O'Hare Preseason ID: Top Overall Prospects

1. Ryan Wilberding C / OF / Libertyville, IL / 2027

Positional Profile: C/OF
Body: 6-0, 217 pounds. Strong, physical build, developed lower-half, rounded shoulders.
Hit: RHH. Open stance, slightly crouched, hands start lower. Strong and on the barrel, natural lift pull-side, controlled aggression, control of the barrel with extension through impact, bat-speed stands out, very loud round with an advanced hit tool and present power.  74.7 mph bat speed with 16g of rotational acceleration.
Power: 106 mph max exit velocity (95 avg.); 387-foot max batted distance.
Arm: RH. C - 84 mph.   Short and to the ear, high 3/4 slot, plays with life.
Defense: 1.89-2.10 pop time range; Advanced actions, quick/clean glove to hand, works in-line with quick transfers, minimal wasted movement, athletic from the crouch. Soft receiver, steals strikes around the zone with strong hands and subtle moves.
Athletic Testing: 6.99 runner in the 60-yard dash; 28.40-inch max vertical jump.  

2. Chase Estrada C / SS / New Trier, IL / 2029

Positional Profile: C/SS
Body: 6-0, 192 pounds. Lean with strength, room to continue to fill out.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, slightly open, toe tap stride.  Longer, aggressive swing with uphill intent, creates bat-speed with loud results pull-side, real power potential as he continues to mature.  75.9 mph bat speed with 6g of rotational acceleration.
Power: 95 mph max exit velocity (88.4 avg.); 358-foot max batted distance.
Arm: RH. C - 76 mph.   Quick, athletic arm action, high 3/4 slot. Throws flash carry.
Defense: 1.98-2.09 pop time range; Clean and athletic actions, explosive out of the crouch, feet work in-line.
Athletic Testing: 7.21 runner in the 60-yard dash; 24.70-inch max vertical jump.

3. Evan Steinbrunner OF / LHP / Hersey, IL / 2028

Positional Profile: OF/LHP
Body: 6-1, 185 pounds. Athletic build, some present strength.
Hit: LHH. Slightly open taller stance, standard hand height. longer flat swing, loud results middle of the field, stayed on the ball the other way with authority, power to all fields.  68.1 mph bat speed with 8g of rotational acceleration.
Power: 100 mph max exit velocity (87.8 avg.); 369-foot max batted distance.
Arm: LH. OF - 87 mph. Short and quick arm circle, 3/4 slot with arm-speed.
Defense: Athletic defender, attacks the baseball in-stride, plays through with intent.
Athletic Testing: 6.80 runner in the 60-yard dash; 23.40-inch max vertical jump.
Vizual Edge: 66.85 Edge Score. 

4. Madden Williams SS / RHP / Glenbrook North, IL / 2029

Positional Profile: SS/RHP
Body: 5-9, 157 pounds. Lean, athletic build.
Hit: RHH. Weight on back leg, two-tap stride, pre-pitch bat wiggle. Quick hands, flatter path, line drive oriented, advanced feel to hit, generates backspin, uses the whole field with line drives. 69.4 mph bat speed with 8g of rotational acceleration.
Power: 93 mph max exit velocity (91 avg.); 336-foot max batted distance.
Arm: RH.  INF - 82 mph.  Quick arm action, arm plays, high 3/4 release.
Defense: Quick hands and actions, soft gather out front, athletic, fluid feet with feel.
Athletic Testing: 7.34 runner in the 60-yard dash; 24.40-inch max vertical jump.
Vizual Edge: 67.3 Edge Score. 

5. Angelo Vitale SS / 2B / Ridgewood, IL / 2027

Positional Profile: SS/2B
Body: 5-10, 175 pounds. Athletic, high-waisted frame with projection.
Hit: LHH. Tall, narrow setup, open base, some pre-pitch rhythm, two-tap stride. Loose, athletic hands through the zone, bat speed, easy, flat path, hitterish, generates jump off the barrel, line drive approach to the middle of the field. 74.8 mph bat speed with 22g of rotational acceleration.
Power: 97 mph max exit velocity (86.5 avg.); 341-foot max batted distance.
Arm: RH.  INF - 82 mph.  High 3/4 slot, clean, athletic arm action. 
Defense: Athletic actions, moves well to either side, reliable two hand gather, comfortable making plays on the move.
Athletic Testing: 7.16 runner in the 60-yard dash. 

6. Elliot Paul RHP / OF / Evanston, IL / 2027

Positional Profile: RHP/OF
Body: 5-8, 145-pounds. Trim, wiry build.
Delivery: Stretch-only delivery, loose, easy mover, high leg lift with tuck, works in-line down the mound.
Arm Action: RH. Long, loose and easy arm path, 3/4 slot.
FB: T87, 87-87 mph. Comes out of the hand clean, mostly straight with life and finish.  T1974, 1844 average rpm.
SL: 72-75 mph. 10/4, sweeper shape, low in the zone. T2405, 2272 average rpm.
CH: 76-77 mph. Kills spin, downer action with slight fade. T1673, 1599 average rpm.

7. Zane Schneider 3B / 1B / Lemont, IL / 2027

Positional Profile: 3B/1B
Body: 6-3, 195 pounds. Long-levered, highly projectable, some present strength.
Hit: RHH. Stands tall, narrow, hands set below ear, simple stride, longer stride.  Loose hands, flat path, easy jump off the barrel, bat speed, uses the whole field, creates loft on the ball. 70.9 mph bat speed with 11g of rotational acceleration.
Power: 97 mph max exit velocity (88.6 avg.); 326-foot max batted distance.
Arm: RH.  INF - 83 mph.  Medium arm circle, loose, high 3/4 slot, throws flash carry.
Defense: Stays behind the ball, confident two-hand funnel into body, can make plays on the move, feel for the position.
Athletic Testing: 7.10 runner in the 60-yard dash.

8. Hunter Lockefeer C / OF / St. Viator, IL / 2028

Positional Profile: C/OF
Body: 5-8, 160 pounds. Trim build, proportionate levers, room to add strength.
Hit: LHH. Balanced setup, simple, medium stride. Strong hands, works on top of the baseball, fluid and flat swing with length through the zone, controlled and balanced.  73.6 mph bat speed with 13g of rotational acceleration.
Power: 97 mph max exit velocity (86.9 avg.); 347-foot max batted distance.
Arm: RH. C - 73 mph.  OF - 85 mph. C: Short path, high 3/4 slot. OF: Quick arm, clean path and high 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.02-2.03 pop time range; C: Clean transfers, works in-line from the chute, athletic, soft block out front. OF: Soft hands, athletic and aggressive to the baseball with a one-hand gather in-stride.
Athletic Testing: 7.19 runner in the 60-yard dash.
Vizual Edge: 62.9 Edge Score.

9. Blake Yankowski RHP / C / York, IL / 2027

Positional Profile: RHP/C
Body: 6-2, 182-pounds. Lean, proportional frame.
Delivery: Simple mover, small leg lift with tuck, drop/drive, extends down the mound.
Arm Action: RH. Clean, easy arm path, low 3/4 slot.
FB: T86, 85-86 mph. Clean out of the hand, plays straight. T2227, 2141 average rpm.
CB: 70-72 mph. 11/5 shape, plays low, throws it hard with sharp bite.  T2573, 2472 average rpm.
SL: 72-73 mph. 10/4 shape, sweeping action, lands low in the zone. T2588, 2572 average rpm.
CH: 79-79 mph. Throws it hard, mostly straight. T1367, 1367 average rpm.

10. Tucker Soske LHP / 1B / Barrington, IL / 2028

Positional Profile: LHP/1B
Body: 6-3, 170-pounds. Highly projectable, long levered, lean and wiry.
Delivery: Clean, easy mover, high leg lift with tuck, drop/drive down the mound.
Arm Action: LH. Clean, compact arm path, 3/4 slot.
FB: T82, 80-82 mph. Plays clean out of the hand, mostly straight. T1836, 1742 average rpm.
CB: 67-69 mph. 12/6 shape, maintains arm speed, can land for strikes.  T1884, 1749 average rpm.
CH: 71-72 mph. Plays with slight fade. T1480, 1399 average rpm.

11. Caleb Prendergast SS / OF / Evanston, IL / 2028

Positional Profile: SS/OF
Body: 6-0, 170 pounds. Lean frame, athletic build.
Hit: RHH. Open setup, weight slightly shifted back, heavy leg kick, longer stride. Loose hands, uphill, creates extension through contact, intent to elevate, middle of the field approach, flashes gap-to-gap. 72.6 mph bat speed with 5g of rotational acceleration.
Power: 96 mph max exit velocity (88 avg.); 322-foot max batted distance.
Arm: RH. INF - 88 mph. OF - 92 mph. Quick and clean, plays true with carry, lively arm, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: OF: Aggressively attacks the baseball, fields in stride working through the baseball INF: Bouncy footwork, fluid and athletic, quick/clean actions, confident hands, clean transfers, quick first step with explosive range.
Athletic Testing: 6.74 runner in the 60-yard dash.
Vizual Edge: 75.56 Edge Score.

 

12. Nathan Patterson SS / RHP / York, IL / 2028

Positional Profile: SS/RHP
Body: 6-0, 163 pounds. Athletic, projectable frame, trim build.
Hit: LHH. Pre-pitch bat wiggle, slightly open setup, simple stride. Loose hands, athletic, uphill path, intent to lift, gets into lower-half, middle/pull-side approach. 68.9 mph bat speed with 12g of rotational acceleration.
Power: 94 mph max exit velocity (82 avg.); 351-foot max batted distance.
Arm: RH.  INF - 82 mph.  Loose and athletic arm, 3/4 slot, can play from multiple angles and on the move.
Defense: Steady two-hand gather, clean actions, quick first step with range up the middle, fluid actions with smooth transfers.
Athletic Testing: 7.18 runner in the 60-yard dash; 19.70-inch max vertical jump.
Vizual Edge: 70.85 Edge Score.

Positional Profile: SRHP
Delivery: Rocker step into leg lift, works in line to the plate, clean and athletic delivery, flexible.
Arm Action: RH. Clean arm action, 3/4 slot, feel to repeat.
FB: T86, 83-86 mph. Heavy carry action to different areas of the zone. T2222, 2070 average rpm.
CB: 70-72 mph. Big and late 12/6 action, potential put-away pitch. T2201, 2049 average rpm.
CH: 75-77 mph. Thrown with intent out of the same window as the fastball. T1984, 1834 average rpm.

13. Jack McDaniel C / 1B / Hinsdale South, IL / 2027

Positional Profile: C/1B
Body: 5-11, 197 pounds. Some present strength, proportionate build.
Hit: LHH. Standard setup, balanced, short and simple. Clean swing with strength, easy effort, controls the barrel, whole field approach, creates lift with ease.  73.8 mph bat speed with 9g of rotational acceleration.
Power: 97 mph max exit velocity (90.1 avg.); 374-foot max batted distance.
Arm: RH. C - 73 mph. INF - 78 mph.  INF: Half circle, clean, athletic, 3/4 slot. C: Short and to the ear, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: 1.97-2.06 pop time range; INF: Steady two-hand gather, some feel around the bag, quality footwork. C: Crisp and clean transfers, quick, stays in-line with quick feet, minimal wasted movement.
Athletic Testing: 7.63 runner in the 60-yard dash; 19.40-inch max vertical jump.
Vizual Edge: 77.05 Edge Score.

14. Ryan Smith 1B / RHP / Bartlett, IL / 2029

Positional Profile: 1B/RHP
Body: 6-0, 252 pounds. Strong build with physicality throughout.
Hit: RHH. Narrow, hands set at ear, simple stride, quiet pre-pitch, rhythmic stride. Loose, uphill path, line drive approach, generates back spin on the ball, natural loft, hard elevated contact to the middle/pull-side, consistently on the barrel. 72 mph bat speed with 10g of rotational acceleration.
Power: 100 mph max exit velocity (96.3 avg.); 363-foot max batted distance.
Arm: RH.  INF - 75 mph.  Full arm circle, 3/4 slot, plays true.
Defense: Stays behind the ball, soft two hand gather out front, has feel around the bag, flashes athleticism.
Athletic Testing: 7.79 runner in the 60-yard dash; 15.10-inch max vertical jump.
Vizual Edge: 77.02 Edge Score.

15. Sam Sehlhorst RHP / RHP / Glenbrook South, IL / 2027

Positional Profile: RHP/RHP
Body: 6-5, 202-pounds. Lean, wiry, highly projectable.
Delivery: Rocker step, leg lift into balance point, works in line down the mound.
Arm Action: RH. Full arm action, 3/4 slot, whip and arm speed through release.
FB: T87, 86-87 mph. Two seam action, heavy run, flashed sinking action. T2073, 2023 average rpm.
SL: 67-70 mph. Big two-plane action, potential out pitch, some feel to locate. T1807, 1766 average rpm.
SPLT: 73-74 mph. Thrown with intent out of the same window, tumbling action.