Ryan
Geraghty

Wichita State recruit; ranked No. 157 in the nation, No. 8 overall in Illinois’ senior class. Listed at 6-foot-2, 205 pounds; durable build, lower-half strength. Staggered start from the windup, rhythmic side step to high leg kick, tall/upright balance point, hands break apart into balance point, glove pats into fluid stride, rides down mound staying tall and closed – mechanically, coils noticeably less at peak and shows less backside down the mound to foot strike than 2022 looks. Finishes athletically, momentum does swing him to first base side typically, though in control and still able to defend the position. Long, continuous arm swing; fluid to a short, high ¾ window, very quick arm speed, works with some effort involved, minimal head movement however. Aggressive fastball, looks to attack; first pitch 92 mph for a swinging strike. Misses were consistently to his glove-side. Fastball ranged 90-92 mph in his first inning, sat in the 88-90 range the rest of the way; late arm-side run and finish, capable of manipulating more sink to it when necessary, complements his swing-and-miss breaking ball that mirrors the fastball’s release and movement plane. Slider is an electric out-pitch and one of the state’s best; 76-79 mph with sharp bite off a 10/4 plane, late action, regularly earned whiffs and chases with it. Mixed in a firm changeup occasionally, though mostly just in between innings; 78-81 mph with hard sink and run. Allowed a home run five batters into his outing and followed it up with back-to-back strikeouts on seven pitches (three swings and misses). Struggled to control his arsenal on a cold evening; historically has shown control of his pitch mix. Led Mundelein with 118 strikeouts in 64.2 innings in 2022, against just 18 walks and 25 hits. Earned 13 swings and misses in this relief outing; final line: 3 IP, 5 R (3 ER), 3 H, 2 BB, 6 K.

RHP Ryan Geraghty (Mundelein; Wichita State), RHP/SS Dominic Voegele (Columbia; Kansas) and C Ryan Bakes (Huntley; South Carolina) round out the top-10 in Illinois.

Wichita State commit. Durable 6-foot-1, 190-pound frame. Former PBR Future Games participant, ranked inside the top-20 in the Illinois’ junior class. Started at home against McHenry on a cold afternoon. Quiet tempo and rhythm on the mound, coils into the backside and shows the front hip before engaging downhill in a simple, controlled manner. Maintains direction to target, athletic finish. Easy, low-effort operation for the most part, did reach back for some at times. Loose arm path finishes out of a high ¾ slot. Fastball sat 89-93 mph, touched 94 mph; held velocity throughout his entire outing and was up to 93 mph in the fifth inning. Most effective down in the zone, induced several weak ground balls with some late sinking action to it. Slider appeared to be the separator in this look. Threw it with more confidence and conviction than we had seen in the past, turning to it often in two-strike counts as the game went on. Played at 76-80 mph with sharp, late swing-and-miss action off a 10/4 plane. Still developing a complete feel for the pitch, but the improvements made throughout the off-season are noteworthy. Did flash an above-average changeup with hard tumbling action in warmups, didn’t throw it in the game. Finished with five strikeouts through five no-hit innings, generating an abundance of weak contact throughout. Looks the part of an upper-tier pitching prospect in the Midwest that should garner some professional attention this summer and into next spring if the velocity boost remains. 

During the second day of the PBR at The Rock 16u Championships, Geraghty took the. mound for the Illinois Lightning. Listed 6-foot-1, 177-pounds the right-handed pitcher works with a long, loose arm action, high ¾ slot. Throwing a fastball working downhill, sitting 85-88 mph topping at 90. An 11/5 curveball gained feel as the game went on sitting in the low 70s. Geraghty struck out five batters in four innings of work. 

Positional Profile: 3B/RHP. Represented Team Illinois at the 2021 Future Games.
Body: 6-foot-1, 175-pounds. Athletic, well-proportioned frame.
Delivery: Tall/fall type, early separation out of the glove, heavy disengage off the rubber, closed toe landing, slightly rotational at times.
Arm Action: RH. Long arm action, high 3/4 slot.
FB: T90, 86-89 mph. Straight, four-seam type.  T2381, 2162 average rpm.
CB: 69-71 mph. Flashed sharp action off an 11/5 plane.  T2348, 2315 average rpm.
CH: 69-72 mph. Occasional fading action to the arm-side, straighter action on average. 

Positional Profile: 3B/RHP
Body: 6-0, 162-pounds.
Delivery: Tall and fall delivery, quick tempo, slow leg lift, lands slightly open, works in line to target, balanced finish.
Arm Action: RH. Long arm action, high 3/4 arm slot.
FB: T83, 81-82 mph. Mostly straight, plays downhill at times. T1955, 1776 average rpm.
CB: 66-68 mph. Slurve-type, 10/4 shape, gradual action, plays glove-side. T2014, 1964 average rpm.
CH: 69-72 mph. Fading action, arm speed similar to fastball. T1555, 1491 average rpm.

Positional Profile: 3B/RHP
Body: 5-11, 162-pounds. Well-proportioned, athletic frame.
Hit: RHH. Narrow, slightly open setup, pre-pitch rhythm, hands load and toe-tap stride.  Athletic hands, uphill path with length through the zone and works the middle of the field.
Power: 85 mph exit velocity from the tee. Max exit velocity of 90.81 mph and distance of 326' during BP, via TrackMan.
Arm: RH. INF - 78 mph. Short, loose arm action, high 3/4 slot and plays accurate across the infield.
Defense: Gets around the baseball, steady hands play from the ground up, clean release.
Run: 7.75 runner in the 60. 

Delivery: Simple tall/fall type delivery, athletic posture at balance point, whippy hip/shoulder separation at footstrike, athletic finish with some effort.
Arm Action: RH. Long and loose arm action, high 3/4 slot. Whippy arm speed, quick acceleration.
FB: T84, 81-84 mph. Works around to cut it at times, also flashed arm-side run. Harnessing the feel for the zone still.
CB: 67-68 mph. Frisbee-like actions at times. Flashed sharp, late break off a tight 11/5 plane; developing feel. Plays best when front side stays strong and doesn't pull off.

6-foot, 162-pound two-way prospect; physical, strong frame with athleticism. Put together a productive weekend on both sides of the baseball for Illinois Lightning. Started on the mound Friday afternoon. Long and loose arm action, high ¾ slot. Clear athleticism on the mound, repeatable drop and drive delivery, worked across body at times, throws with effort. Fastball sat 78-81 mph, touching 83, with life into the zone. Curveball played at 58-61 mph, 11/5 shape, occasional late break, flashed swing-and-miss potential at times. Threw three innings, allowing three earned runs and striking out six. Right-handed hitter, simple hacks with athletic, loose hands that produce bat speed with barrel feel; above-average bat strength.

Positional Profile: 3B/RHP 
Body: 5-foot-11, 165-pounds. Athletic, well-proportioned frame.
Delivery: Tall and fall delivery, works on-line, lands front-foot closed and finishes upright. Delivery works with rhythm and some effort throughout.
Arm Action: RH. Clean quick arm action, over-the-top slot.
FB: T82, 78-81 mph. Works down in the zone at times, arm-side-run, finishes through the zone.
CB: 62-65 mph. 11/5 shape, tight spin, lands for strikes.
CH: 63-65 mph. Flashed late sinking action. 

Hit: RHH. Tall relaxed setup, short leg-lift timing trigger. Athletic loose hands, flashed bat speed, short level path, occasional extension through contact, line-drive approach. Consistently on the barrel and fluid rhythm throughout.
Power: 85 mph exit velocity from the tee. 
Arm: RH. INF - 76 mph. Short, clean arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Steady hands, plays with body control and length in exchange.
Run: 8.18 runner in the 60.

5-foot-5, 117-pound, right-handed hitting, two-way player, lanky frame. Defensively, athletic actions, fluid footwork, steady hands, clean exchange. Loose, short arm action, high ¾ slot, throws topped 63 mph across. At the plate, tall, closed setup, drop wrap load, short stride. Short level bat path, can get uphill at times, exit velocity topped 65 mph from a tee. 8.72 runner in the 60. On the mound, wrap at balance point, gets back to even, works straight, athletic finish, some recoil. Long, loose arm action, high ¾ slot, some effort involved. Works quick out of the stretch. Fastball worked straight, 65-68 mph. Curveball, 10/4 gradual break, 56-60 mph. Changeup played 52-59 mph.