Kash
VanHouten

RHP/INF Kash VanHouten (Canton) is yet another high-level prospect from the state’s 2027 class that attended this year’s event. An athletic frame with present strength, VanHouten stands in a 6-foot, 179-pound frame. He works out of a stretch-only delivery on the mound, showing a long arm action with strength, sitting mostly 84-88 mph, while topping out at 88.6 mph with carry through the zone. He turned to a slider that he showed feel to land at the bottom of the zone, and a change-up with clear fade, sitting 76-80 mph. He began the showcase running a 6.96 60 time, a significant improvement since his last showing in the winter. The right-handed hitter displayed a quick bat (avg. 72.4 mph), producing a max exit velocity of 93.9 mph and a max batted distance of 344 feet during batting practice. He remains an athletic defender with clean actions up the middle, including the top infield velocity of the event (91 mph).

Positional Profile: SS/RHP
Body: 5-11, 179-pounds.
Delivery: Utilizes momentum well into balance point, athletic mover throughout, quality extension down the mound.
Arm Action: RH. Long reach out of the glove into a high 3/4 release.
FB: T89, 84-88 mph. Runs to his arm-side with life through the zone. T2383, 2295 average rpm.
SL: 73-76 mph. Showed 10/4 shape. T2363, 1848 average rpm.
CH: 76-81 mph. Some run; matches well with FB. T1712, 1654 average rpm.

6-foot, 175-pounds, athletic frame with strength throughout. A right-handed hitter at the plate, VanHouten (Canton 2027) displayed an easy swing, staying on-plane with minimal swing-and-miss in this look. Barreled a ball to deep left field for a double and showed quality speed around the bases. Continues to show well in-game for our staff with quiet confidence and high-level compete factor. Clean defensive actions, too, moving well to both sides with soft hands and a clean, smooth glove-to-hand transfer. VanHouten also had a dominant performance out of the bullpen in the Wow Factor semi-final game on Monday. The right-handed pitcher tossed three innings allowing three hits, zero runs, and one walk while striking out seven. His fastball came in at 90 mph and settled in at 88-89 mph. The breaking ball sat 70-74 mph, along with a 77 mph change-up. He was able to overpower hitters with a fastball with life and a breaking ball that created bad swings. A must-know name in the state’s 2027 class.

RHP/INF Kash VanHouten (Canton, 2027) Continues to look the part as a high-level prospect in the state’s 2027 class. Listed at 6-foot, 175-pounds, VanHouten has a strong build with evenly proportioned strength, still looking to hold room for muscle in the future. The right-handed hitter took a polished round of BP, working direct to the ball with a flat path, looking to stay on top of the baseball with a balanced finish, mature presence and approach. He has advanced actions on the infield, boasting soft hands with fluid footwork. His arm is also well above-average, reaching up to 88 mph across the diamond. A true two-way prospect, VanHouten clearly made strides this past off-season as he continues to tick up his velocity on the mound; his fastball sat 86-87 mph, while topping out at 88 mph. He showed more confidence in his off-speed pitches as well, as he mixed in a tight-spinning low-70s slider, and a changeup that sat 77-79 mph. A new pitch to his arsenal this year is his sinker, which sits 82-84 mph with slight arm-side run. VanHouten will continue to be a high-follow in Illinois’ freshman class.

Positional Profile: SS
Body: 6-0, 175-pounds. Athletic build with strength.
Hit: RHH. Wide, athletic setup, small, up/down leg lift. Hands stay short to the ball with a slightly uphill path, showed above-average bat speed. 70.6 mph bat speed with 16 G’s of rotational acceleration.
Power: 88 max exit velocity, averaged 84.1 mph. 272’ max distance.
Arm: RH. INF - 88 mph. Long, quick arm path, 3/4 slot.
Defense: Soft hands, fields ball to body, moves well to both sides, clean double play turn.
Run: 7.53 runner in the 60.

Positional Profile: RHP
Delivery: Stretch-only, high-leg lift with tuck, tall/fall delivery. Intentful mover.
Arm Action: RH. Long in the back, acceleration out front, 3/4 slot.
FB: T88, 86-88 mph. Firm out of the hand, rise through the zone. T2373, 2297 average rpm.
SL: 72-73 mph. 11/5 shape, short, tight break. T2141, 2093 average rpm.
CH: 78-79 mph. Clear fade and depth, maintains arm speed. T1583, 1516 average rpm.

SS/RHP Kash VanHouten (Canton, 2027) has consistently provided our staff with upside looks over the past couple years, including the Junior Future Games this past summer, and this weekend was no different. 6-foot, 170-pound build with a mature yet projectable frame. The right-handed hitter has a mature approach in the box to pair with above-average bat-strength; athletic stroke that stays quick and direct to the ball, creates extension through contact and looks to project into more power as he matures. Advanced actions on the infield with soft hands and fluid footwork, clear feel for the position. VanHouten also hopped on the mound and impressed with a fastball up to 84 mph with life through the zone. High-level prospect to know in IL.

Vanhouten showed well on the mound Saturday morning for Wow Factor, flashing a three-pitch mix capable of swings and misses. The right-hander is an athletic mover downhill on the mound with an explosive drop and drive delivery. Arm moves quickly with arm speed out front from a ¾ slot. The fastball sat 82-84 mph with ride through the zone, breaking ball  sat 65-67 mph with 12/6 movement, and a CH that sat 74-75 mph with feel for the zone. Also has potential at the plate from the right side, batting out of the two-hole for Wow Factor both times we have seen them this weekend.

VanHouten ran a 4.22 30-yard split, second-fastest of the event, and also impressed with his right-handed bat. He has an athletic, twitchy swing with a knack for the barrel and above-average bat speed (69.2 mph average; fourth-best at the event). He was a steady defender on the infield with an above-average arm that topped at 80 mph across the infield. That same arm played well on the mound, sitting 79-81 mph with a three-pitch mix.

INF/RHP Kaden Wasniewski (McHenry, 2027) and INF/RHP Kash VanHouten (Canton, 2027) were two of the top, two-way, prospects in attendance at the event. 

VanHouten ran a 4.22 30-yard split, second-fastest of the event, and also impressed with his right-handed bat. He has an athletic, twitchy swing with a knack for the barrel and above-average bat speed (69.2 mph average; fourth-best at the event). He was a steady defender on the infield with an above-average arm that topped at 80 mph across the infield. That same arm played well on the mound, sitting 79-81 mph with a three-pitch mix. 

Positional Profile: SS/RHP
Body: 5-11, 165-pounds. Athletic build, good proportions, fill coming as he matures.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, short stride. Explosive hand speed, creates bat speed, direct and level through the zone with big jump off the barrel.
Power: 85 max exit velocity, averaged 78.6 mph. 276’ max distance.
Arm: RH. INF - 80 mph. Long out of the glove into a 2/3 slot, plays with life.
Defense: Steady actions, two-hand gather out front, clean double play turn.
Run: 4.22 30-yard split. 

Delivery: Stretch-only, up tempo, medium leg lift with slight coil, drop and drive delivery, toe lands slightly closed at footstrike.
Arm Action: RH. Long, quick arm, 3/4 slot.
FB: T81, 79-81 mph. Slight cutting action. T2308, 2270 average rpm.
CB: 65-67 mph. 11/5 shape, tight spin with late break, lands the pitch in the zone. T2164, 2048 average rpm.
CH: 73-74 mph. Maintains arm speed, creates deceleration, downward movement with some fade. T1641, 1566 average rpm.

Positional Profile: SS
Body: 5-8, 130-pounds. Lean athletic shape.
Hit: RHH. Athletic setup, short/quick stride. Loose/quick hands to the ball, present bat-speed, intent to lift the baseball.
Power: 77 max exit velocity, averaged 70.2 mph. 250’ max distance.
Arm: RH. INF - 75 mph. Long path, high 3/4 slot, above average for age, some length at times and flashes ability to play on the move.
Defense: Athletic action, fields low, soft hands, clean exchange.
Run: 5.09 runner home-to-first. 

Positional Profile: RHP
Delivery: Deliberate start, quick drop and drive delivery with some effort, lands squared to home.
Arm Action: RH. Long arm action, 3/4 slot.
FB: T75.5, 73.9-75.0 mph. Four seam type, hard action, above average spin rate for age. T2182, 2124 average rpm.
CB: 63.3-65.2 mph. Gradual, 11/5 vertical plane. T1937, 1904 average rpm.
CH: 67.7-71.2 mph. Sinking action. T1617, 1499 average rpm.

Another 2027 with advanced arm strength was RHP/INF Kash VanHouten (Canton). The 5-foot-8, 130-pound, Central Illinois product ran his fastball up to 76 mph with life and occasional arm-side-run. The changeup is an above-average offering, thrown aggressively with late fade and feel. He also flashed a tight curveball at times. Offensively, the right-handed hitter takes an aggressive swing, flashing bat speed and pull-side tendencies.