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Midwest Super Sophomore Games: Team Illinois Takeaways

August 10, 2026
By: Peter Hamot
Assistant Scouting Director, Illinois & Wisconsin

From Friday 7/31 to Sunday 8/2, our staff hosted the Midwest Super Sophomore Games at Indiana University, a showcase followed by a round-robin tournament with a handful of the surrounding states (Indiana, Ohio, Michigan and Wisconsin). 

Team Illinois went 3-0-1 in gameplay to take the title for the second year in a row, defeating Team Wisconsin 16-1, Team Michigan 15-6 and Team Indiana 12-5 - tying Team Ohio 5-5. 

Today, we are taking a look at every single player from Team Illinois with a scouting report from the event, found below. 

Position Players 

Mason Carlson, C, Nazareth Academy, 2029
Currently ranked No. 22 in the state. 5-foot-7, 175-pound frame, strong and durable build with proportionate strength. One of the top defensive catchers in attendance; controls the game from behind the plate with confidence, strong receiver with the ability to steal strikes around the zone, active and willing blocker, arm plays true and with life/accuracy to the bag. One of the top performers with the bat all weekend long, finishing 4-for-8 with two doubles, a triple, two RBIs and four runs scored. Compact and strong right-handed swing with some thump to the gaps, controlled his at-bats well with minimal swing/miss or chase. 

Chase Estrada, C/3B, New Trier, 2029
Currently ranked No. 4 in the state, No. 127 nationally. 6-foot-1, 206-pound frame with some present strength throughout, still room to add. One of the more polished bats in attendance, finishing the weekend 3-for-6 with two RBIs and three runs scored. Right-handed hitter, really utilizes the lower-half in the load and stays in his legs throughout, especially with two strikes where he will spread out and take up the entire box. Strong hands with loose wrists and some flick through the zone, there’s clear intent in the swing with control of the barrel and a hitterish look to him. He also impressed behind the plate with sure-handed receiving actions, pairing with a strong/accurate arm (75 mph). He also showed well at third base with steady hands and the ability to move laterally to both sides. 

Maddux Carson, C/INF, Geneva, 2029
Currently ranked No. 18 in the state. Lean and wiry 5-foot-9 frame, 138-pounds, plenty more room to add strength. Showed impressive versatility as a defender with advanced actions and instincts both behind the plate and on the infield. Behind the dish, he’s an athletic receiver with a flexible lower half, showing strong/confident hands that work to present pitches around the zone - pairing with a quick/clean release and strong arm (T75 mph). The actions stood out on the infield where he showed fluid, bouncy footwork and crisp actions. The swing will continue to gain impact as he adds strength, but it still stands out with looseness in the hands and whip through the zone. It’s a bigger forward move as he hangs his foot into a longer stride, staying connected well through impact with a flat path. 

Ryan Smith, 1B, Bartlett, 2029
Currently ranked No. 34 in the state. Strong, durable 6-foot-1, 230-pound frame with impressive athleticism (7.26 runner). Was one of the more imposing bats all weekend and continued to show why he’s one of the top right-handed bats in the state. It’s a simple move that creates a stretch before firing through with effortless bat-speed, averaging just over 70 mph in his round of BP - also averaging 91 mph for his EV with a peak of 98.5 mph. The swing is simple and plays in-game while remaining on-time consistently, finishing the week 4-for-6 with four RBIs and three runs scored. Power profile will only increase with move elevated contact, real hit tool to pair with his power. 

Madden Williams, MIF, Glenbard North, 2029
Currently the No. 17 ranked player in Illinois. Wiry and projectable 5-foot-10, 147-pound frame, plenty more room to add strength in the coming years. One of the top defenders in the event with a real chance to be an impact glove up the middle of the infield. Easy, rangy actions with a quick first step allows him to cover ground easily, also showing the ability to utilize proper angles to the baseball. Soft, confident hands and crisp actions stand out, pairing with a strong arm and quick release (84 mph). 6.89 runner that can change the game with his legs, always looking to take the extra 90 feet with aggressive jumps and quality reads, times up pitchers well with clear instincts. Loose and upside swing with more strength coming to help increase the impact, fluid hands with a flat path and line-drive approach. 

Todd Dulaney Jr., MIF/OF, Nazareth, 2029
Ranked No. 2 in the state, No. 96 nationally. Highly projectable 5-foot-11, 150-pound frame, some present lean strength with plenty more room to add. Continued to show some of the biggest upside in the state throughout the weekend. The actions really stand out on the infield with some flash, and he’s a steady defender in the outfield with some range and quality reads off the bat. The right-handed hitter has a direct, athletic swing with a steep path that works to spray the ball to all fields, finishing the weekend 2-for-7 with four runs scored. Likes to run the bases and is aggressive, high-energy player. 

Two-Ways

Matthew Loeffel Jr., RHP/OF, Cary Grove, 2029
5-foot-10, 165-pound frame, athletic and trim build with room to add strength in the coming years. Gave one of the more impressive looks on the mound for Team Illinois in game one, not allowing a single run over his two innings of work, scattering three hits with one walk and three strikeouts. It’s a deceptive look from a lower release height, averaging 4.5’ with some ride/run through the zone, 82-85 mph. Was confident in his slider from a similar release height, showing bullet shape at 69-74 mph. Proved to be one of the top contributors on the other side of the ball as well, finishing the weekend 3-for-9 at the plate with an RBI and three runs scored. The right-handed hitter took one of the better rounds of BP in the workout (91 mph avg. EV; 97 mph peak EV), and carried it over into gameplay with consistent quality at-bats. It’s a longer, fluid swing as his hands start a bit lower, but he showed the ability to match plane and work on the barrel. 

Leo Kelly, CIF/RHP, Loyola, 2029
Currently ranked No. 12 in the state. Physically imposing 6-foot-1, 209-pound frame, present strength throughout. Was one of the top performers with the bat for Team Illinois, leading the event in hits with five as he finished 5-for-10 with three RBIs and two runs scored. The right-handed hitter has an intentful swing with length through the zone, peaking at 93 mph in the workout. Steady defender at both corner infield spots with sure-handed actions and a strong arm from third. On the mound, he has an intentful operation downhill with a shorter arm action in the back that hides it a bit before coming through from a high ¾ slot. The fastball played up to 83 mph, showing carry and collecting whiffs - paring with a curveball that played in the upper-60s.

Kody Anderson, INF/RHP, Triad, 2029
Currently ranked No. 26 in the state. 6-foot, 153-pound frame, athletic and proportionate. One of the biggest two-way winners in the entire event. At the plate, the right-handed hitter led the event in barrels over 90 mph (six) and finished the weekend 4-for-10 with three doubles, six RBIs and four runs scored. It's a clean, athletic and balanced swing that stays connected and flat through the zone, averaging 91 mph for his EV in the workout while peaking at 97 mph. He’s also an athletic defender on the infield with actions and arm-strength to pair. On the mound, he’s an clean mover with an up-tempo base, working with a coil into a stacked balance point, holds the bend in-line down the mound, athletic leg-swing finish. Clean and uninterrupted arm circle that plays into a high ¾ slot. Fastball sat 85-86 mph and peaked at 87 mph, pairing with an 11/5 curveball at 74-75 mph and a straight changeup at 75-76 mph. 

Mason Koth, OF/RHP, Jacobs, 2029
Currently ranked No. 13 in the state. 6-foot-2, 183-pound frame, trim and long-levered with room to add more muscle in the coming years. One of the top performers with the bat on the weekend, finishing 4-for-8 with two RBIs and four runs scored. Clean, athletic right-handed swing with a tight turn through the zone, loose and handsy with a balanced finish, averaged 90.5 mph in his BP with a peak of 95.5 mph. Comfortable tracking balls in the outfield all weekend with some range and a strong arm (T86 mph). The arm strength transferred easily to the mound where he showed a fastball in the low-80s, pairing with a slider at 71-74 mph that he could land in and around the zone for strikes and swing/miss. 

Charlie Kohman, LHP/OF, Downers Grove North, 2029
Currently ranked No. 8 in the state and No. 178 nationally. 6-foot, 178-pound frame, projectable with wide shoulders and a high waist. Was in complete control over his two innings of work, striking out four without allowing a run. Clean, athletic mover that works in-line from a stacked balanced point. Loose and uninterrupted arm on the backside that hides it a bit before coming through with a high ¾ release. Fastball played up the 82 mph with heavy run arm-side, but the separator was his slider at 69-72 mph (2500 rpm) that he consistently collected whiffs with, throwing it in and under the zone with ease. He also flashed a quality third offering with a fading changeup at 74-75 mph. As impressive as he was at the plate, he holds upside at the plate as well with a clean and pretty left-handed swing, working uphill with loose hands. 

Braxton Bruns, RHP/OF, Rochelle, 2029
Currently Ranked No. 20 in the state. Raw, highly projectable two-way prospect that stands in at 6-foot-1, 162-pounds with lean strength and all sorts of room to add more. Simple operation on the mound with a compact leg-lift, works quickly and in-line downhill. Long and loose arm swing, creates layback into foot strike before coming through with a ¾ release. Fastball played 84-87 mph with some ride/run, collecting whiffs. Slider played with sweeping action and sharp break, consistently landed it around the zone, 72-74 mph. Also showed a changeup that he was comfortable throwing in any count with heavy arm-side run and 2.7” IVB on average, 74-76 mph. The right-handed hitter has been a consistent performer for our staff throughout numerous looks, working with a longer stride that gains ground and creates a stretch in the hands, flat and intentful path through the zone. Rangy actions in the outfield with a strong arm and the ability to read balls well off the bat. 

Pitchers 

Bennet Hilbert, RHP, New Trier, 2029
6-foot-1, 158-pound frame, wiry and long-levered, highly projectable. Threw it well over his two innings, not allowing a single hit or run while walking just one against three strikeouts. The arm plays free and easy from a ¾ slot with arm-speed out front, pairing with a drop/drive in-line delivery. The fastball played 84-86 mph with over 2,500 rpm at times and ride/run traits. He was confident in his curveball that showed big sweeping action (T-1.97” HM) with over 2,500 rpm as well, 62-65 mph, collecting whiffs and freezing hitters. 

Austin Koch, RHP, Bloomington Central Catholic, 2029
6-foot-2, 174-pound frame, wide shoulders with room to add strength in the coming years. Allowed two runs over his three innings of work with three hits and a strikeout. Long-levered operation with a quick/clean arm that plays from a higher ¾ slot. Simple tall/fall operation with jumps likely as he continues to fill out. Fastball jumps out of the hand up to 83 mph with an average of 6’8” for his extension, sitting in the low-80s. The slider is developing spin and hand-speed as it played around 56-59 mph, though he collected some ugly swings on it. 

Colt Daugherty, Fisher, RHP, 2029
5-foot-10, 185-pound frame, rounded shoulders with proportionate strength throughout. Threw the ball well for Team Illinois with three innings pitched, two hits, one run allowed, two walks and two strikeouts. Simple mover down the mound with a controlled leg-lift into balance point, works into a drop/drive lower-half that stays in-line. Longer reach out of the glove into a higher ¾ slot. Fastball played with carry at 80-82 mph, peaking over 22” for his IVB. He showed two different breaking balls, the first being a slider at 68-70 mph with 10/4 shape, and the second being a curveball at 65-68 mph with more bullet action. 

Tyler Dudzienski, RHP, Oswego East, 2029
5-foot-11, 155-pounds, wiry and projectable frame with room to fill out. The arm is quick from a longer path on the backside, playing with a ¾ release and arm-speed, creating a naturally sinking fastball at 82-84 mph. The curveball showed gradual 11/5 shape with some depth and the ability to land it for strikes, 68-70 mph. Loose and whippy arm with jumps likely. 

Lucas Meyer, RHP, Mundelein, 2029
6-foot-1, 165-pounds, athletic and projectable build, room to fill out. Threw it well over his two innings with just two hits allowed, one run and a strikeout - though he walked three. It’s a clean and athletic delivery that stays in-line, working with a higher leg-lift into a coiled balance point before dropping into his back leg and driving down the mound. The arm is longer out of the glove but syncs up well out front, creates layback and arm-speed into his high ¾ release. The fastball played 82-85 mph, setting up a curveball that showed sharp 11/5 action at 70-71 mph, collecting numerous freezing takes. 

Wade Zunkel, LHP, Willowbrook, 2029
5-foot-10, 188-pounds. Creates a tough look for opposing hitters from the left side. Medium/high leg-lift into his balance point with a drop/drive lower-half, sinks into the back leg before working in-line down the mound. Arm plays down and out of the glove with a longer path before coming through from a ¾ release. The fastball played 79-81 mph with natural arm-side run, setting up a slider at 72-74 mph with 2/8 shape. He also showed a curveball with more bullet shape at 70-71 mph, along with a changeup at 76-77 mph, playing with arm-side run. 

Vicente Amaro, RHP, De LaSalle, 2029
Currently ranked No. 25 in the state. 6-foot, 168-pound frame, high-waisted and projectable frame with wiry levers. Threw the ball exceptionally well for Team Illinois over his three innings, striking out three with no runs, hits or walks. He’s a simple mover with a shorter leg-lift into balance point, holds a pre-bend in the back knee down the mound, works in-line. Arm is shorter with a compact circle on the backside, playing into a high ¾ release. The fastball jumped out of the hand at 86-88 mph, topping at 89 mph with arm-side run. The slider showed bullet action at 75-76 mph, but his real weapon was a changeup at 76-80 mph with fade/run, throwing it whenever he wanted and collecting whiffs. 

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