Chicagoland Open: Top Overall Prospects

November 21, 2022
By: Illinois Scouting Staff

On Sunday, Aug. 21, the PBR Illinois team hosted the Chicagoland Open at the Triton College in River Grove, Ill. The open event featured close to 90 prospects from all high school classes (2023-2026), and gave our staff an ample look at a number of prospects to follow moving forward.

For a complete list of the player’s that attended this event, click HERE.

In the week that followed this event, we produced post-event analysis that includes performance highlights inside of our Quick Hits story, a look at the traditional stats measured within our Statistical Analysis piece and some other measurable data inside our Data Dive.

Today, we will be identifying who our scouting staff deemed as the top overall prospects from the event, found below.

Chris Rogers LHP / 1B / Grayslake Central, IL / 2023

Positional Profile: LHP
Body: 6-3, 185-pounds. Strong, athletic, well-proportioned frame.
Delivery: Controlled tempo, coils into a high balance point, slight drop/drive lower-half down the mound, stride works in-line with the plate.
Arm Action: LH. Long reach out of the glove, transitions into a high 3/4 slot.
FB: T87.5, 85-87 mph. Plays with slight running action and finishes through the zone. T2325, 2217 average rpm.
CB: 69-71 mph. Gradual 1/7 shape, developing feel. T2036, 1924 average rpm.
CH: 70-74 mph. Mostly straight through the zone, some feel for the pitch. T1547, 1450 average rpm.

Positional Profile: 1B
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, minimal pre-pitch actions. Controlled aggression, above-average bat speed, on the barrel with authority at times.
Power: 96 max exit velocity, averaged 89.1 mph. 366’ max distance.
Arm: LH. INF - 83 mph. Life and carry, loose arm action, low 3/4 slot.
Defense: Soft hands, athletic actions, feel for the position.
Run: 7.48 runner in the 60.

Timmy Leark OF / Oak Park River Forest, IL / 2025

Positional Profile: OF
Body: 5-10, 155-pounds. Wiry frame with room to fill out.
Hit: LHH. Wide, balanced setup, fluid stride. Athletic, quick hands, bat stays flat and through the zone a long time. Hard line-drive contact to all fields.
Power: 90 max exit velocity, averaged 77.8 mph. 272’ max distance.
Arm: LH. OF - 85 mph. 3/4 slot with loose arm actions, with life and carry.
Defense: Athletic actions, confident hands, and routes.
Run: 7.36 runner in the 60.

Morgan Wachler OF / OF / Palatine , IL / 2024

Positional Profile: OF
Body: 6-1, 195-pounds. Strong build with a developed lower-half.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, minimal load and short stride. Flashed above-average bat speed, jump off the barrel, strong hands.
Power: 96 max exit velocity, averaged 87.5 mph. 338’ max distance.
Arm: RH. OF - 84 mph. High over the top slot, long arm action, some life and carry.
Defense: Clean footwork, confident, athletic actions.
Run: 7.07 runner in the 60.

Hank Gomric OF / LHP / Althoff Catholic, IL / 2024

Positional Profile: OF/LHP
Body: 6-4, 185-pounds. Long, lean frame with room for added strength.
Hit: LHH. Balanced, slightly crouched setup, short stride. Long levers, flat path, line-drive pull-side approach.
Power: 97 max exit velocity, averaged 92.9 mph. 358’ max distance.
Arm: LH. OF - 81 mph. Long draw, plays out of a short 3/4 window.
Defense: Clean routes, two-hand gather, shuffle to release.
Run: 7.31 runner in the 60.

Ryne Crum 1B / LHP / Springfield, IL / 2023

Positional Profile: 1B/LHP
Body: 6-0, 270-pounds.
Hit: LHH. Narrow, tall setup, leg-lift trigger. Creates advanced strength and jump off the barrel. Repeated hard lifted contact to the pull-side.
Power: 98 max exit velocity, averaged 91.5 mph. 357’ max distance.
Arm: LH. INF - 77 mph. Short arm action, 3/4 slot.
Defense: Sure-hands, clean defender, feel for the bag.
Run: 8.11 runner in the 60.