Devan
Tupper

Eastern Illinois signee. Currently ranked No. 49 in Illinois’ 2024 class. Stands in a lean and projectable frame at 6-foot-3, 175-pounds. Started on the mound for the Pioneers and dominated throughout. Earned the win on the mound and threw nine innings, struck out 10, walked two, allowed two runs and four hits. Competed and attacked hitters with both his fastball and slider, gave up his only runs in the first inning and then shut down the Senators lineup the rest of the way. Athletic mover with a quick arm out of a ¾ slot. Fastball sat 85-88 mph and touched 89 mph twice with heavy arm-side run at times, creating swing-and-miss. Threw a hard slider with big sweep at 77-80 mph, creating 2300 rpm on the pitch, and created multiple swing-and-miss on this pitch, too. Quality look at one of the top arms in the class.

Eastern Illinois commit. Tupper had an impressive week, going 5-for-9 at the plate with one home run, one triple, one double, two RBIs, two runs scored and a stolen base. He also had two appearances on the mound and struck out seven, walked none, allowed no runs and three hits throughout the week. He started on the mound in their 12-1 win over Lincoln and tossed 3.2 innings with six strikeouts, no runs or walks allowed, and he only gave up three hits.

Verbally committed to Eastern Illinois.

RHP Devan Tupper (Normal University, 2024) is an athletic right-handed-pitching prospect with a high ceiling. Standing at 6-foot-3, 175-pounds Tupper was confident in his three-pitch mix, mostly working backwards against hitters. His mid-to-upper 80s, T87.3 mph, fastball played with rise and run, topping out at 19.6” of ride through the zone and 16.8” of horizontal movement. Tupper was confident in his upper-70s curveball as he threw it in any count and was able to throw it for strikes and generate swings-and-misses out of the zone with it. Tupper also threw a upper-70s changeup with hard running action with 17.3 inches of horizontal movement.

Positional Profile: RHP
Body: 6-3, 175-pounds.
Delivery: Quick to balance point, medium leg lift into tall/fall delivery, lands in-line, minimal effort.
Arm Action: RH. Long out of the glove, loose and athletic into a high 3/4 slot.
FB: T87, 85-87 mph. Ride through the zone, some feel for the zone. T2322, 2143 average rpm.
CB: 76-77 mph. Confident to throw in any count, flashed sharp breaking action. T2633, 2517 average rpm.
CH: 79-80 mph. Flashed depth, developing feel. T1964, 1910 average rpm.

Uncommitted, ranked No. 62 in the state’s class of 2024. Showed confidence and competitiveness on the mound. Threw three innings in relief, allowed two hits, two unearned runs, walked two and struck out six. Showed a fastball that was mostly straight with some arm-side run, sat 84-87 mph, topping out at 88 mph. Mixed in a curveball with 11/5 shape that sat 74-76 mph with 2300-2500 RPMs. An impressive look at the uncommitted, athletic junior.

Uncommitted. Tupper added a double with an RBI, run scored, and a walk. He is hitting 4-for-8 (.500 avg.) with a home run, double, and five RBIs. On the mound he has thrown two and two-third innings with five strikeouts and no runs allowed.

OF Devan Tupper (Normal University, 2024) is one of the more athletic uncommitted prospects in the 2024 class. The 6-foot-2, 170-pound, high-ceiling right-handed hitter ran a 6.81, was 88 mph from the outfield and was one of the top performers when it came to the athletic testing portion of the event. There is all kinds of bat speed and twitch in the swing and he looks to be just tapping into his high-ceiling potential. Highly-athletic 2024 to follow moving forward.

Positional Profile: OF/RHP
Body: 6-2, 170-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, open base, smooth hand load, short stride.  Present bat speed and twitch, stays short and flat through the zone, ball jumps off the barrel.
Power: 93 max exit velocity, averaged 81.6 mph. 329’ max distance.
Arm: RH. OF - 88 mph. Long and loose arm action, 3/4 slot, life to the bag.
Defense: Clean, athletic actions, plays through the baseball in rhythm, sure-handed.
Run: 6.81 runner in the 60. Athletic, long strides.

Positional Profile: OF/RHP
Body: 6-2, 170-pounds. Athletic, lean build. Projectable frame.
Delivery: Stretch-only; tall balance point, high knee tuck. Smooth drop and drive down the mound, athletic landing, easy effort.
Arm Action: RH. Long arm action and circle to a high 3/4 slot; loose and quick.
FB: T85.3, 82.6-85.0 mph. Projects as a sinker-type; arm-side action. T1826, 1690 average rpm.
CB: 72.4-73.9 mph. Short, 11/5 action that flashed tight spin; projects as he adds strength. T2101, 2035 average rpm.
CH: 76.2-78.8 mph. Thrown effectively at arm speed; fade/run. Flashed ability to locate down. T1712, 1620 average rpm.

Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, slightly open base, bat wraps, short stride.  Whippy levers that rotate well out of load, short and level to contact with some leverage out front, gap-to-gap approach, hard off the barrel.
Power: 92.4 max exit velocity, averaged 86 mph. 335’ max distance.
Arm: RH. OF - 87 mph. Quick arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Aggressive outfielder. Quick reads. Clean exchange.
Run: 6.89 runner in the 60. 

OF/RHP Devan Tupper (Normal University, 2024) is listed at a lean, projectable 6-foot-2, 170 pounds, and he stood out on both sides of the ball on Monday. From the mound, Tupper’s loose, quick arm required minimal effort to reach an 85.3 mph high, inside a delivery that featured athleticism throughout. His fastball projects best as a sinker-type, with hard arm-side run that flashed late action through the zone at times. Tupper’s changeup looked like his best offspeed offering at present, thrown effectively at arm speed with deceptive fading action that worked well off his fastball. His curveball projects, however, as he gains greater confidence in it, though it’s presently a short breaker that works off a more vertical plane, flashing tight spin in the 2,100 rpm range. Tupper presents the same kind of intrigue and upside with his right-handed bat as well. Tupper has whippy, loose levers, creates leverage off the barrel and made a lot of hard contact into both gaps. The 6.89 runner in the 60 also topped at 87 mph from the outfield. Strong overall day for the high-ceiling, two-way prospect. 

Positional Profile: OF/RHP
Body: 6-1, 160-pounds. High-waisted, athletic build with upside.
Delivery: Stretch-only, tall and fall delivery, works smooth with rhythm, stays on-line and lands square.
Arm Action: RH. Long, loose arm action, high 3/4 slot.
FB: T80, 78-80 mph. Showed control, creates angle at times, flashed sinking action. T1865, 1779 average rpm.
CB: 67-70 mph. 11/5 shape. T2065, 1860 average rpm.
CH: 70-73 mph. Maintains arm speed at times, run and sinking action with feel for the zone. T1610, 1496 average rpm.

Hit: RHH. Tall quiet setup, short stride and maintains balance throughout.  Simple, easy swing, loose hands, short path, level through the zone and stays within himself.
Power: 88.2 max exit velocity, averaged 76.79 mph. 268’ max distance.
Arm: RH. OF - 81 mph. Long arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Fluid footwork at times, clean release and steady hands.
Run: 7.17 runner in the 60. Clean, long-strided runner.

Another 2024 arm to keep an eye on is the wiry frame of 6-foot-1, 160-pound Devan Tupper (Normal University). Tupper has a projectable arm swing out of a high ¾ slot sitting 78-79, T80 mph with moderate effort and produces a ton of arm side run. Tupper, also an outfielder, ran a 7.17 60 and has a simple right-handed swing with a barrel control approach.