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Preseason All-State Underclass: 2028 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 class of 2028, with scouting reports and videos, below. 

Position Players 

The top ranked player in Illinois and No. 15 in the country, OF Carver Cohn (McHenry, 2028) continues to impress in front of our staff. He has a switch-hitting profile with an extremely athletic look from both sides, boasting lean strength and twitch to help create exit velocities around the 100 mph mark. He also does a good job of creating length through the zone with whip in the barrel. Cohn also continued to show to be a high-level defender at the event; playing with confident actions, athletic footwork and range, paired with a very strong arm that was accurate at 88 mph. 6.95 runner in the 60. 

1B Quincy Fulton (Newton, 2028) stands out right away with his 6-foot-1, 209-pound frame, and he holds some of the biggest power potential not just in the state, but likely the country. Currently slotted at No. 2 in Illinois and No. 72 in the country, Fulton is a switch-hitter that has shown big juice from both sides of the plate. He showed easy strength at impact with not much perceived effort, and he also showed a natural feel to lift the baseball with loud contact at times, reaching up to 98 mph for his EV with a 348’ max distance. He also put up some impressive BLAST numbers with an average bat-speed of 75 mph, peaking at just under 80 mph. 

OF Evangelo Georganas (Hinsdale Central, 2028) gave a strong look over the weekend. At the plate, the left-handed hitter showed a strong operation that is simple and repeatable from launch, looking to elevate the baseball to his pull-side with some feel to work up the middle of the field as well. Defensively, he played with athletic footwork and confident actions, while showing range when going back for fly balls.

OF Carson Ramoley (Brother Rice, 2028) is an athletic young prospect to watch throughout the coming years. The younger brother of Kentucky commit Nolan Ramoley, Carson also appears to be a strong, toolsy prospect. Listed at 5-foot-10, 155-pounds, Ramoley has a lean and upside build with sloped shoulders, allowing plenty more room for muscle in the coming years. He’s an above-average runner, cruising to a 6.90 in the 60 to start his day. At the plate, the right-handed hitter has a loose and whippy stroke with length through the zone at times with the ability to elevate, creating some loud contact with sneaky juice at times, reaching up to 94 mph for his peak EV with a 349’ max distance. He also put up above-average BLAST numbers, averaging 75 mph for his bat-speed, 23.2 mph for his hand-speed and 18.2 Gs for his rotational acceleration. Ramoley showed a ton of intrigue on the defensive side of the ball. He displayed quick feet, the ability to play through the ball, and played with overall confident actions and range.

OF Trey Hrasky (O’Fallon, 2028) is an intriguing and projectable L/L prospect that stood out from the day. He has a highly athletic build with sloped shoulders and a high waist, standing in at 6-foot, 160-pounds. The left-handed hitter has a simple and longer swing that flashed the ability to use the whole field, staying mostly pull-side throughout. Hrasky showed to be an athletic and natural defender to keep tabs on. He utilizes an athletic one-hand gather off his front foot, has quick feet, and plays with noticeable confidence. 

OF Ryan Pipkins (Champaign Central, 2028) stands out physically for his age with a 6-foot, 170-pound frame, boasting round shoulders with some present strength and more room to add in the coming years. At the plate, the left-handed hitter flashed some loud contact with a peak EV of 95 mph, averaging 88 mph throughout. He has a shorter swing that stays direct to the baseball with some backspin feel up the middle of the field at times. Defensively, Pipkins plays with a very soft glove and showed rangy actions as well. He topped out at 82 mph from the crow-hop.

A right-handed hitter that took a quality round of BP to note is INF Alex Govoni (Loyola Academy, 2028). He has a short and simple swing, staying direct to the baseball while working to stay on top of the ball, also remaining balanced and athletic throughout with a peak EV of 94 mph. On the infield, Govoni showed athletic footwork with sure-handed actions and a two-hand gather, moving well to both sides of his glove. He has some present arm-strength, reaching up to 82 mph across the diamond and 81 on the mound. 

OF Barrett Schifferdecker (Loyola Academy, 2028) looks to be a name we’ll have to follow closely throughout the coming years with some loud tools across the board. He has an impressive 6-foot-1, 190-pound frame with some present strength throughout and long levers, and there’s still more room to add in the coming years. The left-handed hitter was all over the barrel throughout his round, coiling into his load before firing through the zone with strong hands, looking to stay on top of the baseball while creating extension out front and using the whole field, peaking at 97.5 mph for his EV. He looks to be an athletic mover in the outfield, backed by his 6.90 in the 60, also showing off a strong arm reaching up to 86 mph from a crowhop. 

INF Kale Bacus (Normal Community, 2028) looks to be yet another talented young prospect coming through central IL. There’s a lot to dream on in his right-handed swing, and there's surely more strength on the way as he matures. He showed some feel for the barrel throughout his round with a middle and pull-side approach, showcasing loose hands with some whip in the barrel. On the infield, Bacus showed some range up the middle with athletic footwork, pairing with soft hands and natural feel for the position. 

OF Sage Lelm (Morton, 2028) was a winner for out staff over the summer circuit, and he continues to look like a name to watch. Listed at 5-foot-10, 195-pounds with broad, round shoulders and evenly proportioned strength throughout, the right-handed hitter showed some big power potential throughout his round of BP with a peak EV of 95 mph while averaging 91 mph - also reaching up to 362’ for his peak distance. He has a simple and compact swing with strength at impact, working with intent through the zone and some feel to elevate to his pull-side. There’s some present athleticism with a 7.26 in the 60, and you can expect that to get better throughout the coming years. He pairs all of this with a strong arm, reaching up to 85 mph from a crow hop. 

C Wes Thompson (Normal University, 2028) is an impressive catcher to note from the day. He has some projection in his frame, standing in at 5-foot-10, 166-pounds with lean levers and room to fill out. At the plate, the right-handed hitter showed a polished swing with a balanced operation, displaying quick/explosive hands with a flat path. He also looks to be a quality defender with a clean catch/throw operation behind the plate, pairing with a quick transfer and strong arm (1.99 pop-time; T80 mph). 

1B Tommy Gasner (Huntley, 2028) showed well a couple weeks ago at the McHenry Preseason ID, and once again gave an impressive look this time around. There’s some present physicality in his 6-foot, 198-pound frame, and it easily transfers over to his left-handed swing, reaching up to 94 mph for his EV in this look - also showing the ability to drive the baseball up the middle and the other way throughout his round. 

OF Dylan Williamson (Loyola, 2028) is a physical right-handed bat to note from the day. Listed at 6-foot-2, 205-pounds, Williamson has present strength and physicality throughout with broad shoulders and a developed lower-half. He moves better than one might think, cruising to a 7.21 in the 60. At the plate, the right-handed hitter has an easy and strong swing that stays long through the zone with loose hands, creating some loud EVs in the mid-90s while averaging 86 mph. 

C/INF Weston Wyzukovicz (Libertyville, 2028) is a versatile defender that looks to handle the bat well from the right side. At the plate, he showed to have strong hands with some easy flick in the barrel, staying through the zone with a flat path while remaining balanced through impact, reaching up to 93 mph for his peak EV. He’s an above-average athlete with a 7.05 in the 60, though we’ve had him down to a 6.97 in the past. Defensively, Wyzukowicz showed to have a quick glove-to-hand operation behind the plate, with a top pop-time of 2.07 seconds.

MIF Kameron Cox (Montini, 2028) looked to be one of the more interesting infield follows on the day. At the plate, the right-handed hitter took a quality round with polish and feel to use the whole field, looking to stay on top of the baseball and keep it on a line (T91 mph EV). Defensively, Cox continues to look the part for our staff. An athletic mover with a confident glove and rangy actions, he looks like he could stick up the middle for years to come.

INF Ethan Sehmer (Lakes Community, 2028) stood out on the day with a loud round of BP, looking to be one of the stronger bats in attendance. There’s some present strength in his 5-foot-10, 170-pound frame, standing in with broad shoulders and some strength in his lower-half. The right-handed hitter showed to have strong hands with a longer and flat path, actively trying to lift the baseball at times (T92 mph EV). 

Two-Ways 

1B/RHP Cole Clower (Providence Catholic, 2028) continues to look the part as one of the top freshmen in the state, currently slotting in at No. 4 in IL and No. 108 nationally. He has made some noticeable strength gains to his frame, now standing in at 6-foot-1, 186-pounds. He took one of the best rounds of BP on the day, showing a balanced and controlled operation from the left side with whip in the barrel and strength at impact, reaching up to 95 mph for his EV while averaging 90 mph (T349’). Clower is an athletic defender up the middle as well. He utilizes a reliable two-hand gather while playing through the ball and playing on the move. His arm played strong and accurate as well, as he reached a peak velocity of 86 mph across the diamond. On the mound, Clower sat 84-86 mph with his fastball. There’s still some polish to come with his off-speed, which is as expected for a prospect his age, but his curveball flashed sharp, 11/5 actions at times, working it low. He also mixed in a sinker that was up to 84.5 mph with an average of 15.3 inches of horizontal action.

INF/RHP Peter Pignatiello (Benet Academy, 2028) gave an impressive two-way look over the weekend. At the plate, the left-handed hitter showed the ability to control his levers well while working on-plane, staying compact and balanced with the ability to work the middle of the field and the other way. Defensively, Pignatiello really looks the part of a highly-athletic defender for years to come. He has natural and athletic actions at the position; presenting the glove, playing low to the ground, catching the ball out front, and making plays on the move. His arm played accurately while working from multiple slots when needed. He then hopped on the bump and provided an upside look. He is a smooth and athletic mover down the mound with pitchability. He pounded the zone with both his fastball (T80 mph) and changeup (72-75 mph), with each pitch being thrown for a strike 100% of the time. Pignatiello will be a two-way name to follow throughout the coming years.

INF Austin Leipart (Providence Catholic, 2028) is a highly projectable name to circle from the day. Listed at 5-foot-10, 141-pounds, Leipart has long, lean levers with a ton of room to fill out and add strength in the coming years, and his high-waisted build indicates there’s likely still more growing to come. At the plate, the right-handed hitter showed a loose and easy stroke, staying balanced with feel to use the whole field, controlling his levers well throughout. Defensively, Leipart is a smooth and athletic defender on the infield. He showed confident actions and the ability to make plays on the move. His arm plays loose/quick from multiple slots with strength (T84 mph) and accuracy. Later, he would get on the mound and continue his impressive overall showing. His fastball was clean out of the hand with life, sitting 82-83 mph (T84) with heavy run (avg. 16.1” HM). His changeup flashed out-pitch potential moving forward; sitting 75-76 mph with heavy fade (avg. 17.1” HM). Leipart would also show a curveball at 73-76 mph.

INF/RHP Ethan Killion (New Trier, 2028) stands in a strong 5-foot-10, 176-pound frame, and showed some intrigue throughout his entire workout last Saturday. At the plate, the right-handed hitter showed some strength at impact with a peak EV of 96 mph, also lifting his furthest ball 348’. Killion showed well defensively also. He presents the glove, showed some range playing up the middle, and also displayed a clean double play turn. His arm played strong as well, with his best bullet reaching 86 mph. Killion later jumped on the mound and showed a fastball with life, sitting 84-86 mph. He turned to a slider with 10/4 shape and slight depth, a changeup in the low-80s, and a cutter that sat 82-84 mph with occasional cut.

RHP/C Isaiah Wolter (Oswego East, 2028) is a toolsy name to know from the day. He has a strong, compact build, listed at 5-foot-10, 173-pounds with round/broad shoulders and some strength in the lower-half. The right-handed hitter took a quality round of BP, working on the barrel throughout with a peak EV of 98 mph, averaging 86 mph. He has a longer, flat swing that creates length through the zone while working to stay up the middle of the field. Defensively, Wolter showed well above-average arm-strength with 80 mph from the chute, also creating a pop-time as low as 1.91 with a clean glove-to-hand and quick transfer. Quality athlete, 6.95 runner in the 60. On the mound, Wolter was a simple mover that extended down the mound, showing a fastball in the mid-80s that was up to 87.1 mph. He turned to a slider with short, horizontal bite, and a changeup with slight fade at 76-77 mph.

LHP/OF Collin Lawlor (Marist, 2028) is a projectable L/L prospect to note from the day who had a strong showing on both sides of the ball. He has room to add strength to his 6-foot, 175-pound frame, boasting a high waist and long levers. At the plate, the left-handed hitter showed easy strength with the ability to elevate to his pull-side, flashing line-drives up the middle with a peak EV of 90 mph. Lawlor continued to show well during the defensive portion of the workout; utilizing a clean one-hand gather off his front foot while showing steady actions throughout. On the mound, Lawlor showed a simple delivery with a loose arm out of a high ¾ slot. His fastball worked up to 82 mph with some arm-side action, and he showed above-average feel for a curveball, showing the ability to land it for strikes. He rounded out his mix with a low-70s changeup with fade.

INF/RHP Kanon Baxley (Kaneland, 2028) had one of the more eye-opening days from a metrics standpoint. On the mound, Baxley showed a minimal effort delivery with a long, loose and quick arm path. His fastball came out of the hand clean and sat 85-87 mph. Easily his most impressive offerings were his curveball and slider, which both had sharp actions. His curveball played with sharp, 12/6 shape, averaging 3096 rpm and -19.4 inches of IVB, and his slider averaged 2580 rpm. Baxley also threw a changeup with slight fade at 78-79 mph. At the plate, the right-handed hitter was able to create bat-speed through the zone with a longer and flat path, working on the barrel up the middle of the field with some twitch to create a max EV of 98 mph. Baxley was highly-athletic on the infield as well, showing range up the middle, and he tied for the strongest arm for the event, reaching 89 mph across the diamond. Also a 7.00 runner, Baxley has emerged as a must-know name in the state’s freshmen class. 

PITCHERS 

LHP Ethan Johnson (Lake Zurich, 2028) was one of the more impressive ‘pens on the day. The 5-foot-9, 165-pound southpaw displayed high-feel for all three pitches and is a name to monitor for the coming years. His fastball sat in the low 80s (T83 mph), pounding the zone 71% of the time. His breaking ball sat 65-68 mph while playing with 12/6 action at the bottom of the zone, and being thrown for strikes 60% of the time. He rounded out his arsenal with a 73-74 mph changeup with slight diving action. 

RHP Mason Almazan (Providence Catholic, 2028) showed feel to pitch throughout his three-pitch mix. His fastball was clean out of the hand with run, sitting 81-82 mph. He then went to a 68-70 mph curveball that showed short, vertical action, playing at the bottom of the zone for a 60% strike percentage. Almazan would round out his mix with a 75-76 mph changeup, playing with sink.

RHP Jay Baird (Hinsdale Central, 2028) stands at a long-levered 6-foot-2, 168-pound frame with upside, and is a name to monitor for the coming years. His fastball showed sinking action, topping out at 79 mph while playing clean out of the hand. His changeup sat 71-72 mph with high-feel for the zone (80% strikes) with slight diving action. Baird rounded things out with a 67-69 mph curveball that showed big-break from a 12/6 plane.

RHP Jack Postma (Barrington, 2028) provided one of the highest upsides at the event with his wiry, long-limed 6-foot-3, 186-pound frame. He controlled his levers well on the mound, staying simple, and extending down the mound, paired with a loose, quick arm action out of a lower ¾ slot. His fastball worked out of the hand clean, sitting 87-89 mph throughout, playing mostly straight. He showed confidence in his changeup that worked with heavy fade (avg. 16.4” HM), sitting 77-79 mph. Postma also showed confidence to throw his curveball, sitting in the low-70s with 11/5 shape, and the ability to land for strikes (60%). The frame, current polish, and movement patterns on the mound make Postma a high-follow prospect in Illinois’ freshmen class.

RHP Jonah Sloane (St. Laurence, 2028) threw a quality ‘pen at the event, while showing the ability to spin. His fastball sat 81-3 mph (T84) with an average of 2360 rpm. He would then toss in a 69-72 mph curveball that was in the zone 60% of the time, with over 2500 rpm on average. Sloane completed his repertoire with a 69-709 mph changeup with fade.

RHP Marco Fiore (Nazareth Academy, 2028) was around the zone with every pitch within his arsenal. His fastball topped out at 80.2 mph, while being around the zone throughout his ‘pen. His breaking ball showed above-average characteristics, playing sharp from a 12/6 shape (avg. 2513 rpm). He would round things out with a 69-72 mph changeup that played with heavy sink to the arm-side.

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