From Wednesday, March 20th through Saturday, March 22nd, the Prep Baseball Illinois Staff traveled down to the Metro East area to cover the sixth annual Metro East Kickoff Classic, sponsored by Prep Baseball. The four-day event featured 46 teams spanning the entire state of Illinois competing against each other in the St. Louis area across 10 venues in the Metro East. We send multiple scouts to games throughout the event and cover it as comprehensively as possible. 

Today, we are highlighting some of the standouts from the last two days of gameplay, found below. 

Friday, March 22

No. 10 New Trier vs. No. 14 Mascoutah

By: Peter Hamot
Assistant Scouting Director, Illinois/Wisconsin

RHP, Darren Klein, Mascoutah, 2027
Uncommitted. Durable yet projectable 6-foot-1, 165-pound frame, still more room to add strength. The right-hander got the start on the mound for Mascoutah and gave an extremely polished look for his age. He has a repeatable delivery with an athletic leg-lift into a coiled balance point, keeping some bend in his back knee throughout, working in-line down the mound with intent, controlled and balanced. His arm plays from a lower window, clean arm swing and ¾ release. He was able to work his fastball to both sides of the plate, especially his glove-side, also showing the ability to work it up and down in the zone at 82-85 mph. His curveball showed gradual 11/5 shape with the ability to land it for strikes, 71-73 mph. Also featured a changeup in the mid 70s with slight deceleration, playing with fade to his arm-side. Highly polished arm with a bright future ahead. 

2B, Nolan Lebert, Mascoutah, 2026
Uncommitted. Athletic 5-foot-8, 167-pound frame. Hit out of the leadoff spot and started at second base for the Indians, also giving a brief look out of the ‘pen. The right-handed hitter took quality at-bats all game long, looking to be a scrappy and tough out with an easy and handsy swing. He’s a game-changer on the bases, getting consistent good jumps while always looking to take the extra 90-feet. He showed athletic actions on the infield with fluid hands and feet, moving well to both sides of his glove with natural actions and feel. He later hopped on the mound and worked his fastball in the 82-83 mph range with an 11/5 curveball, 68 mph. 

SS, Cameron Eddy, Mascoutah, 2025
Uncommitted. Started at shortstop and hit out of the two-hole for Mascoutah. Looks the part with a projectable, high-waisted frame. The left-handed hitter showed a loose, athletic swing in this look, finishing the day 1-for-2, with an RBI and a run scored. He also showed a clear understanding of the strike zone and patient approach that made the pitcher stay in the zone, walking twice. He showed above-average actions on the infield, working with soft hands and quality footwork through the baseball, quick first step with range to both sides of his glove. 

RHP, Henrik Conniff, New Trier, 2025
Columbia commit. Currently ranked No. 67 in the state. Lean and athletic 6-foot-3, 205-pound frame, still room to add. Gave a loud yet brief look on the mound. He’s an athletic mover with a high leg-lift into balance point, gathers momentum before moving downhill with a long, reaching stride that stays in-line. Longer and uninterrupted arm circle into a ¾ slot, creates quality layback into footstrike. His fastball played with clear life and jump through the zone, sitting 87-91 mph from the windup and sitting more upper-80s from the stretch with some tilt through the zone. His curveball showed two-plane break and out-pitch potential, spinning over 2,700 rpm at 75-76 mph with some sweep at times. Flashed a firm, straight changeup at 83 mph. Athletic arm that could see a notable jump in college. 

RHP, Justice Hernandez, New Trier, 2027
Uncommitted, currently ranked No. 25 in Illinois. Lean, highly projectable 5-foot-10, 152-pound frame. Came out of the ‘pen and was lights out for the Trevians, firing two scoreless frames with just one hit allowed, walking one and striking out two. The right-hander has an intentful drop/drive delivery, working with clear intent while challenging hitters in the zone with a 84-87 mph fastball. He also flashed a low-70s curveball and a developing splitter in the mid-70s. Confident with some moxy on the mound.