7.21 runner in the 60. 

15. Cameron Hailstone, Gillespie (IL), 2021 (Kirkwood CC commit)
Positional Profile: INF
Body: 6-foot, 175-pounds. Strong, proportional frame.
Defense: Athletic feet that get around the baseball and stay in rhythm. Soft hands field out in front, clean transfer leads to a quick release, plays through the baseball. Infield actions suggest he'll stick up the middle moving forward.
Arm: RH. INF - 83 mph. Short arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Hit: RHH. Open setup, hands start back and stay back, short stride to even. Loose in the box, quick hands with natural whip to them, uphill path with extension through contact. Hard pull-side contact, gap-to-gap approach, swings with intent and aggression.
Power: 92 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Run: 7.26 runner in the 60. 

Best of the Rest (Listed Alphabetically)

Peyton Apps, Pittsfield (IL), 2021
Positional Profile: SS/2B
Body: 6-foot-3, 205-pounds. Lean, wiry frame with plenty of projection to come.
Defense: Patient to the baseball, hands field out in front, long to release at times.
Arm: RH. INF - 76 mph. Short arm action, 3/4 slot.
Hit: RHH. Open setup, narrow base, efficient leg kick timing trigger. Level bat path, gap-to-gap approach, feel for the barrel, steady hard contact.
Power: 86 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Run: 7.94 runner in the 60. 

Derek Blackmore, Rockhurst (MO), 2021
Positional Profile: INF
Body: 5-foot-11, 200-pounds.
Defense: Two-hand gather that works out in front.
Arm: LH. INF - 69 mph. Long arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Hit: LHH. Balanced setup, toe-tap timing trigger, short stride. Strong hands, level bat path, gap-to-gap approach.
Power: 84 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Run: 8.14 runner in the 60. 

Ryan Carolan, Vianney (MO), 2021
Positional Profile: OF
Body: 6-foot, 180-pounds. Strong, athletic frame.
Defense: Fields on an angle, patient feet that occasionally maintained rhythm, plays through the baseball.
Arm: RH. OF - 88 mph. Quick arm that travels on a short path, high 3/4 slot. Accurate throws with easy carry; advanced arm strength for age.
Hit: RHH. Open setup, quick leg lift timing trigger. Simple twitch in hands creates natural bat speed, short and uphill path, knack for making hard contact.
Power: 88 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Run: 6.81 runner in the 60. 

Riley Clancy, St. John Vianney (IL), 2021
Positional Profile: OF
Body: 6-foot, 194-pounds. Compact frame.
Defense: Attacks the baseball, steady hands, feet work in rhythm at times, clean crow-hop to release.
Arm: LH. OF - 81 mph. Short arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Hit: LHH. Crouched setup, active pre-pitch wiggle, quick leg kick trigger. Quick hands, short and level path, line drive approach, hits in rhythm.
Power: 73 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Run: 6.96 runner in the 60. 

Carson Dubach, Edwardsville (IL), 2021
Positional Profile: C
Body: 5-foot-8, 145-pounds. Wiry, high-waisted frame that projects.
Defense: 2.04-2.22 pop times. Athletic actions behind the dish. Feet play quick and in line to target, works quick out the crouch, clean through release.
Arm: RH. C - 74 mph. Short and loose arm action, high 3/4 slot. Accurate throws across the diamond.
Hit: LHH. Balanced, slightly open setup, short stride. Loose in the box. Quick bat that travels on an uphill path, gap-to-gap approach, swings with intent.
Power: 81 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Run: 7.11 runner in the 60. 

Nicholas Fitzanko, Parkway West (MO), 2021
Positional Profile: C
Body: 6-foot-1, 170-pounds. Athletic, high-waisted build.
Defense: 2.04-2.12 pop times. Clean exchange leads to quick release, square blocker.
Arm: RH. C - 80 mph. Long arm action, high 3/4 slot. Accurate throws around the bag with advanced arm strength for age.
Hit: RHH. Open setup, hands load back, short stride. Long and uphill path, some extension through contact, pull-side approach.
Power: 81 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Run: 7.41 runner in the 60. 

Nick Gehrke, Minooka (IL), 2021
Positional Profile: MIF 
Body: 6-foot, 170-pounds. Lanky, high-waisted frame that projects.
Defense: Bouncy defender with a quick first step, steady hands, quick to release, plays through the baseball.
Arm: RH. INF - 79 mph. Long arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Hit: LHH. Open setup, smooth load, slight leg lift timing trigger. Loose at the plate, quick bat works on a short and uphill plane, easy gap-to-gap approach.
Power: 88 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Run: 7.58 runner in the 60. 

Paul Gilmore, Sacred Heart-Griffin (IL), 2021
Positional Profile: OF
Body: 5-foot-10, 170-pounds. Strong, athletic frame with some projection to come.
Defense: Comes to the baseball, fields with two hands, long to release at times.
Arm: RH. OF - 78 mph. Long arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, minimal load, short stride. Simple swing, long bat path, line drive type approach.
Power: 84 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Run: 7.17 runner in the 60. 

Ethan Lindemann, Rockwood Summit (MO), 2021
Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 6-foot-3, 190-pounds. Athletic frame that projects.
Defense: 2.19-2.26 pop times. Worked out in the field and behind the plate. Hands field under center of body on the dirt, long to release. Loose actions behind the dish, feet stay in line to target, accurate throws to the bag.
Arm: RH. C - 74 mph. INF - 77 mph. Long arm path, high 3/4 slot.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, active pre-pitch rhythm, short stride. Bat stays short to the baseball, line drive approach.
Power: 89 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Run: 7.50 runner in the 60. 

Austin Mann, Liberty North (MO), 2021
Positional Profile: 1B/OF
Body: 6-foot, 205-pounds. Well-proportioned frame.
Defense: Steady two-hand gather, fluid double play turn, some feel around the bag.
Arm: RH. Long arm action, 3/4 slot.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, minimal load, short stride. Fast hands, advanced raw bat strength, short and level path, easy gap-to-gap power.
Power: 96 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Run: 7.37 runner in the 60. 

Ryan Maul, Jacksonville (IL), 2021 (Lincoln Land JC commit)
Positional Profile: OF
Body: 5-foot-9, 150-pounds. Athletic, compact frame.
Defense: Active feet that field in rhythm, works around the baseball, secure exchange with a clean release.
Arm: RH. OF - 85 mph. Clean arm that works from an over-the-top slot. Throws produced carry.
Hit: RHH. Open setup, quick leg kick trigger leads to an even stride, stays balanced throughout. Short bat path that travels on an uphill plane. Line drive type approach, hits in a fluid rhythm.
Power: 84 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Run: 6.79 runner in the 60. 

Ben Stedman, Belleville West (IL), 2021
Positional Profile: MIF/OF 
Body: 5-foot-10, 170-pounds. Athletic frame.
Defense: Clean and athletic infield actions. Active feet that work in rhythm, works around on a consistent angle, soft hands, quick transfer, plays through the baseball.
Arm: RH. INF - 75 mph. OF - 80 mph. Loose arm action, 3/4 slot.
Hit: RHH. Balanced, slightly open setup, bat rests vertical prior to swing, steady leg kick timing trigger. Short and level path, line drive approach, works back up the middle.
Power: 87 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Run: 7.01 runner in the 60. 

Joshua Stratton, Westminster Christian (MO), 2021
Positional Profile: SS
Body: 5-foot-11, 150-pounds. Lean, athletic build.
Defense: Patient to the baseball. Hands play well on the move, clean exchange to release.
Arm: RH. INF - 76 mph. Short arm action, high 3/4 slot. Accurate on throws.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, toe-tap timing trigger, strides to even, balanced through contact. Long and level bat path, steady line drive contact. Showed well at spraying the ball to all fields.
Power: 79 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Run: 7.54 runner in the 60. 

Delivery: Tall/fall type delivery, upright posture, recoil finish.
Arm Action: RH. Short arm action, 3/4 slot.
FB: T76, 73-76 mph. Natural arm-side run. Flashed sink.
CB: 61-65 mph. Decelerates arm action. 11/5 shape, early break, some depth.
CH: 67-70 mph. Near fastball arm speed. Occasionally played with sink. Feel. 

Kole Younger, Rockwood Summit (MO), 2021
Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 6-foot-1, 190-pounds. Proportional build with a sturdy lower half.
Defense: 2.17-2.22 pop times. Worked out in the infield and behind the plate. Patient to the baseball in the field, steady two-hand gather out in front of body, quick to release. Athletic feet out the crouch, clean transfer leads to quick release, plays through the baseball.
Arm: RH. C - 73 mph. INF - 79 mph. Short arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Hit: RHH. Open setup, smooth load, steady leg lift timing trigger. Short and level path, line drive approach.
Power: 88 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Run: 7.41 runner in the 60. 

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