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Preseason All-State Underclass: 2027 Takeaways

March 6, 2025
Illinois Scouting Staff

On Saturday, March 1st, the Prep Baseball Illinois staff hosted our crown jewel event of the winter, the Preseason All-State Underclass showcase. This event was host to over 160 of the best players in the state, and gave our staff one final look at these prospects before the spring season begins.

Today, we are taking a look at a number of the standouts from the 2027 class with scouting reports and videos, below. 

Committed Prospects 

RHP Cole Ruggeri (Waubonsie Valley, 2027; Missouri commit) continued to show to be an upside follow in the state’s sophomore class. He stands at a high-waisted and athletic 6-foot, 170-pounds, with noticeable added strength in the lower-half. A dynamic mover down the mound, Ruggeri’s arm speed is hard to miss, leading to a lively fastball that sat 90-91 mph on this day. His slider was his best pitch on this day, sitting 74-78 mph with an average of -10.2” of horizontal (T-15”), while being in the zone 75% of the time. Ruggeri is a name to continue to monitor this spring with a high ceiling.

INF Blake Ragsdale (Lyons Township, 2027; Texas Christian commit) continues to look the part as one of the state’s top prospects. He has a trim, yet strong build, standing in at 5-foot-11, 168-pounds. The right-handed hitter showcased athletic hands throughout his round, working on top of the baseball with some feel to work on the barrel and use the whole field, reaching up to 95 mph for his peak EV while averaging 88 mph. He’s long been one of the better defenders in the state and that has not changed at all, boasting athletic actions with easy range up the middle, presenting a confident glove with feel for the position. His arm is plenty strong to stay on the left side of the infield as well, topping out at 89 mph across. 7.07 runner in the 60. 

Uncommitted Prospects 

Position Players 

INF James Obaldo (Fenwick, 2027) put together one of the better overall rounds of defense for the entire day. He has long been a performer for our staff in these settings and this day was no different. Obaldo stands at an athletic 5-foot-7, 154-pounds, and showed natural actions on the infield; playing with bounce, making plays comfortably on the move, while also showing a highly-confident glove. His arm played accurately and from multiple slots, topping at 86 mph, resulting in a 4 mph jump from when we last saw him in October. We’ve long liked the right-handed swing from Obaldo, and he once again impressed with quick hands and a fluid stroke, working mostly to his pull-side in this look while staying on the barrel with line-drives. 

INF Madden Cotts (Libertyville, 2027) has made some noticeable strides since our last look a year ago. The left-handed hitter took one of the better rounds of BP on the day with quick hands and a flatter path through the zone, showing an athletic and handsy swing with some looseness throughout, creating sneaky jump off the barrel from his 5-foot-8, 153-pound frame with a max EV of 97 mph. He also put up notable BLAST metrics with an average bat-speed of 73.3 mph and average hand-speed of 22 mph. Cotts then impressed during defense; showing some natural actions and feel for playing on the infield. He gets around the ball to get his momentum moving toward first, utilizing a two-hand funnel into his body, and showing rangy actions as well. His arm was loose and whippy, flashing arm speed at times, topping at 83 mph.

INF Vincent Junkas (Downers Grove South, 2027) is a switch-hitting middle-infielder to follow this spring. Defensively, the 5-foot-10, 168-pound sophomore took a quality round of defense; showing a two-hand gather out front, displaying range up the middle, a reliable glove, and a clean double play turn, with an arm that played accurately from multiple slots. At the plate, Junkas has an athletic and handsy operation from both sides with balance and control of his levers, also showing the ability to use the whole field with a similar looking stroke from each side, topping out at 92.4 mph for his peak EV while keeping the ball on a line throughout. 

1B Evan Adamczewski (Maine South, 2027) is a strong left-handed hitter to note from the day. Listed at 5-foot-9, 181-pounds with round shoulders and evenly proportioned weight, Adamczewski impressed with a loud round of BP up to 95 mph for his EV, averaging 88 mph. The left-handed hitter was able to create noticeable length through the zone while staying on the barrel with controlled intent. Adamczewski had one of the more athletic rounds of defense for the first base crop of infielders. He plays through the ball with a two-hand funnel into his body, and also showed true feel for the position - specifically on double play turns.

OF Alex Edgar (Deerfield, 2027) is an athletic 5-foot-11, 158-pound prospect who made his Prep Baseball event debut and emerged as a name to know in the class. Defensively, he had quick feet and played through the baseball while showing range and confident actions for the position. To pair, he showed a noticeably strong arm that topped at 88 mph (tied for second-highest) with carry. At the plate, the right-handed hitter has an upside operation with plenty more strength to come, showing an athletic swing with a max EV of 90 mph. 

OF Case Templin (Lincoln-Way East, 2027) is another sophomore that showed well on both sides. Starting with his defense, the strong 5-foot-11, 177-pound R/R prospect showed confident and athletic footwork that provided range, paired with natural feel for the position. At the plate, Templin was consistently on the barrel throughout his round, creating length through the zone with extension through impact and strong hands, consistently working the middle of the field with a peak EV of 94 mph and average of 88.4 mph. He also put up impressive BLAST numbers with 22 Gs of average rotational acceleration, an average bat-speed of 72.6 mph and an average hand-speed of 22 mph. Also a 7.01 runner in the 60. 

INF Casey Mikrut (Lincoln-Way East, 2027) has started to become a familiar name amongst our staff, after showing well earlier this winter in Lockport. He has an athletic build with some present strength and round shoulders, standing in at 5-foot-8, 174-pounds. Defensively, he continued to show to be a reliable defender up the middle; displaying a two-hand funnel into his body, range, and a clean double play turn. At the plate, the right-handed hitter has a strong swing that works uphill at times through the zone, showing intent to match plane while peaking at 93 mph for his max EV (T351’). 

C Tristan Steger (Mount Carmel, 2027) is another standout name that made his Prep Baseball event debut over the weekend. He has a physically imposing frame at 6-foot-1, 191-pounds, with room for added physical development. He showed natural and clean actions out of the crouch, while posting a 1.88 pop time (event-best), paired with an accurate arm that topped at 75 mph. At the plate, the left-handed hitter showed athletic hands while controlling his levers well, staying balanced throughout with loud contact off the barrel (T101 mph EV, 91.7 mph avg.). He was also able to elevate the ball with ease, showing big power potential with a max distance of 370’. 

INF Joey Escobarete (Brother Rice, 2027) is a natural defender up the middle who has made big strides since we last saw him at the State Games in August. He ran a 6.96 60, after posting a 7.21 60 in Rantoul, and also improved his infield velocity by 11 mph, topping out at 85 mph this past weekend. Escobarete presents the glove early, utilizing a two-hand gather out front, playing through the ball with natural actions and quick feet. At the plate, the right-handed hitter worked with a short, direct path to the baseball, staying on top of the ball throughout his round with athletic hands. 

Two more sophomores to note from Brother Rice are INF Gavin Stanislawski and OF Anthony Cartolano.

Stanislawski took one of the more physical rounds of BP on the day, reaching up to 102.5 mph for his peak EV while averaging over 93 mph (T333’). He also averaged an eye-opening 81.5 mph for his bat-speed with an average hand-speed of 22.2 mph. The right-handed hitter displayed easy strength throughout his round, looking to lift to his pull-side with strong hands, also controlling his body well for his intent level. It is also worth noting that at 6-foot-1, 205-pounds with strength throughout, Stanislawski is a 6.81 runner in the 60. He also showed to be a steady defender on the infield, while reaching a peak velocity of 85 mph across the diamond.

Cartolano continues to improve each time he gets in front of our staff, looking to have added some notable strength to his now 5-foot-9, 190-pound frame. He’s a premiere athlete for his age, turning in a 6.81 in the 60, and he creates impressive jump off his barrel with a 97 mph EV and a compact/strong swing. Cartolano also had a dynamic showing defensively; playing through the ball with quick feet, showing easy range, and displaying confident actions throughout his round in the outfield. His arm reached up to 86 mph from the crow-hop.

OF Michael Kalkowski (Lemont, 2027) is an athletic defender at a well-proportioned 5-foot-9, 162-pounds with some present strength throughout. He plays with quick feet while staying behind the ball and fielding the ball cleanly off his front foot with a one-hand gather. At the plate, the right-handed hitter swings with easy effort and a longer flat path, working to stay on top of the baseball throughout his round with a steep path. He’s also an above-average athlete, cruising to a 7.01 in the 60. 

INF Jacsen Tucker (Oswego East, 2027) stands out with his ultra-projectable 6-foot-3, 180-pound frame, and he continues to raise his prospect status with each look we get. Currently ranked No. 4 in IL, his right-handed swing continues to improve, working on the barrel with effortless power throughout his round, creating a peak EV of 99.9 mph and averaging 89 mph, also lifting his furthest batted-ball 375’. It's an easy swing that uses his levers well, staying short to the baseball with a handsy operation and balance throughout. He has also trimmed down his 60-time significantly, now running a 6.69. Tucker then continued his standout performance on the infield where he showed the ability to play through the ball with easy range, paired with a reliable glove up the middle. His arm is short, quick, and accurate, topping at 84 mph with more in the tank moving forward.

One of the top football players in the state, OF Josh Morgan (Fenwick, 2027) also continues to look the part as one of the top baseball players. Currently the No. 13 player in IL, Morgan has some present strength and clear athleticism in his 6-foot-2, 186-pound frame. He’s a premiere athlete with a 6.78 in the 60, though we’ve had him down to a 6.63 in the past. The right-handed hitter utilized a pull-side approach throughout his round with strong hands, reaching up to 92 mph for his peak EV. Also known for being a dynamic defender in-game, and it was more of the same on this day. He has athletic footwork paired with a quick first step, and one of the stronger arms for the event - topping out at 90 mph.

INF Tanner Toback (Lane Tech, 2027) stood out as an athletic right-handed hitter to follow. At the plate, Toback showed athletic hands with some bat-speed, staying through the zone with a flat path while working with a line-drive approach, staying balanced throughout and repeating his operation (T95.6 mph EV; T344’). Toback’s athleticism carried over on defense where he moved well throughout his round, displaying a steady glove with quick transfers.

OF Carson Hamblin (Lake Zurich, 2027) continues to impress as an athletic left-handed hitter in the state. Currently ranked No. 36 in IL, Hamblin got things going with a 6.85 in the 60, though we’ve had him down to a 6.68 in the past. At the plate, the left-handed hitter showed quick, strong hands with the ability to elevate with ease, staying on the barrel to his pull-side throughout with a peak EV of 92 mph - also showing well above-average hand-speed with a 25.4 mph average. 

One of the more impressive rounds of the day came from OF Brandon Beasley (Oak Park-River Forest, 2027). The left-handed hitter stands in at 5-foot-11, 196-pounds with round shoulders and some present strength, and the strength was on full display throughout his round with a peak EV of 100.5 mph, averaging 89 mph with a max distance of 344’. There’s plenty of juice in his stroke, working with a pull-side approach throughout with the ability to keep the ball on a line, staying balanced through impact with not a lot of perceived effort in his operation.

Shane Torres (Waubonsie Valley, 2027) and Ryan Wilberding (Libertyville, 2027) are a couple of the top catchers in the state that both showed well over the weekend. 

Torres, currently ranked No. 29 in the state, is a strong left-handed hitter that worked on the barrel with some lift to the big part of the field, also showing the ability to stay through it the other way with strength (T93.2 mph EV). Defensively, Torres posted a 2.00 pop time, while reaching 75 mph out of the chute.

Wilberding, the current top-ranked catcher in Illinois and No. 16 prospect overall, showed his usual strong right-handed bat with a direct and short stroke, creating loud contact with ease up the middle while staying balanced throughout (T99 mph EV, 92 mph avg, T346’). Wilberding continues to improve defensively, having one of the stronger arms for the entire day at 82 mph, while posting a 1.97 pop-time. 

INF Eric Acevedo (Lane Tech, 2027) is coming off a strong showing at the Chicago Preseason ID, and backed it up with yet another good day this past weekend. The right-handed hitter took a polished round of BP, working with a longer, flat path that creates extension through impact, creating length through the zone while staying on the barrel to the middle of the field with line-drives (T90 mph EV). Acevedo continued to impress during his defensive round; playing with natural actions and bounce, moving well laterally while showing a clean double play turn and a reliable two-hand gather out front. He reached a peak velocity of 86 mph across the diamond (4th best for the event).

INF Julio Ayala (Montini, 2027) continues to look the part as one of the top infielders in the state. He has an athletic build, standing at 5-foot-11, 179-pounds, and there’s still plenty of room to add on lean strength in the coming years. At the plate, the left-handed hitter has an easy and handsy swing with whip in the barrel, staying controlled throughout with a peak EV of 92 mph. Defensively, Ayala presents the glove and plays through the ball with a two-hand funnel into his body while showing a steady glove paired with one of the stronger arms for the event at 88 mph.

INF/C Brady Dunnett (Oswego, 2027) took one of the more polished rounds of BP on the day. The left-handed hitter has a compact and easy swing, controlling the barrel with feet to hit while keeping the ball on a line, staying balanced throughout (T89 mph EV). Dunnett’s defense was impressive both on the infield and behind the dish. On the infield he shows a confident glove with athletic actions, while reaching 82 mph across the infield. Dunnett’s confident actions carried over to his catcher defense where he showed quick transfers and quick feet, while reaching 75 mph out of the chute, paired with a 2.02 pop time.

OF Matthew Tomfohrde (Hinsdale Central, 2027) is a no doubt name to follow from the day, leading the event in virtually all hitting categories. The strong-bodied 6-foot, 200-pound right-handed hitter led the event in max EV (105 mph), average EV (95 mph) and max distance (391’). It was one of the loudest rounds we saw all winter, as he was all over the barrel with intent to lift to his pull-side and strong hands. He’s also a noteworthy athlete for his size, turning in a 7.02 in the 60. 

INF Ryan Tucker (Jacobs, 2027) has been a staff favorite for some time, currently slotted at No. 37 in the state, and he did nothing but elevate himself even further this past weekend. He improved every facet of his game, starting with his max EV which now sits at 95 mph - working with an easy and controlled operation with a balanced finish, lifting the baseball up the middle while working on the barrel. He’s also now a 7.01 runner in the 60, which should only continue to get better as he moves throughout the high school ranks. Defensively, Tucker uses a two-hand gather into his body, while also displaying range up the middle. His arm peaked at 85 mph across the infield from multiple slots.

One of the loudest rounds of the day came from INF Max Judge (Hinsdale Central, 2027). Standing in at 6-foot, 190-pounds with square shoulders and some present strength, the right-handed hitter was on the barrel throughout with an average EV of 91 mph, topping out at 99 mph while working to keep the ball on a line but also lifting at times up the middle. His swing is compact and direct, boasting strong hands through the baseball with impressive BLAST metrics, averaging 18.1 Gs for his rotational acceleration, 74 mph for his bat-speed and 22 mph for his hand-speed. Defensively, Judge plays with a steady two-hand gather out front, showing the ability to move well up the middle while displaying a clean double play turn.

INF Henry Ikrami (Galesburg, 2027) stands out with a lean, projectable 6-foot, 185-pound frame, and there’s plenty more strength to come for the young infielder. He’s a right-handed hitter, showing an athletic and handsy swing with the ability to control his levers and stay balanced, also using the whole field throughout with some feel to lift (peak EV of 93.5 mph; T351’). 

INF Lucas Hovinen (Lake Zurich, 2027) will be a name for us to follow moving forward. There’s plenty to dream on in his 6-foot, 197-pound frame, and he has clear strength in his right-handed swing with a peak EV of 94 mph - showing a strong, flat swing with bat-speed and jump off the barrel. 

INF Matthew Hara (Libertyville, 2027) stood out with his loud round of BP over the weekend. At the plate, the 5-foot-10, 174-pound right-handed hitter has some lean strength in his frame, and he was able to create a max EV of 95 mph while averaging 90 mph throughout. It's a simple swing that stays direct to the baseball with strong hands, looking to stay on top of the baseball - averaging 73 mph for his bat-speed and 16.8 Gs for his rotational acceleration. Hara also impressed defensively by showing range up the middle, paired with a clean double play turn and a steady two-hand gather out front.

INF Daniel Bachler (Mount Carmel, 2027) showed all sorts of upside this past weekend, and there's plenty more to dream on in his 6-foot-2, 177-pound frame. At the plate, the right-handed hitter showed a longer, flat swing through the zone that uses his levers well, maxing out at 95 mph for his EV with a 350’ max distance, still holding much more power to come. He was also able to create an average bat-speed of 73.4 mph and average hand-speed of 23 mph. On top of his upside at the plate, he is also an intriguing athlete that can move well for his size with a 7.08 in the 60, and we expect that to only get better in the coming years. Defensively, Bachler showed one of the stronger arms for the event, topping at 87 mph across the diamond.

Two-Ways 

INF/RHP Kash VanHouten (Canton, 2027) is coming off a highly impressive showing at the Peoria Preseason ID a couple weeks ago, and backed it up with arguably an even better performance this weekend. On the mound, Kash continues to display high-level arm talent. His velocity continues to climb in our looks, sitting 90-92 mph, and topping out at 94 mph in this look, while also averaging 2364 rpm. He mixed in a tight-spinning slider with short action at 72-74 mph, showing feel to land for strikes (80%). He also mixed in a changeup which he threw for strikes 100% of the time, and a sinker that sat in the upper-80s. At the plate, the athletic right-handed hitter showed strength at impact with an intentful round, staying up the middle with elevated contact and a peak EV of 97 mph, averaging 90 mph with a 375’ max distance. 

OF/LHP Tyler Gluting (Metea Valley, 2027) gave one of the more impressive looks on the day, regardless of class. He provided one of the livelier ‘pens of the day, showcasing a clean delivery with a quick arm, producing a fastball up to 94 mph, but sitting 89-93 mph throughout. He also mixed in a mid-70s curveball, and a changeup at 82-86 mph. At the plate, the left-handed hitter showed an explosive swing with strong hands, staying through the zone with whip in the barrel and loud contact with a max EV of 99 mph, averaging just under 95 mph. 

1B/LHP Dylan McCabe (St. Charles East, 2027) continues to look the part as a high-ceiling bat to follow in the state. Standing in at 5-foot-11, 154-pounds, the left-handed hitter still has much more strength to come in his frame. At the plate, he is a fluid/loose mover with a longer swing that stays through the zone, showing some whip in the barrel with an athletic finish, reaching up to 94 mph for his peak EV. McCabe was also a standout defensively, showing natural and athletic actions and feel for the position - reaching up to 81 mph from the first base position. He then provided an upside look on the mound, with his fastball playing clean out of the hand with some late life through the zone for strikes at 79-80 mph. His changeup was his best off-speed pitch on the day, sitting 70-72 mph with heavy fade (avg. -18.1” HM).

OF/RHP Noah Hallahan (Geneva, 2027) stands out physically at 6-foot-1, 190-pounds, and he had a loud showing on both sides of the ball. At the plate, the right-handed hitter creates some length through the zone with a flatter path and strength at impact, working hard on the barrel with a peak EV of 99 mph, averaging 92 mph while staying mostly pull-side with some lift at times. Hallahan gave a dynamic look on defense as well, showing quick feet, a reliable one-hand gather off his front foot while also showing range going back for fly balls. He also tied for the strongest arm for the event, reaching 90 mph from the crow-hop. On the mound, Hallahan displayed a long and loose arm action with a fastball up to 87 mph, sitting mostly in the mid-80s. He showed feel for his upper-70s changeup, producing above-average arm-side action. Hallahan rounded out his arsenal with a curveball that showed short, vertical action at 72-75 mph.

INF/RHP Miles Mazanowski (Lane Tech, 2027) is another physical right-handed hitter, standing at 6-foot-2, 195-pounds with round shoulders and strength throughout his frame. At the plate, he showed big power and strength at impact with an uphill path and intent to lift the baseball, staying balanced throughout and controlling his body well with some aggression, topping out at 98 mph for his EV with an average of 90 mph (T338’). His BLAST metrics were also extremely impressive, averaging 74 mph for his bat-speed and 22.3 mph for his hand-speed. Mazanowski then showed to be a highly athletic defender up the middle; displaying a reliable two-hand gather out front paired with athletic feet and one of the stronger arms for the event at 89 mph. On the mound, Mazanowski showed a minimal effort, stretch-only delivery. His fastball sat 84-86 mph, while topping out at 87 mph with quality spin to pair (avg. 2333 rpm). He threw two different breaking balls with high spin and sharp action on each - with his curveball averaging 2709 rpm and his slider averaging 2649 rpm. He rounded out his four-pitch mix with a changeup that he threw for strikes 67% of the time, per Trackman.

LHP/1B Grant Statler (Hononegah, 2027) will be a name to follow throughout the coming years on both sides of the ball. He has a wiry and projectable build, standing in at 5-foot-10, 167-pounds. At the plate, the left-handed hitter displayed a simple, flat swing with a balanced and compact finish, working on the barrel to the whole field, showing the ability to cover the plate (T94 mph EV). Statler worked a simple delivery on the mound and showcased his fastball up to 85 mph. He showed some feel for both his curveball and slider - the curveball working with 11/5 shape, and the slider playing with more short, horizontal bite. He rounded out his arsenal with a changeup that worked with slight fade, sitting 74-76 mph.

OF/LHP Anthony Kilimnik (Joliet Catholic, 2027) has a swing you can dream on, working on top of the baseball with a loose and handsy operation. Kilimnik also showed well on the defensive side of the ball; playing with a natural feel for the position to go with athletic footwork, a confident glove, and a strong arm that peaked at 86 mph. On the mound, the southpaw’s fastball was up to 81 mph. He turned to a curveball and slider, both with quality average spin rates at 2343 and 2340 rpm, respectively. Kilimnik also threw a changeup at 73-75 mph with fade, and a sinker up to 81 mph with arm-side action.

RHP/INF Owen Borkowski (Huntley, 2027) stands in an athletic 6-foot, 158-pound frame. He’s a quiet mover on the mound with a compact and quick arm path, working a mid-80s fastball throughout his ‘pen. He showed advanced action on his curveball with sharp, 11/5 shape, and it averaged -9.1 inches of IVB and -16.4 inches of horizontal movement. He also threw a slider that showed sharp actions with 10/4 shape. Defensively, Borkowski uses a reliable two-hand gather into his body, while getting around the baseball. He showed athletic actions throughout, while showing range up the middle. His arm plays quick and accurate, peaking at 83 mph, with more to come in the future. At the plate, the right-handed hitter has a flatter swing with the ability to work the baseball up the middle and the other way with a peak EV of 92 mph. 

INF/RHP Matt Ritchie (St. Charles North, 2027) owns a hard-to-miss 6-foot-3, 176-pound frame with clear strength and athleticism. In this look, his fastball sat 87-88 mph, topping out at 89 with some ride through the zone. His off-speed offerings look to still be developing, with his slider sitting in the mid-70s, and spinning on average at 2313 rpm, and his change-up sitting 78-80 mph. Ritchie rounded out his impressive day on the defensive side of the ball where he showed to have a reliable glove paired with range and an accurate arm that topped at 84 mph across the infield. The right-handed hitter was a winner at the plate as well, showing a longer swing with some strength and an uphill path with intent to lift pull-side/middle, 95 mph peak EV (89 mph avg. EV). 

OF/LHP Cole Brent (Normal University, 2027) has an athletic and lean frame at 5-foot-10, 178-pounds. During his ‘pen, his fastball was up to 89 mph with some arm-side actions at times. He mixed in a curveball with sweeping actions, playing low in the zone at times, and a change-up that played with downer action. Defensively, Brent plays with athletic feet that attack the baseball, utilizing a clean one-hand gather in-stride, while tying for the event lead for outfield velocity at 90 mph. At the plate, the left-handed hitter showed a simple swing with some ease in the operation, repeating and controlling his levers while also showing strong hands and bat-speed (101 mph peak EV; 95 mph avg.). He was able to elevate the ball with ease as well, lifting his furthest ball 368’. 

RHP/OF Wade Ozment (Crystal Lake Central, 2027) immediately stands out with his long, projectable frame at 6-foot-3, 186-pounds, and he moves with ease and athleticism on the mound. His fastball sat 87-88 mph, touching 89, and he spun a confident curveball that averaged 2435 rpm. His changeup showed quality fade, working low in the zone. Ozment stood out defensively as well; showing confident and natural actions in the outfield with range, while tying for the strongest arm for the event at 90 mph. At the plate, the right-handed hitter uses his levers to create some jump off the barrel to the middle of the field and the other way, peaking at 92 mph for his EV. 

Pitchers 

Currently ranked No. 9 in Illinois, RHP Brady Cunningham (Brother Rice, 2027) has continued to trend up each time we see him. It's an easy delivery that maintains direction down the mound paired with a strong arm action and a high ¾ to over-the-top slot. His fastball sat 89-90 mph, topping out at 91 mph, showing carry through the zone. He paired it with a curveball that sat 75-79 mph with short, moderate action, and he also mixed in a straight, firm changeup at 82-83 mph. Standing in a physical 6-foot-2, 222-pound frame, he continues to impress not only on the mound but also with the bat. Cunningham is a high-follow name in Illinois’ 2027 class.

RHP Brady Buenik (Libertyville, 2027) is currently ranked No. 3 in Illinois and No. 51 nationally, and stands in a strong, 6-foot-3, 205-pound frame. Buenik delivered the most impressive performance of the entire day, regardless of class. The physical right-hander ran his fastball up to 95.3 mph, sitting 93-95 mph with life through the zone. His slider played in the upper-70s with sharp, late bite, while his splitter showed late fade and deception while killing the spin (avg. 781). He utilized a tall-and-fall delivery with a short, low lift before striding square to his target with intent and paired it with a quick arm out of a ¾ slot. With his present stuff, size, and overall athleticism on the mound, Buenik continues to solidify himself as one of the top arms in not just Illinois, but the country. 

RHP Austin Winge (Lockport, 2027) showed well in his Prep Baseball showcase debut. He stands in an athletic 5-foot-9, 171-pound frame. He works a quick, intentful delivery that stays in control down the mound, paired with a long, quick arm action. His fastball sat 90-92 mph with clear life/ride through the zone, averaging 17.8 inches of induced vertical break. He mixed in a slider that played with short, horizontal action, showing out-pitch potential at times. He rounded out his mix with a change-up that he threw with fastball arm speed, creating some fade at times at 80-84 mph.

RHP Traxton Roberts (Armstrong, 2027) continues to impress with each watch. A standout at this event a year prior, Roberts’ stuff has clearly made a jump. Standing at a long-levered 6-foot-1, 175-pounds, he is a controlled mover down the mound paired with a noticeably quick arm. His fastball sat 86-88 mph on this day for strikes with carry (avg. 17.6” IVB), and an average spin rate of 2316 rpm (T2379). His curveball (avg. 2310 rpm) sat 71-75 mph with sweeping-action for strikes 60% of the time. His 76-78 mph changeup flashed as well with an average of 17.6” HM. A must-know name for the spring.

RHP Russell Hengels (Maine South, 2027) stands in an intriguing 6-foot-3, 213-pound frame with strength throughout. He worked from a stretch-only delivery with a slight drop and drive, landing square to his target. Hengels showed a long arm action with a loose whip, producing a fastball that sat 86-88 mph, topping out at 89 mph, showing arm-side action through the zone. He paired it with a curveball in the 75-77 mph range, averaging 2325 rpm with an 11/5 shape and quality depth. Hengels also mixed in a changeup at 82-85 mph, showing above-average horizontal action. With his size and pitch mix, Hengels emerged as a high-follow name in Illinois’ 2027 class.

RHP Cooper Holman (Wilmington, 2027) made his Prep Baseball event debut over the weekend and emerged as a name to know in the state’s sophomore class. Standing with a strong and sturdy build at 6-foot-3, 194-pounds, Holman showed a fluid operation on the mound paired with a quick arm. His fastball sat 88-90 mph with ride and run, while his breaking ball was perhaps his best pitch on the day at 72-74 mph that played tight with over an average of -14” HM. His changeup also showed to be deceptive, playing off his fastball at 80-84 mph with an average of 14.5” HM.

RHP Brody Libel (Glenbard North, 2027) made a strong impression at last Saturday’s event. The sophomore worked his fastball at 87-88 mph, showing a long, loose arm action and a quick release out front. Libel complemented it with a diverse mix: a curveball at 60-64 mph, a slider at 66-69 mph, and a 74-75 mph changeup that landed for strikes 100% of the time. Still early in his development, Libel’s live arm and athleticism on the mound established him as a follow in the class.

RHP Colin Giles (St. Ignatius, 2027) stands in a tall, lean 6-foot-5, 175-pound frame. He works from a high ¾ slot, showing a smooth, repeatable delivery. His fastball sat 83-85 mph, topping out at 86 mph, averaging 2410 rpm with above-average arm-side run. He paired it with a curveball in the 70-72 mph range, averaging 2481 rpm, with an 11/5 shape and above-average action. The pitch showed a negative IVB (-10.3 inches) and horizontal movement (-11.3 inches). Giles also mixed in a changeup at 76-77 mph, with above-average movement to the arm-side and deception. 

RHP Justice Hernandez (New Trier, 2027) is a name that has become very familiar with our staff after breaking onto the scene for us last summer. An earlier standout this winter, Hernandez continues to show well with each look, and this event was no different. He is a dynamic mover down the mound at 5-foot-9, 152-pounds, throwing everything with intent. His fastball sat 84-85 mph with carry (avg. 16.9” IVB, T21.9”), for strikes 67% of the time. Hernandez showed to have control (60% strikes) of the slider at 70-72 mph, which played with more of a vertical shape. He also flashed a splitter at 71-75 mph with hard downer action (avg. 3.6” IVB) and slight cut.

LHP Chase Reinhart (Normal West, 2027) is a name that continues to impress our staff on the mound. Standing in an athletic 6-foot, 170-pound frame, Reinhart works from a stretch-only delivery with fluid tempo, maintaining balance and landing square to his target. He showed a clean, quick arm action from a high ¾ slot, working his fastball at 84-86 mph, topping out at 87 mph - also throwing a two-seam fastball that showed more sink action. He paired the fastball with a curveball that sat 69-72 mph, averaging 2215 rpm, showing sweeping and slurve-type action. Reinhart also mixed in a changeup at 75-78 mph, showing -16.4 inches of horizontal movement with sink action and fastball arm-speed. Ranked No. 15 in the class, he remains a must-know arm in the state. 

RHP Cooper Johnson (Lincoln-Way East, 2027) was another winner that emerged from the event. Presenting an imposing and high-waisted 6-foot-2, 183-pound frame, Johnson’s arsenal stood out with its movement on this day. His fastball exploded out of the hand at 84-85 mph (T86) with sink (avg. 11.2” IVB) for a 67% strike percentage. He then went to a 71-72 mph curveball that was in the zone 80% of the time with hard vertical action. He would round things out with a 76-77 mph changeup that played with fade (avg. 16.4” HM) to make for a quality three-pitch mix.

LHP Quinn Rooney (Benet Academy, 2027) is an intriguing arm-to-follow from the event, standing in a 6-foot-5, 197-pound frame. His fastball sat in the low-80s throughout his ‘pen, but he showed the ability to work up to 87 mph towards the end. Rooney also mixed in a curveball that showed depth at times (avg. -9.5” IVB), and a low-70s changeup with some downer action.

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