Prep Baseball Report

PBR at The Rock Fall Championships: Upperclass Preview


By Diego Solares & Andy Sroka
Wisconsin Staff

This weekend, the PBR Wisconsin team is headed back to The Rock Complex in Franklin, Wis., to host its final tournament of the 2020 season: the PBR at The Rock Fall Championships. Prospects from 2021 through 2024 classes will be on hand to participate in two separate divisions, an Underclass and Upperclass

Some of the best uncommitted talent in Wisconsin and Illinois, inside both their 2021 and 2022 classes, will be playing against each other at The Rock this weekend. We previewed some names to know below.

UPPERCLASS

CBT 2021/2022

This CBT team is a mixture of their 2021 and 2022 squads, both of which are formidable rosters that we’ve gotten our fair share of looks at this year. SS/3B Jalen Gellings (Campbellsport, 2022) is the high-follow here as a strong right-handed hitter that scolds the ball when he finds the barrel, which he consistently does. Gellings is a reliable shortstop right now, but the offensive profile and frame suggest a move to third base is likely, where he’ll be an above-average defender in the future. Regardless, he’s a trending name with an up arrow next to his name in this class.

Jalen Gellings (6//24/20)

OF Landon Behringer (North Fond du Lac, 2022) runs a 6.97 in the 60-yard dash and uses that speed to his advantage on the diamond, profiling as a top-of-the-order type of bat that plays an above-average center field. Recently committed to St. Cloud State, 2B Matthew Perry (Bay Port, 2021) is a strong 5-foot-9, 170-pound right-handed hitter with a compact swing and some line drive feel for the barrel.

CBT has plenty of upside arms on this staff, the most noteworthy being RHP Carl Cano (Bay Port, 2021), who just recently committed to the University of St. Thomas. Cano regularly pumps his fastball in the 86-88 mph, averaging 2,293 rpms on the pitch and maxing out at 2,400 rpms. He’ll pair that with a true swing-and-miss slider that’s thrown with aggression and has sharp, late action, spinning in at a 2,200-plus rpm average. RHP Benjamin Lee (Amherst, 2022) may have the most upside of any prospect on this staff, as the 6-foot-6, 195-pound prospect is just learning how to control his body and repertoire. Lee impressed our staff at the Badger State Battle tournament and at our Eastern Wisconsin Open event. His fastball velocity fluctuates, but it usually sits in the low-80s, although he’s capable of running it up into the 85-86 mph range. His best pitch by far is a sharp breaking ball in the 70-73 mph range that is downright filthy when he’s on top of it and it’s a pitch that he’s gradually improved upon throughout the summer. Lee is a top-40-ranked prospect in Wisconsin’s 2022 class and he’ll shoot up the board should the improvements continue. Another committed 2021 prospect on this staff is RHP Thomas Hunt (Almond-Bancroft; Bryant & Stratton CC). Hunt has clear strength in his lower half and uses it on his drive downhill, regularly sitting in the 82-85 mph range, topping out at 86. He’s comfortable throwing a tight-spin curveball for strikes and can manipulate it to work out of the zone for swings-and-misses. 

GRB RAYS

Left-handed-hitting SS/2B Jenkin Alexander (Sun Prairie, 2022) has long been a favorite of ours for his all-around ability on both sides of the ball. His confident and patient approach at the plate with the zone awareness to rarely offer at pitches that he’s not capable of driving is impressive. There’s some present thump to his game right now, and it’s still developing, and we even saw him leave the yard this summer at our 16U tournament. He’s got the defensive prowess and actions to stick up the middle, but likely at second base, where he’ll be above-average with the glove. Two other names to follow on this roster are C Aidan Ripp (Sun Prairie, 2022) and 3B Branden Garde (Sun Prairie, 2022).

Jenkin Alexander (6/30/20)

GRB RAYS GREEN

There’s a lot of noteworthy uncommitted senior talent on this GRB Rays squad, including several names we’ve seen a lot of over the years, and especially this past summer. 3B/2B Mason Kirchberg (DeForest, 2021) boasts a strong linebacker-esque frame and uses that strength to his advantage, creating loud contact off the barrel from a gap-to-gap approach. He’s a 7.03 runner too, so it’s an interesting power-speed profile for Kirchberg. 

Mason Kirchberg (7/14/20)

OF Angel Rades (Oak Creek, 2021) is a compact, strong 5-foot-9, 158-pound left/left prospect with advanced arm strength, registering throws up to 88 mph to home from the outfield at our events. He’s a contact-oriented offensive prospect that works off a level plane and doesn’t try to do too much at the dish. Contrarily, OF Brevin Brisack (Oregon, 2021) is a lanky, long-levered 6-foot-5, 190-pound athlete that adequately controls his body and moves well for someone his size. His offensive game is still developing, but there is some raw bat strength there, particularly when he gets his long levers extended through contact. He’s someone worth following as the best is more than likely still yet to come. C/3B Charlie Bogue (Mount Horeb, 2021) is a power-hitting catcher that moves well behind the plate with complete actions to stick back there moving forward. 

The uncommitted talent can also be found on the mound. RHP Will Staviski (Brookfield East, 2021) has added roughly five mph to his max fastball velocity in the last calendar year, running it up to 85 mph now and sitting in the 82-84 mph range. Staviksi’s a tough at-bat for opposing hitters, particularly because he works from an elevated arm slot and creates downhill tilt on his fastball that plays up because of the extension he creates downhill. RHP Evan Long (Tomah, 2021) is another prospect we saw a few times this summer with interesting present stuff and could just be scratching the surface of what he could be. Long’s fastball sits at 82-83 mph, touching 85 with life out the hand and he pairs that heater with a sharp, late-breaking slider that he does have a feel to spin. Both RHP Evan Jackson (Milton, 2021) and RHP Carson Possehl (Lodi, 2021) are strike-throwing righties with low-80s fastballs still looking for a home at the next level. 

GRB RAYS MKE

Still a newer branch of the GRB program, this Milwaukee squad has some formidable names scattered throughout, especially on the mound. LHP Matthew Mueller (Brookfield Central, 2022) is ranked inside the state’s top-80 for its 2022 class and there’s plenty of room for the 6-foot-4, 195-pound southpaw to strengthen his frame. He’ll sit in the low-80s with his fastball and spins in a slower, mid-60s curveball to disrupt timing; both of which he can throw for strikes. Size is not missing from this GRB staff, as RHP Nolan Klug (Menomonee Falls, 2022) is another projectable arm with height, standing at 6-foot-4 and 190 pounds that was up to 84 mph back in July. LHP Michael Carpenter (Arrowhead, 2022) popped up at The Rock this summer after touching 83 mph, with more in the tank, and constantly spun off sharp curveballs that broke off a 1/7 plane, flashing swing-and-miss actions.

Two offensive prospects to follow on this squad are 3B Cade Honkamp (Brookfield East, 2022) and MIF David Wilhite (Stillman Valley, IL, 2022). Honkamp profiles as a middle-of-the-order type bat with fairly advanced bat strength for someone his age, while Wilhite is your prototypical left-handed-hitting scrappy leadoff man who works deep counts and just tries to work his way on base. INF Max Stocco (Marquette University, 2022) should play opposite of Wilhite up the middle, as a savvy defender with advanced up-the-middle actions that swings a loose left-handed bat.

Cade Honkamp (6/24/20)

ILLINOIS INDIANS 2021

RHP Will Frisch (Crystal Lake South, IL, 2021; McHenry County JC) emerged as a follow arm this summer and he was up to 87-plus mph at PBR Illinois’ Senior Games event. Committed to powerhouse JUCO Wabash Valley, 2B/SS Nick Gehrke (Minooka, IL, 2021) swings a loose, upside left-handed bat and also defends with soft, smooth glovework. 3B/1B Jacob Borchert (New Berlin Eisenhower, 2021) creates some bat strength with the help of his 6-foot-2, 185-pound frame. C Lucas Bolender (St. Charles North, IL, 2021) has some intriguing tools for an uncommitted catcher. He’s a sure-handed receiver who’s also mobile on the block, while working quick from the chute. He can also hit the ball hard, topping 93.2 mph off the barrel in BP at an event this summer.

Lucas Bolender (8/11/20)

ILLINOIS INDIANS 2022

The Indians’ second squad competing within the Upperclass division is filled with follow 2022 talent, like high-follow uncommitted right-hander Nathan Hayes (St. Charles East, IL), who was a member of Team Illinois’ PBR Future Games roster in August. At an athletic 6-foot-4, 185 pounds, Hayes has been up to 89 mph in front of our staff, and the fastball plays especially live through the zone, and he’s shown the ability to spot a swing-and-miss breaking ball. In his state’s latest rankings update, Hayes debuted at No. 31 overall.

Nathan Hayes (8/2/20)

C/3B A.J. Gaca (St. Charles East) is Hayes’ high school teammate and battery mate, as an athletic receiver with a quick release. His most notable tool is his fast right-handed bat and ability to strike the ball hard. Speaking of bat speed, OF/INF Ryan Henschel (Glenbrook North, IL) scored some excellent marks, per Blast Motion, and he uses it to loft hard-hit contact with relative ease. He’s another athletic, tools-y follow on this team. RHP/OF Jake Kohanzo (Barrington, IL) has a strong 6-foot-2, 190-pound build, and he applies that strength well on the mound and in the batter’s box, and the power potential he wields in that right-handed bat is probably his best tool. SS/2B Casey Hintz (St. Viator, IL) is ranked within his state’s top-50 for his loose, fast right-handed bat an athletic actions up the middle of the infield.

Casey Hintz (6/30/20)

ISA STARS FALL 17U

Another PBR Future Games attendee participating in this tournament, OF Jaicee Foster (Southwest, 2022) has an impact power tool and is slowly tapping into it more and more, making noticeably different audible contact when he finds the barrel. There is some swing-and-miss to his game, but Foster hits the ball so hard that it’s clear the offensive threat he could be if he ever completely puts it all together. RHP Caden Capomaccio (Notre Dame Academy, 2022) is a strong armed right-hander whose stuff plays best out of the pen’. His fastball sits at a lively 85-87 mph in short stints and Capomaccio pairs that with an aggressive sweeping slider at 75-77 mph. He’s still fully harnessing his arsenal and the ability to consistently throw strikes, but he’s certainly an athletic follow arm in Wisconsin’s 2022 class. Another athletic arm to follow is RHP Ryan Roehl (West Bend West), who touched 85 mph this July and has more velocity left in there as he continues to physically fill out a slender 6-foot, 170-pound frame.

Jaicee Foster (8/2/20)

ISA STARS FALL 18U

SS/RHP JP Gauthier (De Pere, 2021; Illinois State commit) ranks as the No. 15 overall prospect in Wisconsin’s 2021 class because of some sneaky offensive upside, with noteworthy offensive intangibles, and a silky-smooth glove that profiles to stick at shortstop. We saw uncommitted RHP Thomas Ellisen (Kimberly, 2021) touch 89 mph at The Rock this summer and pairs that fastball with a sharp 12/6 curveball that consistently flashes swing-and-miss action. Standing at a lean 6-foot-3, 185 pounds, there’s likely more untapped velocity in there for Ellisen and he remains one of the top uncommitted arms in Wisconsin’s 2021 class.

Thomas Ellisen (7/14/20)

RHP/1B Alex Windey (Wrightstown, 2021; uncommitted) brings a hulking 6-foot-4, 230-pound presence both to the mound and at the plate. He’s a fastball heavy sequencer on the mound, attacking hitters relentlessly with an 82-85 mph heater that’s touched 86 mph. There’s some obvious raw power in his massive frame and we saw him run into a few baseballs this summer that left the yard quickly. A riser in the state’s updated ranks, RHP Gage Smith (Appleton North, 2021) remains uncommitted, but likely won’t be for much longer given the strides he’s made on the mound. Standing at a wiry 6-foot-3, 175 pounds, Smith sits at 82-84 mph with his fastball, touching 86 mph, and there’s certainly more velocity to come. His slider looks like it’s finally coming around, sitting at 69-72 mph and averaging 2,000 to 2,200 rpms. The upside here, given the current stuff and future physical development, is undeniably high and Smith’s a must-know uncommitted name. C Jason Van Den Langenberg (Seymour, 2021), LHP Tanner Katers (Ashwaubenon, 2021) and left-handed hitting OF Marcus Jens (Seymour, 2021) are all uncommitted follows on this squad as well. 

MIDWEST HALOS

This particular Halos squad has added a lot of new names from last year’s 16U team, including four new players ranked inside Wisconsin’s updated class of 2022 rankings. The staple of their offense is Team Wisconsin Future Gamer C Will Johannes (Mukwonago, 2022), who was a major winner throughout the summer. He looks like your modern-day prototypical backstop, standing at a strong, yet projectable, 6-foot-2, 185-pound frame. Johannes impacts the baseball with ferocity, hammering it when he finds the barrel, as evidenced by his max exit speed of 99.15 mph in BP at the Future Games, per TrackMan. He receives the ball well behind the plate and boasts advanced arm strength for someone his age, so there’s a lot to like in this enticing all-around profile.

Will Johannes (8/2/20)

Another pop-up prospect this winter, SS Anthony Lausten (Hartford, 2022) is a wiry left-handed hitter with a contact-oriented approach that can really pick it up the middle and has one of the strongest infield arms in the state. He’ll serve as the table-setter for this offense, while another left-handed hitter, 2B/SS Ryan Campbell (Brookfield Academy, 2022) will match him right up the middle Campbell had a strong summer for the Halos, often leading them offensively and showing some notable improvements at the plate since we last saw him. C Alec Campbell (Milton, 2022) and OF Adam Balcerak (Muskego, 2022) are new to this team, each of which are ranked prospects in the state’s class. Campbell’s physicality paired with his bat strength is noticeable and he, like Johannes, can play behind the plate. Balcerak’s athleticism makes him appealing, running a 6.82 60-yard dash at an event this past August while throwing 87 mph from the outfield as well.

Anthony Lausten (6/30/20)

RHP/1B Mason Krznarich (Arrowhead, 2022) and LHP Willard Peterson (Evansviille, 2022) anchor this staff on the mound. Krznarich boasts one of the more physical frames in the class, standing at a strong 6-foot-5, 235 pounds. He put together one of the more dominant performances we saw at The Rock this summer, striking out 12 en route to a no-hitter, where he ran his fastball up to 86 mph and showed feel for a fading changeup. Peterson isn’t the power arm that Krznarich is, but he’s an ultra-competitive bulldog-esque southpaw with multiple offerings that just attacks the zone and is going to have success at the next level while doing so. 

PRO PLAYER 2021

Cary Grove has produced several notable frontline starters over the past years and LHP Ryan Weaver (2021; Illinois State) fits in with that group nicely. He’s a polished southpaw that fills up the zone, comfortably incorporating all three of his pitches throughout an outing. His fastball touched 88 mph this summer, sitting at 85-87 mph and playing with heavy arm-side action. Last summer, Weaver heavily relied on an advanced sinking changeup as his top secondary pitch, but we saw him use his curveball more this year, which bodes well for him to stick as a starter moving forward. 

Both C Camdin Janik (Wauconda, 2021; Illinois commit) and 1B Kyle Hayes (St. Charles East, 2021; Kirkwood CC commit) participated in the PBR Midwest ProCase back in July and are high-follow names in this class. Janik’s overall defensive actions are advanced, especially his catch-and-throw skills, where he works efficiently and quickly to release. Hayes is a 6-foot-1, 220-pound physical presence in the box with some of the best raw power in the state and he’ll get to it in games, too. Uncommitted RHP Dylan Petrey (Hampshire, 2021) showed a unique five-pitch arsenal at our McHenry Preseason ID back in February, each of which he looked comfortable throwing. His athleticism and arm speed on the mound are noticeable, while his low release angle allows his low-to-mid-80s fastball to play up in the zone for swings-and-misses. Also uncommitted, strong right-handed hitting C Daniel Contreras (Rockford Boylan, 2021) has some eye-popping raw power and is typically on the barrel. He can sling it from behind the plate, registering average pop times in the low-2.00 second range.

Daniel Contreras (8/11/20)

Left/left OF Joey Hagen (Johnsburg, 2021; Eastern Illinois) is an athletic outfielder with advanced foot speed and tools for his age. He’s a 6.93 runner, although that number has likely improved since our last look, with a max exit velocity of 95 mph off a tee and registered throws topping out at 85 mph to home back in January. MIF Tyler Castro (Huntley, 2021; McHenry County JC), OF Joshua Notriano (Johnsburg, 2021; McHenry CC commit), OF Chris Rooney (Mundelein, 2021; uncommitted), RHP Aidan Pavoris (Huntley, 2021; uncommitted) and MIF Kyle Washington (Jacobs, 2021; uncommitted) are all ranked prospects in their class worth mentioning, too. 

PRO PLAYER 2022

Ranked No. 75 overall in Illinois 2022 rankings, RHP Kyle Kaempf (McHenry, 2022) is a slender 6-foot-1, 160-pound arm that uses wiry lean strength to produce mid-80s velocity on his fastball, touching 87 mph this July. He’s still refining his off-speed, but he throws a sinking changeup with fastball aggression that may end up being an above-average pitch. C/RHP Nico Acevedo (Crystal Lake Central, 2022) is someone who our staff hasn’t seen much of, but has performed well at other PBR events, so much so that he’s a ranked prospect in Illinois’ 2022 class. A catcher by trade, Acevedo works well out of the crouch with fluid actions and the arm strength to stick behind the dish long-term. There’s certainly some juice in his barrel, primarily to the pull-side, and he can really do some damage at the plate. Acevedo was also up to 88 mph at the 16U National Championships this past July, so there could definitely be some upside on the bump, too. Left-handed hitting OF Rick Powell (McHenry, 2022) goes back-to-back with Acevedo in our updated rankings. Powell’s swing from the right side is simple and his loose bat speed paired with natural bat strength equate to an upside offensive profile for Powell. RHP Nathan Chapman (Jacobs, 2022) and Jameson Sheehan (Cary Grove, 2022) are both 6-foot-2 pitchers with upside on the mound, particularly because of their ability to spin breaking balls over for strikes. 

PTA CARDINAL 2021/2022

A combined roster of 2021 and 2022 graduates, this PTA Cardinal team has plenty of interesting names scattered throughout, starting with SS/3B Andrew Chapman (Waterford, 2021; University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee commit). Chapman is a 6.87 runner that’s wheels play up on the diamond with noticeably loud pull-side power, albeit some swing-and-miss issues are present. His power-speed combo is certainly intriguing and there’s tremendous upside should he ultimately refine his approach. Left/left OF Peyton Seebacher (Muskego, 2021; uncommitted) showed well at our Senior Games event last Sunday and he boasts advanced bat strength from the left side. We really didn’t see Seebacher much this summer and it’ll be interesting to see how his tools translate against high level competition this weekend. RHP Jacob Thoresen (Oak Creek, 2021; uncommitted) and LHP Owen Rice (East Troy, 2021; uncommitted) anchor this pitching staff, both of which remain uncommitted. Thoreson is a strong arm, durable right-hander that attacks hitters with a heavy fastball in the 83-86 mph range. Rice is a high-ceiling prospect capable of molding himself into a truly special product down the road. He stands at a lanky, long-levered 6-foot-4, 175 pounds with plenty of room for added strength and physical development. His fastball sits at 83-85 mph but plays up, especially in the zone, because of the on average 22 inches of induced vertical break, maxing out at 27 inches, he gets on it. That’ll allow Rice to elevate his fastball up in the zone, despite it coming out of a high release point, and also boosts his curveball; a sharp breaking pitch that spins off a 1/7 plane. RHP Maximus Graetz (Oak Creek, 2021; uncommitted) is a strong, mature right-hander worth mentioning as well. 

Owen Rice (8/9/20)

From the 2022 class, LHP Taylor Kilps (Whitnall, 2022; uncommitted) is still putting it all together on the mound, but he’s flashed some intriguing stuff worth noting. He’s a slender, yet athletic, 6-foot-2, 175-pound quick-twitch southpaw with room to continue filling out his frame. Kilps sat 83-85 mph, touching 86 mph at the Future Games this past August from a ¾ slot and mixed in a tight-spinning slider that he’s still working on grasping feel for. It’s a fairly raw overall profile right now, but more mechanical refinement and pitch comfort could lead to a well-rounded long-term arm. OF Max Semancik (Franklin, 2022; uncommitted), SS/RHP Carson Fluguar (Franklin, 2022; uncommitted) and SS/RHP Evan Iwinski (Franklin, 2022; uncommitted) are all follows, too.

RAKECITY 2022

According to our PBR Illinois colleagues, the state’s 2022 class is becoming an especially memorable one, and No. 3 overall prospect RHP/SS Owen Murphy (Riverside-Brookfield, IL; Notre Dame) is one of its best players. He’ll be joining us again at The Rock, where he shoved this summer in front of our staff, reaching an uber easy 92 mph. SS/3B Estevan Moreno (Montini Catholic, IL) is another high-follow Notre Dame commit with some of the class best power potential.

We’ll focus a little more on the uncommitted names joining Murphy and Moreno in Franklin, like LHP Dominic Corgiat (Fenwick, IL). The 6-foot-2, 175-pound southpaw projects well with a three-pitch mix and a fastball that’s reached 85 mph.

Dominic Corgiat (8/10/20)

3B/SS Jake Munroe (Champaign Centennial, IL) is a physical right-handed hitter with bat speed who connects for loud contact, especially for his age. 3B/OF Blake Edmonds (Hinsdale Central, IL) has a healthy toolset, one that includes 7.04 speed and a little strength from the left-handed batter’s box. RHP Waylon Deck (Homewood Flossmoor, IL) has a loose, quick arm that sat 84-85 mph at a Scout Day this summer for us. And C Kyle Jannenga (Hinsdale South, IL) is built to catch, at a robust 6-foot, 205 pounds. He’s athletic, too, as a sub-6.80 runner who’s quick from the crouch and he knows how to elevate the baseball from the right-handed box.


STARTERS 17U NATIONAL

Minnesota’s STARTERS squad competing inside the Upperclass division is made up of high-follow 2022 prospects, led by several who represented their state at the PBR Future Games in August. 3B/C Kyle Hvidsten (Jordan, MN, 2022) remains uncommitted, and he showed some of the best power potential at those Future Games, topping 97.6 mph in batting practice, scorching a ball over 380 feet. And Hvidsten did well to show off his bat strength in game, too, recording one ball that travelled deep to his opposite field, off the right field fence.

Kyle Hvidsten (8/1/20)

SS/2B Maddox Mihalakis (Hopkins, MN, 2022) is a left-handed-hitting middle infielder who’s also a 7.03 runner. He, too, represented Minnesota while playing for Team Select at the Future Games where he impressed with his barrel feel from the left side while also defending in a smooth rhythm, looking the part of a next-level middle infielder. From Belle Plaine, Minn., RHP Jack Kruger (2022) is a three-pitch type with the ability to spin a tight slider, and the upside 6-foot-3, 185-pound frame to project for more velo down the road. OF/INF Wyatt Jensen (Luck, 2022) is one Wisconsin native on this roster, and he has the raw tools to know him as a follow ahead of time. He’s a 6.91 runner in a compact 5-foot-10, 175-pound frame who connects for hard line-drive contact.

TOP TIER 17U

This Top Tier team is absolutely loaded with high-end prospects and could arguably be the most talented roster we see all weekend from top to bottom. They’re led by the number one overall player in the Illinois 2022 class: OF Alex Stanwich (Lincoln-Way East, 2022; Tennessee commit). He’s an absolute physical freak, running a 6.58 60-yard dash with a howitzer for an arm in the outfield that tops out at 95 mph on his throws to home and a PBR Future Games record-breaking 106 exit mph velocity off the tee. He’s one of the toolsiest prospects in the entire nation and if Stanwich consistently puts it all together, his ceiling is sky-high. 

Rivaling Stanwich in the power department is left-handed hitting 1B Daniel Pacella (Mundelein, 2022; Kentucky commit), who recorded an exit velocity of 107 mph off the tee at our Preseason All-State event this February. Pacella translates that prodigious raw power into all-fields pop in game as well and there may even be more to come as he fills out a rather projectable 6-foot-3, 215-pound frame. SS Christian Holmes (De La Selle, 2022; Kansas State commit) is another elite prospect that sits atop the Illinois 2022 rankings. He adequately represented Team Illinois at the recent PBR Future Games, putting on a show in batting practice, recording a max flyball distance of 382 ft. and max exit speed of 98.55 mph, per TrackMan. Holmes can really defend at shortstop too, where he has the lateral quickness and arm strength to stick moving forward. SS/OF Jack Scheri (LaSalle Peru, 2022) is a lightning quick swiss army knife type of player that impacts the game in multiple ways with his athleticism and did nothing but hit in our looks all summer. He remains one of the top uncommitted prospects in his class and has the type of skill-set that’ll play rather quickly at the next level. CIF Luke Adams (Hinsdale Central, 2022; Michigan State commit) and OF Josh Outlaw (Maine West, 2022) each showed well at the Future Games for Team Illinois, particularly Adams, who seemingly found the barrel in all of his at-bats and really showed his ability to go the other way. OF Brendan Summerhill (Whitney Young, 2022; Kentucky commit) is a wiry left-handed hitting outfielder that may ultimately possess the best hit tool in the class and should grow into more power as he fills out his slender 6-foot-3, 180-pound frame. C Ryan Louthan (Joliet Catholic, 2022), OF Angelo Luna (St. Laurence, 2022), and SS Jorgie Vasquez (Mt. Carmel, 2022) are all names-to-know, too.

Jack Scheri (8/2/20)

The influx of talent doesn’t stop on the offense for Top Tier. RHP Ethan Patera (Downers Grove South, 2022; Louisville commit) is a hulking 6-foot-4, 220-pound arm that justifiably passes the eye test at first glance. We’ve had him up to 92 mph, usually sitting in the 88-91 mph range, and he’ll spin off some tight, aggressive sliders that flash swing-and-miss potential, albeit still rather inconsistent. A polished southpaw whose performance at the All-State Games event in June solidified his invite to the PBR Future Games, LHP Shane Curtin (Lyons Township, 2022) was one of the summer’s biggest “winners”. He’s competitive from the second he toes the rubber and pounds the lower half of the zone with a low-to-mid-80s fastball that’s been up to 86 mph. Curtin boasts at least two above-average offerings in his arsenal, although his swing-and-miss changeup projects to be a plus pitch, with natural downward actions and the comfort to throw it to either handed opponent that makes it more effective. RHP Alex Alberico (Providence Catholic, 2022; Tennessee commit) is still harnessing a powerful arsenal that includes a high-80s fastball, topping out at 89 mph, and an inconsistent slider with potential swing-and-miss action to it. With how much talent is on this team, Top Tier has to be an early favorite to take home the trophy this weekend.

Shane Curtin (8/2/20)

TOP TIER 18U

If you’re looking for some of the top uncommitted talent in the tournament, Top Tier’s 18U (2021) roster may be the one to trail all weekend. Some of Illinois’ best on-the-market seniors reside here, including RHP Tom Egan (Mount Carmel), SS/3B Ethan Bowers (Vernon Hills), C Danny Nuccio (Plainfield North), C/RHP Brian Rapanan (Warren Township), RHP Daniel Reischl (Loyola Academy), OF/LHP Lucas Spence (Crete-Monee), among many others.

Egan and Bowers are ranked next to each other inside their state’s top-50 as two of the top uncommitted players in Illinois. Egan is a highly competitive, athletic arm who was just up to 91 mph earlier this month with a high-spin fastball, with rates ranging from 2,400 to 2,500-plus rpm. He can also really spin a slider and a separate curve, in addition to a deceptive change.

Tom Egan (6/14/20)

Bowers is a live-wired shortstop with premium foot speed, as a 6.61 runner. He also swings a fast, loose bat and can hit the ball with authority, especially for his lean 6-foot, 185-pound size. It’s an aggressive swing that matches the competitive edge he plays all facets of the game with.

Ethan Bowers (7/25/20)

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