Ethan
Eberle

Louisville commit Ethan Eberle has had quite an impressive high school career, now holding Normal Community's career strike record at 265. Eberle was an All-State selection last year but has been more dominant this year, going 7-1 with 104 strikeouts and a 0.99 ERA over 49.2 innings, earning the Pitcher of the Year award for his respective region. The Normal Community ace had two complete games on the year, both in the postseason, with one against Moline and the other against Bradley-Bourbonnais. Eberle is ranked as the No. 1 left-handed pitcher in Illinois' 2024, and for good reason. Eberle has a lively fastball with all kinds of horizontal movement that sits comfortably in the upper-80's but its his big sweeping breaking ball that is the separator and leads to a lot of his chases and strikeouts out of the zone. One of the more dynamic arms in the state.

Louisville signee. Ranked No. 12 in the state’s senior class and No. 290 overall. Started on the mound for the Ironmen. Stands in a strong 6-foot-5, 220-pound frame. Threw six shutout innings on the mound, struck out six and allowed one hit. Eberle continues to impress with his ability to attack the zone with each pitch and his confidence in each of his pitches. Works with a high leg lift with tuck into a tall and fall delivery down the mound. Has a long, loose arm path out of a ¾ slot with quickness out front. Showed a four-pitch mix; Fastball sat 87-89 mph with arm-side run, comes out of the hand clean and easy. Threw two separate breaking balls with similar, sharp shape, producing a range of 2300-2500 rpm, and also threw a low-80s change-up with slight fade. One of the top pitching prospects in the senior class.

Louisville commit. Currently ranked No. 12 in Illinois’ senior class. Started on the mound for the Ironmen. Stands in a sturdy 6-foot-5, 220-pound frame. Threw four innings on the mound, struck out eight, walked one and allowed three hits. Worked with quality pace, high-level competitor that attacks hitters with his three-pitch repertoire. Eberle showed an athletic delivery with a high leg lift and leg tuck, short stride down the mound that works in-line. Long, quick arm path out of a lower ¾ slot. Fastball sat 86-88 mph and touched 89 mph three times, showing noticeable arm-side run at times that created swing-and-miss for opposing hitters. Arguably his best pitch was his 73-76 mph curveball that has sharp, late bite that drops in the zone at the last second with quality spin, ranging from 2200-2500 rpm. He turned to his change-up often to right-handed hitters, which sat 77-81 mph with fade. A high-level arm in the state’s senior class.

LHP Ethan Eberle (2024; Louisville commit) is one of the top pitching prospects in the entire state of Illinois, and last year he was nothing short of dominant on the mound. In 52 innings of work, Eberle posted an 8-0 record, struck out 105 batters, walked 17, allowed 12 hits, and only allowed one earned run all season. Heading into 2024, we’ve seen Eberle continue to get better, as we recently saw him up to 92.2 mph with his fastball that has true two-seam movement. He also has a big breaking curveball that gets swing-and-misses as well as a low-80s change-up that has fade and sink actions. What sets Eberle apart, aside from his pitch metrics, is his ability to command the strike zone and attack hitters with confidence in his three-pitch repertoire. When he takes the mound for the Ironmen, it will create a tough offensive day for the opposing team, and his presence sets them apart come playoff time.

Positional Profile: LHP/1B
Body: 6-5, 220-pounds. Large build, long limbs with a high waist.
Delivery: High, straight leg-lift out to the side, slight coil with the upper-half, tall/fall lower-half that works in-line down the mound, repeats well despite his deceptive delivery.
Arm Action: LH. Long arm swing, arm moves quickly into a 3/4 slot.
FB: T92, 91-92 mph. Heavy arm side run, over 19" at times, showed control to glove-side, miss was to arm-side. T2143, 2005 average rpm.
CB: 77-78 mph. Sharp downward action, late 1/7 shape, clear arm-speed through release, can land for strikes and place under the zone. T2394, 2314 average rpm.
CH: 82-84 mph. Plays well off fastball, heavy arm-side run with near fastball arm-speed, controlled around and under the zone. T1954, 1844 average rpm.

LHP Ethan Eberle (Normal Community, 2024; Louisville) has been all over the PBR circuit, making trips to LakePoint for the 2022 PBR Future Games, and most recently the Illinois State Games in August. The Central Illinois product just continues to throw strikes, get outs, and win games, only allowing one run the entire high school season. Ranked No. 20 in the state’s 2024 class, the southpaw’s fastball sat 86-87 mph with heavy arm-side run. He pairs it with a big, sweeping breaking ball that he can land for strikes, which results in plenty of takes and swing-and-misses. Eberle also threw a changeup at 79 mph. Eberle is one of the top arms in the state that continues to trend up.

+ LHP Ethan Eberle (Normal Community, 2024; Louisville commit) continues to be a tough look for opposing hitters. Listed at 6-foot-5, 215-pounds, long limbs. Eberle is deceptive with his delivery, working with a big leg-lift into a slight coil before striding across his body slightly down the mound. Hides the ball well with his short arm action and low ¾ release. The southpaw worked his fastball in the 85-87 mph range with up to 18.4” of run, averaging 16.5”. He went to his sweeping slider most often, ripping it confidently for strikes and to put hitters away, 71-73 mph with 2/8 shape. Flashed a straight changeup at 77 mph. Quiet confidence, “try and hit it” mentality. 

Positional Profile: LHP/1B
Body: 6-5, 215-pounds.
Delivery: Up-tempo motion with a swinging leg lift, works in-line down the mound, tall finish. Struck out six in two innings of work.
Arm Action: LH. Long arm path, 3/4 slot with whippy arm action.
FB: T88, 85-87 mph. Two-seam FB, with immediate arm-side run. T2035, 1951 average rpm.
CB: 71-74 mph. 1/7 shape with late break. T2205, 2116 average rpm.
SL: 72-72 mph. Noticeable horizontal movement. T2078, 2068 average rpm.
CH: 77-77 mph. Tunnels well, has some sink. T1730, 1730 average rpm.

Currently ranked No. 23 in the state. The southpaw was absolutely dominant this past spring, pitching to a 0.14 ERA and a 0.56 WHIP with 105 strikeouts in 52 innings. It was easy to see why he was so dominant, as he worked his heavy sinking fastball up to 88 mph from a low ¾ slot. He hides the ball well throughout his delivery, making it even tougher for opposing hitters to pick up. He showed a clear confidence in his sweeping slider, landing it for strikes and to put hitters away, 73-74 mph. 

Eberle was nothing short of fantastic in his junior year and played a major role in Normal Community making it as far as their sectional semi-final. The Louisville commit, who’s one of the top arms in the Illinois’ 2024 class, allowed two runs in total this spring and just one of them was earned. Across 52 innings of work, Eberle finished 8-0 with a 0.14 ERA, 0.56 WHIP, and 105 strikeouts. He threw four complete games, all of them shutouts, and he allowed only 12 hits while walking 17. He features a low-to-mid-80s fastball with plenty of natural horizontal movement and compliments it with two above-average secondaries. Eberle is an early candidate to find himself on this again after next high school season.

Louisville commit, currently ranked No. 23 in the state’s 2024 class. Stands at a strong 6-foot-5, 215-pounds, with projection. Started on the mound for the Ironmen and showed an impressive three-pitch mix. Threw 6 â…“ innings, allowed three hits, one earned run, walked two, and struck out 12. Showed confidence on the mound and a low-effort delivery with seemingly more velocity to come. Fastball showed some arm-side run, but worked mostly straight, sat 84-86 mph throughout the game (up to 87.7 mph in the winter). Showed two different breaking balls that sat anywhere from 71-74 mph and varied from 1/7 to 2/8 sweeping shape. Lowered the arm slot for some of his breaking balls, creating more horizontal action. Changeup sat 79-80 mph with some run to the arm-side, with deceleration that kept hitters off-balanced. One of the top left-handed arms in the class.

Louisville commit. Eberle had an impressive week last week. He committed to Louisville, was named the PBR Illinois Pitcher of the Week, and threw a complete game with 14 strikeouts, two walks, and only two hits allowed in their win over Normal West.

From the left hand side, three southpaws showed above average fastballs at the Preseason All-State. Frankie Bilecki (Marist, 2024), Ethan Eberle (Normal Community, 2024) and Jacob Gimbel (Joliet, Catholic, 2024) all worked in the mid to upper 80’s. Bilecki sat 84-86 mph with good depth to his curveball. Eberle was up to 87-88 mph with natural arm side run and flashing a sharp breaking ball. Gimbel sat 86-87 mph and showed a four pitch mix highlighted by a sinking changeup with arm speed.

Positional Profile: LHP/1B
Body: 6-5, 215-pounds. Big, sturdy build.
Delivery: Subtle rocker slides to third base side of rubber, toe lift into balance position, lands closed on ball of foot.
Arm Action: LH. Arm action has length, high 3/4 slot.
FB: T88, 87-88 mph. Showed feel for arm side of the plate, natural run to that side. T2103, 1966 average rpm.
CB: 71-74 mph. Flashed sharp action with depth. T2461, 2385 average rpm.
SL: 80-81 mph. Short, lateral action.  T2137, 2077 average rpm.
CH: 80-81 mph. Gets sink action. T1989, 1918 average rpm.

LHP Ethan Eberle (Normal Community, 2024) has been dominant on the PBR circuit all summer long, coming off a strong showing at the PBR Future Games. The southpaw dominated once again at the State Games, working his sinking fastball in the 84-86 mph range from a tough slot for opposing hitters. His curveball had tight spin and late breaking action, coming from a similar fastball slot at 69-70 mph. Eberle struck out four over his three inning stint.

Positional Profile: LHP
Body: 6-5, 210-pounds. Extra-large, broad-shouldered frame.
Delivery: High, athletic leg-kick, tall/fall lower-half, builds momentum down the mound, stride works in-line to the plate. In-game stats: 3 IP, 4 K, 1 BB, 2 H, 1 R
Arm Action: LH. Hides the ball well, medium circle out of the glove into a 3/4 slot.
FB: T85.4, 83-85 mph. Plays with heavy sinking action through the zone. T2170, 2028 average rpm.
CB: 69-70 mph. Flashed sharp 1/7 action. T2283, 2159 average rpm.
SL: 69-71 mph. Sharp horizontal sweeping action, 2/8 shape. T2392, 2292 average rpm.
CH: 77-78 mph. Heavy fading action from a similar fastball window. T1963, 1907 average rpm.

Positional Profile: LHP
Body: 6-5, 210-pounds. Extra-large, broad-shouldered frame.
Delivery: High, athletic leg-kick, tall/fall lower-half, builds momentum down the mound, stride works in-line to the plate. In-game stats: 3 IP, 4 K, 1 BB, 2 H, 1 R
Arm Action: LH. Hides the ball well, medium circle out of the glove into a 3/4 slot.
FB: T85.4, 83-85 mph. Plays with heavy sinking action through the zone. T2170, 2028 average rpm.
CB: 69-70 mph. Flashed sharp 1/7 action. T2283, 2159 average rpm.
SL: 69-71 mph. Sharp horizontal sweeping action, 2/8 shape. T2392, 2292 average rpm.
CH: 77-78 mph. Heavy fading action from a similar fastball window. T1963, 1907 average rpm.

Positional Profile: LHP/1B
Body: 6-4, 200-pounds. Tall, lanky levers.
Delivery: Up-tempo, tall and fall delivery, tall at balance point, works on line.
Arm Action: LH. Long arm action, 3/4 slot.
FB: T84.8, 82.7-84.2 mph. Hard running action to the arm side. T2198, 2073 average rpm.
CB: 67.4-69.7 mph. 1/7 shape. Late break. Depth. T2224, 2058 average rpm.
CH: 76.7-77.4 mph. Maintains arm speed. A bit firm at times. T1892, 1828 average rpm.

 The southpaw Eberle stands at 6-foot-4, 200 pounds, and his fastball sat 83-84 mph, topping at 84.8 mph and averaged some of the best horizontal movement of the day, at over 16 inches of arm-side action.

Positional Profile: LHP/1B
Body: 6-2, 190-pounds.
Delivery: Tall and fall delivery down the mound, moves well downhill with a gliding lower-half, shoulders mostly level at release.
Arm Action: LH. Loose 3/4 slot, fluid out of the glove to release.
FB: T81.5, 77.9-80.7 mph. Heavy arm-side life, thrown for strikes.  T2141, 1994 average rpm.
CB: 62.8-64.7 mph. Gradual 1/7 shape, thrown for strikes.  T1993, 1854 average rpm.
CH: 72.6-73.1 mph. Maintains fastball arm-speed, showed arm-side diving action down in the. zone.  T1758, 1723 average rpm.

Positional Profile: LHP/1B
Body: 6-foot-2, 190-pounds. Long-levered, high-waisted, upside frame.
Delivery: Rhythmic delivery works tall and fall, gets down the mound, stays on-line and lands front toe closed.
Arm Action: LH. Loose, uninterrupted arm action, plays quick after foot strikes, 3/4 slot.
FB: T79, 77-79 mph. Clean out of the hand, late arm-side-run. T1902, 1870 average rpm.
CB: 64-66 mph. Thrown aggressively, 1/7 to 2/8 shape, around the zone. T1863, 1822 average rpm.
CH: 71-74 mph. Fastball arm speed, pronates out of the hand, feel for the bottom of the zone, late fade. T1810, 1721 average rpm.

LHP Ethan Eberle (Normal Community): Eberle was one of the more projectable young arms in attendance. The 6-foot-2, 190-pound, upside southpaw pounded the zone with an uptempo pace to his work and a loose arm that plays from a ¾ to high ¾ slot. Eberle’s fastball sat in the upper 70's and he showed well above average feel for a breaking ball and changeup.