Jack
Bauer

LHP Jack Bauer (Lincoln-Way East, 2025) emerged as the top prospect in the state last summer, eventually earning an invitation to the PBR Future Games as one of the younger prospects in attendance, ultimately leading to a commitment to Virginia. Bauer clearly put in work this offseason, continuing to see his fastball velocity climb, now up to 92.6 mph. That velocity, however, was not the most impressive part of this smooth operating, easy left-handers bullpen as he showed off a much-improved, high-spinning, mid-70’s slider with all kinds of horizontal action, playing with an average of 16.6 inches of horizontal movement and an average of 2743 rpm. The pitch is thrown with much more arm speed and intent than we have seen in the past and has a chance to be a wipe-out offering if he can harness it moving forward. The changeup was also an above-average offering, landing in the zone 50% of the time with an average of 16.5 inches of horizontal movement, heading the opposite direction as the slider. Highly-impressive early season look at one of the top 2025 left-handed arms in the country.

Positional Profile: LHP
Body: 6-3, 175-pounds. Athletic, broad-shouldered build.
Delivery: Simple, hybrid delivery, tall and fall delivery works with extreme ease and on-line down the mound.
Arm Action: LH. Loose, free-flowing arm action, quick out front, 3/4 slot.
FB: T93, 90-92 mph. Advanced life and ease out of the hand, all kinds of finish and jump through the zone. T2346, 2266 average rpm.
SL: 76-77 mph. Advanced spin, thrown aggressively, tight 2/8 sweeping action. Potential swing and miss pitch down the road. T2817, 2743 average rpm.
CH: 83-85 mph. Maintains arm speed, showed feel, mostly straight. T2199, 2117 average rpm.

Arguably nobody in the state has been on a quicker, higher climb than Jack Bauer (Lincoln-Way East, 2025), who officially broke out at the PBR Future Games, and continued to show the same high-level stuff at the State Games. Bauer, who has a chance to soar towards the top of the Illinois rankings, has an ultra-fluid, easy delivery and continues to set personal bests everytime he comes to an event. This time around, Bauer, listed at an upside 6-foot-2, 175-pounds, ran his fastball up to 91.4 mph sitting comfortably in the upper-80’s. Bauer controlled the fastball throughout and showed two developing off-speed offerings for strikes in an upper-60s curveball and 76-78 mph changeup. Bauer struck out six in his three inning stint. The floor continues to elevate for Bauer and the ceiling remains arguably the top in the class.

Positional Profile: LHP
Body: 6-3, 175-pounds. Athletic, well-proportioned build.
Delivery: Controlled tempo, medium balance point into a slight drop/drive lower-half, maintains knee bend while pushing down the mound, stride works in-line with the plate. In-game stats: 3 IP, 6 K, 2 BB, 1 H
Arm Action: LH. Long arm swing out of the glove into a 3/4 slot.
FB: T91.4, 85-89 mph. Slight running action to the arm-side. T2272, 2154 average rpm.
CB: 66-67 mph. Flashed sharp 1/7 action. T2477, 2429 average rpm.
CH: 73-77 mph. Slight fading action to the arm-side. T2054, 1884 average rpm.

The biggest winner on the mound was LHP Jack Bauer (Lincoln-Way East, 2025). Standing at 6-foot-2, 170-pounds, Bauer has all sorts of projection in his lean/wiry frame. He moves down the mound athletically with a drop/drive lower-half and minimal perceived effort, remaining in-line to the plate before firing from a clean/loose ¾ slot. His fastball worked in the 87-89 mph range, jumping out of his hand with life to the arm-side and spinning at an average of 2,291 RPM (T2440 RPM). His breaking ball plays off a sharp 1/7 plane, spinning at an average of 2,420 RPM, 68-69 mph. His final offering was a fading changeup at 76-78 mph, getting under it at times but thrown with near fastball arm-speed.

Positional Profile: LHP/OF
Body: 5-11, 152-pounds. Projectable frame.
Delivery: Starts with feet staggered (lead foot closer to first base), athletic delivery with a drop-and-drive lower-half, strides in-line, gains ground down the mound.
Arm Action: LH. Loose 3/4 slot, athletic arm.
FB: T79, 76-78 mph. Generally straight.  T2177, 2096 average rpm.
CB: 62-65 mph. Gradual 1/7 shape, short action at times. T2281, 2169 average rpm.