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Preseason All-State Underclass: 2029 Quick Hits

March 5, 2026
By: Illinois Staff

On Saturday, February 28th, 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 130 of the best players in the state, and gave our staff one final look at these prospects before the spring season begins.

More event content:

Today, we are taking a look at a number of the standouts from the 2029 class with scouting reports and videos, below.

Biggest Winners

+ C/1B Terrell Hampton Hall (De La Salle): 6-foot, 211-pound, right-handed hitting catcher, separated himself in pretty much every area at the event. He was arguably one of the top receivers throughout the entire pitching portion of the event working extremely quiet behind the plate with highly-advanced hands and pitch presenting ability for someone his age. Handled a number of arms with ease. His bat was also highly-impressive and looks to be a high-end defensive receiver, who profiles in the middle-of-the-order offensively which is rare and extremely valuable to find. He has a balanced, strong swing with fluidity throughout, works gap-to-gap and made a bunch of loud hard contact throughout his round; 92.2 mph average EV, T101 mph. He also has high-end bat speed for his age, averaging 72.2 mph bat speed. On top of that he topped at 76 mph from the crouch and registered 1.90-2.00 pop times. One of the top prospects in the Midwest.

+ RHP Theo Schroedter (DePaul College Prep): 6-foot-2, 155-pound, high-waisted, long-levered, projectable right/right prospect. Worked out as a position player and tied for the second-highest velocity in the outfield at 92 mph but it was his performance on the mound that really opened eyes. He has a loose, clean, projectable arm that is easy to imagine making big jumps in velocity as he matures and adds strength to his lean frame. The fastball plays lively out of the hand at 86-87, 88 mph with some life and finish through the zone. He peaked at 18.8” of IVB and averaged 2096 rpm. He also has four-above average pitches for his age with a potential starter look to him. High-ceiling arm in the 2029 class.

+ SS Chase Boykin (Marian Catholic): Of all the advanced shortstops in attendance, Boykin was towards the top with his advanced athleticism, footspeed, actions and arm. Boykin, foot-9, 161-pounds, ran one of the top 60 of the day, a 6.69. He then proceeded to play with all kinds of pace and body control on the infield, looking extremely natural on the move with quality glove presentation and quick release. The arm played at 82 mph across with accuracy and ability to throw from multiple platforms. Has a chance to be one of the top defensive middle infielders in the state. At the plate, he has a simple, barrel controlled right-handed swing with some natural lift up the middle of the field. Strong showing from the highly-athletic 2029.

+ INF Todd Dulaney Jr (Nazareth Academy): 5-foot-11, 150-pound, long-levered, athletically-built right-handed hitter continues to look like one of the top prospects in the class. Dulaney hits with a relaxed confident look in the box and does not try to do too much while staying fluid and balanced throughout. Loose, quick hands and natural lift registering a 87.9 mph average exit velocity; T94. The 7.15 runner in the 60 also shows flashy actions on the infield that should play up as he simplifies and his arm is plenty strong at 86 mph across. Upside prospect who should only continue to add quality strength and tools down the road.

OF/RHP Cylis Rainey (Mount Carmel): 6-foot, 180-pound, physical, well-proportioned right/right prospect put himself in the conversation as one of the top 2029 two-ways in attendance. Offensively he swings with a fluid, relaxed approach, strong hands, works on-plane and was driving balls with authority to the big parts of the field while staying balanced throughout. Averaged 89.7 mph off the bat, peaked at 96 mph. He also, ran a 7.08 60, was 91 mph from the outfield and showed plenty of intrigue on the mound. He is a clean and easy mover down the mound, sat 83-87 mph, with feel for his repertoire. High-end follow in the class.

+ OF/RHP Paulie Hobbs (Hanover Central, IN): The 6-foot-1, 189-pound, physical prospect was on Team Illinois at the Junior Future Games but recently transferred to Hanover Central HS in Indiana. Hobbs has big power potential from the right-side of the plate, a strong arm and also ran a 7.23 60 at the event. Offensively, he has natural lift to all fields and was comfortably driving the ball the other way with authority; 89.4 mph average exit velocity and a max EV of 96 mph. He also topped at 89 mph from the outfield and sat 85-88 mph on the mound playing firm and lively out of the hand. Should be an impact name in Indiana for year’s to come.

Two-Way Standouts

+ 3B/RHP Leo Kelly (Loyola Academy): One of the more physical prospects in attendance, listed at 6-foot-2, 202-pounds. Right-handed hitter, with an intentful and aggressive uphill swing that elevates to the pull-side, resulting in a 91.3 mph average exit velocity; T96 and 369’ max distance. On the mound he works with some effort but has a big arm, sitting 85-86 mph with carry through the zone. He features a four-pitch repertoire and also topped at 90 mph across the infield. Loud present tools for a 2029 prospect.

+ OF/LHP Charlie Kohman (Downers Grove North): Listed at 6-foot, 178-pound, Kohman has trended up in a big way physically, looking noticeably stronger with broad shoulders and overall athletic build. The left-handed hitter was one of the top 2029 left-handed bats in attendance, working with loose, strong hands and fluid overall swing. It is long through the zone, with natural uphill stroke and well above-average batted ball metrics for his age; average 87.1 mph exit velocity, T95.7 and max batted ball of 361’. On the mound, he has an athletic arm and ran his fastball into the low-80s with feel to land his breaking ball. Left/left prospect to know in the 2029 class.

+ OF/RHP Mason Koth (Jacobs, 2029; Uncommitted): Koth was a member of Team Illinois this past summer at the Junior Future Games and has continued to elevate his game ever since. Listed at an athletic, high-waisted 6-foot-2, 182 pounds, the right-handed hitter ran a 7.02 60, topped at 85 mph from the outfield and showed a balanced swing with strength, while generating lifted contact up the middle with loud results (T97.2 mph max EV). On the mound, he also offers intrigue thanks to his loose, fluid movement patterns and a fastball that topped at 81 mph. Upside follow in the 2029 class.

+ RHP/SS Easton Pickrel (Galesburg): Pickrel continues to make big strides to his overall game, most notably a big increase in velocity as well as foot speed, now running a 6.96 60 (down from a 7.38 in 2025). Pickrel is a left-handed hitting shortstop who deserves a follow with the bat, but given his advanced velocity and stuff on the mound, he made the biggest noise with his bullpen session. His velocity has climbed close to 10 mph since last summer and he is now running his fastball up to 86.4 mph. His 68-69 mph slider shows two-plane action with feel to land, projecting as a sharp out-pitch, while the 77 mph changeup features heavy fading action thrown from the same window. Pickrel's advanced two-way skillset make him a high-follow prospect, hailing from Central Illinois.

Pitcher Only's

+ RHP Vicente Amaro (De La Salle): 6-foot, 140-pound, high-waisted, long-levered right-handed arm has advanced arm strength for his age. Its a short draw out of the glove and plays relatively easy at 85-86, T 86.5 mph with ride and run traits. He also flashes a horizontal breaking ball in the low-70s and kills spin on a 76-78 mph changeup. Easy to imagine the velocity ticking up over the coming years.

+ RHP/OF Ian Behl (Pleasant Plains): 6-foot-2, 240 pound, imposing, hulking frame. Behl impressed on the mound with a loud fastball for his age, sitting 86-87 mph from a low release height (4.1’) resulting in hard run and sink. His slider plays with bullet action at 76-79 mph and his changeup is firm at 83-86 mph almost playing as a sinker/two-seam type with an average of 17.6” of horizontal movement. Strong armed freshman to follow.

+ RHP/OF Braxton Bruns (Rochelle): Listed at a high-waisted 6-foot-1, 172-pounds, Bruns has all kinds of upside to his overall game but really caught our attention with his arm. He has extremely loose levers that work free and easy on the mound and from the outfield with plenty more velocity to come down the road. On the mound, his arm plays over-the-top with some ride and run traits, peaking at 20.2” of IVB and 16.6” of horizontal. His slider gets sharp sweeping action and his changeup has heavy fading action. Starter profile with a quality three-pitch arsenal and plenty of upside as a position player as well. Upside name in the 2029 class.

+ RHP Jake Pisano (Providence Catholic): Listed at a trim, high-waisted 6-foot-2, 170 pounds with room for added strength. On the mound, loose arm stroke with a low release, working from a ¾ slot. Generates run and sink on his 82-83 mph fastball, which plays firm with arm-side run and feel for the zone. He also showed a developing 69-73 mph curveball with short, late action, and a 69-71 mph changeup that fades to the bottom of the zone.

+ RHP Hector Valdez (Nazareth Academy): Physical 5-foot-8, 185-pounds right-handed arm. Fastball sat 83-84 mph, playing clean out of the hand with natural run and sink. He pairs it with a 69-71 mph slider that flashes 10/4 shape, flashing big action at times. 71-72 mph flashed fade and sink. Follow arm in the class who has competed and performed in a number of previous looks, including the Junior Future Games.

Position Players

C Mason Carlson and INF/RHP Cody Busch are Joliet Catholic products and former Team Illinois Junior Future Games participants who had strong days in their own right.

Carlson really passed the eye test catching bullpens throughout the pitching portion of the event. Most notably he caught arguably the top 2028 in attendance Anderson Kaufmann and made it look easy throughout. He is an advanced receiver with quiet, receptive hands, understands how to present pitches and is a willing and able blocker. He also peaked at 90 mph off the bat during BP, was 75 mph from the crouch and recorded a low pop time of 1.94.

Busch has been one of the top gamers and performers that we have seen so far in the past when it comes to the 2029 class. His baseball IQ and instincts stand out in game. At the plate the right-handed hitter has an easy, balanced swing, used the whole field and averaged 83.2 mph off the bat. Defensively, he is a steady, smooth defender that plays with body control and accurate arm across. He also showed a feel for a four-pitch mix on the mound with a fastball that played at 80-82 mph. One to follow over the coming years.

+ C/2B Maddux Carson (Geneva): The 5-foot-9, 137-pound right-handed hitting catcher first emerged at the Aurora Preseason ID where he caught our staffs eye and ultimately earned an invite to this event. Carson has a solid all-around game with nothing but upside and more strength to come in his lean/athletic frame. He is an easy, loose and fluid mover which translates at the plate. He stays on-plane with rhythm, has loose, athletic hands and works to both gaps, peaked at 93 mph off the bat. Defensively, he has above-average actions, quick release and topped at 75 mph with a low pop of 1.95. Name to know behind the plate.

+ SS/RHP Andrew Jones (Marist): 5-foot-8, 154-pound, well-proportioned, right-handed hitting shortstop was another one of the talented middle infield defenders in attendance. The 7.13 runner flashed advanced, natural actions and has added notable arm strength since the Junior Future Games. Jones’ arm was playing easy and true with a quick release and carry across the diamond at 84 mph (up from 74 mph in 2025). He looks comfortable and confident on the move. At the plate, he has an easy and controlled operation with a middle/pull-side approach; T89 mph exit velocity.

+ OF Tyler Lanzi (Providence Catholic): 6-foot, 157-pound, athletically-built, right-handed hitting outfielder continued to show off his above-average athleticism running a 6.83 60, one of the top 60s for 2029 prospect. At the plate, he has a twitchy, flat swing with line-drive intent while peaking at 88 mph off the bat. Defensively, he is an above-average outfield defender with athletic actions, feel for the position and topped at 82 mph.

+ SS Mason Leiterman (Bartlett): 5-foot-11, 158-pound, athletically-built, right-handed hitting infielder made a strong statement at his first-ever event. Offensively, he has a highly-repeatable, balanced swing that works on-plane, on time and all over the barrel to both gaps. Should only continue to add to his 86.3 mph exit velocity as he gains strength to the frame. Polished overall offensive skill set. Defensively, plays low to the ground, fundamentally sound and steady hands. Chance to stick on the infield. Advanced run through/body control play. Upside to all parts of his game.

+ OF Grant Spackey (Nazareth Academy): 6-foot-1, 164-pound, high-waisted, athletic frame. Right-handed hitting outfielder has subtle hand rhythm, long, easy swing that stays through the hitting zone with natural lift throughout and a balanced finish. Peaked at 89 mph off the bat with much more thump to come down the road. Ran a 7.28 60 and topped at 82 mph from the outfield.

+ MIF Braydon McMillen (Timothy Christian): Yet another freshman who made an immediate name for himseld at his first-ever Prep Baseball showcase. McMillen was yet another standout defensive middle infielder who has all the traits to stick there moving forward. A 7.15 runner, he has advanced actions for his age, looked comfortable on the move with confident hands and a strong arm that topped at 85 mph across. Right-handed hitter has a loose, flat swing that worked on-plane and back up the middle of the field with a peak exit velocity of 90 mph. Another infielder to follow in the 2029 class.

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