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Preseason All-State Upperclass: Takeaways

March 7, 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 Upperclass showcase. This event was host to roughly 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 day with scouting reports and videos, below. 

COMMITTED

POSITION PLAYERS 

OF Nolan Ramoley (Brother Rice, 2026; Kentucky commit) continues to put together eye-opening performances each time we see him, and it was no different over the weekend. He’s added some notable strength to his 6-foot-1, 211-pound frame, and it looks to have paid off in his swing - reaching up to an event-best 108 mph for his peak EV while averaging 90 mph. It’s easy strength at impact for the strong right-hander, staying compact and balanced with noticeable twitch. His bat-speed was off the charts, averaging just over 80 mph, and he also averaged 25.4 G for his rotational acceleration. 

INF Jory Crocker (Willowbrook, 2026; Arizona commit) has one of the higher ceilings in the state, and he has made some notable strides since our last look in the summer. Also an extremely high-level arm, Crocker only worked out as a position player over the weekend and was still highly impressive. The right-handed hitter has a relaxed and easy swing that stays balanced with the ability to lift up the middle of the field with ease, reaching up to 101 mph for his peak EV while averaging 90 mph - also launching his furthest ball 368’. He showed well on the infield with soft hands and natural actions, utilizing his levers well and showing easy range. His arm is plenty strong, topping out at 89 mph across. 6.83 runner in the 60. 

INF Gavin Michaels (Normal Community, 2026; Cincinnati commit) was one of the day’s biggest winners and has made some big jumps over the offseason. He took one of the best rounds of BP, working all over the barrel with an athletic and compact stroke, showing some feel for loud contact up the middle (T102 mph; 96 mph avg.) with line-drive contact. He also continues to look like a quality defender on the dirt, showing bounce in his step with a high motor, steady hands and clean release, reaching up to 90 mph across. 6.57 runner in the 60, down .10 seconds from the summer. 

OF Dominic Battista (Oswego East, 2026; Illinois-Chicago commit) is another one that made some noticeable strides since we last saw him in the fall. He’s grown a bit, now standing 6-foot, 178-pounds with more strength throughout. At the plate, the left-handed hitter uses the ground through impact while working on-plane through the zone with strong hands, working to keep the ball on a line while staying consistently on the barrel (T100 mph EV; 94 mph avg. EV). He also showed some feel to lift the baseball, sending his furthest ball 368’. He created impressive BLAST metrics with an average bat-speed of 77.7 mph, average hand-speed of 22 mph and average rotational acceleration of 18.1 G. He continues to look like a high-level defender in the outfield, covering ground with ease and showing active footwork with pace, reaching up to 94 mph from a crowhop with explosive life out of the hand. 6.74 runner in the 60. 

INF Johnny Nelson (Oak Park-River Forest, 2026; Wright State commit) continues to raise his stock it seems with each look we get. Standing in at a lean and strong 6-foot-1, 188-pounds, he took an impressive round of BP while showing a strong operation with length through the zone and whip in the barrel, working up to 95 mph for his peak EV while averaging 89 mph. He showed athletic actions on the infield with fluid and easy movement patterns, pairing with steady hands and a strong arm with life (T93 mph). 

C Dylan Kassab (Hinsdale Central, 2026; Indiana commit) further cemented his status as one of the premier right-handed power bats in the state. He showed easy strength from the right side, staying through the zone with extension through impact and creating lift up the middle while staying on the barrel, topping out at 103 mph for his EV with an average of 98 mph - also lifting his furthest ball 384’. He took an impressive round of defense, reaching as low as 1.78 for his pop-time to pair with 79 mph from the chute. 7.15 runner in the 60. 

C Max Heineman (Normal Community, 2026; Illinois-Chicago commit) is another strong right-handed hitting catcher that showed well from the day. At the plate, he showed an easy and fluid swing, staying balanced with strength at impact while also staying through the zone for a long time and working on top of the baseball - averaging 92 mph throughout his round with a peak EV of 99 mph. He moves well, especially for a catcher, cruising to a 6.96 in the 60 - and he was also down to a 1.89 for his pop with a 77 mph velocity out of the chute. 

The current top-ranked player in Illinois, No. 22 nationally, INF Ethan Bass (Glenbrook North, 2026; Wake Forest commit) unsurprisingly showed extremely well on the day. The right-handed hitter has all sorts of lean strength and twitch in his 6-foot-1, 185-pound frame, and he continues to look like one of the premier athletes and prospects in the country. The right-handed hitter displayed athletic hands throughout his round with a compact and balanced finish, showing clear feel for the barrel with a peak EV of 99 mph, averaging 92 mph with a peak distance of 376’. 

INF Kamrin Jenkins (Oswego, 2026; Missouri commit) stands out physically with his high-waisted, ultra-projectable 6-foot, 183-pound frame, and he is starting to add some notable thunder to his right-handed swing. He has a highly athletic swing with feel to lift, working all over the barrel with a peak EV of 103 mph, averaging 95 mph with a peak distance of 368’ - boasting a mechanically sound swing that has had in-game success in front of our staff. 6.90 runner in the 60. 

C Drew Stevens (Normal Community, 2026; Valparaiso commit) just keeps getting better each time we see him, and this was no doubt his best showing for us to date. He’s added some strength to his 5-foot-11, 187-pound frame, and it has clearly paid off with a 102 mph peak EV - averaging 96 mph throughout with a 350’ max distance. He controls his levers well in his swing, staying on the barrel up the middle of the field with some feel to use the whole field. Clean glove-to-hand, 2.02 pop-time, T78 mph. 

C Addison Latko (DePaul College Prep, 2026; Illinois commit) has long had a strong right-handed swing, and he showed much of the same over the weekend with a peak EV of 99 mph - averaging 91 mph with a peak distance of 368’. He displayed strong hands throughout his round, creating bat-speed with intent to lift up the middle of the field and pull-side, utilizing controlled aggression throughout. He has trimmed some time off his 60, turning in a 7.03 - and he also improved his pop-time with a 1.89 (T80 mph). 

C Nick Sichel (New Trier, 2026; Richmond commit) is yet another strong right-handed hitting catcher from the day. He worked all over the barrel up the middle of the field with a peak EV of 97 mph, averaging 87 mph throughout with strong hands. Behind the plate, he was down to a 1.87 for his pop-time with a peak velocity of 82 mph, playing with life out of the hand. 

INF Easton Newman (Deerfield, 2026; Northern Illinois commit) had a strong all-around showing over the weekend. At the plate, the right-handed hitter has a fluid rhythm in his stroke with a longer and flat path through the zone, creating extension through impact while working to stay on top of the baseball, topping out at 94 mph with an average of 88 mph. On the infield, Newman showed athletic actions and confident hands, playing through the baseball with intent and fluid footwork (T88 mph INF). 

PITCHERS

RHP Connor Elenteny (Mount Carmel, 2026; Notre Dame commit) stands in a lean, 6-foot-3, 203-pound frame with seemingly more strength still to come. A Future Gamer this past summer, Elenteny’s easy operation and loose arm action stand out as he works down the mound with minimal effort. In this ‘pen, his fastball sat 89-90 mph working mostly straight through the zone. He turned to an upper-70s changeup that played with fade, and a slider with sharp, sweeping actions. There’s a lot to like about the Fighting Irish commit, who’s currently ranked No. 8 in the state’s junior class.

RHP Paddy Roth (St. Patrick, 2026; Michigan State commit) stands in a strong, 6-foot-3, 221-pound frame. Roth works a simple and repeatable delivery on the mound and showed a fastball that sat 91-93 mph, a jump from the last time we saw him at the Illinois State Games at the beginning of last August. He also showed a tight spinning slider that sat 77-79 mph, and a changeup that played with heavy fade in the low-80s. A Future Gamer for Team Illinois this past summer, Roth remains one of the top arms in the state’s junior class.

Our staff was excited to get an updated look at the 6-foot-2 167-pound RHP Gavin Swartz (Normal Community, 2026; Indiana commit). Swartz is an athletic mover on the mound paired with a long, quick arm that works out of a ¾ slot. His fastball velocity made significant strides since we saw him last spring - sitting 92-93 mph with an average spin of 2341 rpm. He showed feel for an 84-86 mph changeup that played with heavy fade and depth. He rounded out his three-pitch mix with a curveball that played with sharp, 11/5 shape at times. Now at Normal Community, Swartz will likely play a big role for the Ironmen this spring.

RHP Henry Humes (Homewood-Flossmoor, 2026; Navy commit) stands at a hard-to-miss 6-foot-5, 176-pound long-levered and high-waisted frame. On this day, Humes showed feel for all three pitches within his arsenal, while pitching out of an up-tempo delivery with a quick arm. HIs fastball sat 84-85 mph with some carry through the zone. The breaking ball showed to be the most polished offspeed offering; thrown for strikes 80% of the time with 12/6 downer action, playing at the bottom of the zone. His changeup flashed, working 71-73 mph, killing spin (avg. 922 rpm) with hard dive (avg. 0.8” IVB).

UNCOMMITTED

POSITION PLAYERS

One of the best rounds of BP on the day came from 1B Anthony Chavez (Mount Carmel, 2026). Standing in at 6-foot-2, 207-pounds, the left-handed hitter has a simple and compact swing that gets extension through impact, using his levers well to create easy jump off the bat with a 107 mph peak EV (second-best of the day) while averaging 95 mph - also leading the event with a 404’ max distance. He’s a smooth mover around the bag at first base with a soft two-hand gather and fluid footwork. 7.08 runner in the 60. 

One of the toolsier and more projectable prospects of the day was OF Logan Fernandez (Mount Carmel, 2026). He’s a premier athlete with a 6.67 in the 60, though we’ve had him down to a 6.41 in the past. The right-handed hitter has an upside swing with some length and extension through the zone, averaging 90 mph for his EV with a peak of 97.7 mph - also averaging 74 mph for his bat-speed and 22 mph for his hand-speed. In the outfield, Fernandez is a fluid mover with long/athletic strides, covering ground with ease and looking to be comfortable tracking fly balls. His arm strength has ticked up tremendously, reaching up to 96 mph from a crow hop which is nine mph higher than the summer. 

OF Cole Latimer (DeKalb, 2026) had one of the louder rounds of BP on the day. The 6-foot-3, 187-pound right-handed hitter works with a flatter path through the zone with length and strong hands, creating a max EV of 104 mph, averaging 92 mph with a max distance of 350’. He looks to be a quality defender in the outfield with long, easy strides and athletic actions, reaching up to 92 mph from a crow hop. 

INF Jailen Veliz (Yorkville, 2026) is an athletic uncommitted infield prospect to know from the day. Listed at 5-foot-11, 161-pounds, Veliz has an athletic build with some present strength, still holding room for more muscle in the future. At the plate, the right-handed hitter showed quick, athletic hands that work to stay inside the baseball, staying on the barrel to the whole field with balance through impact. He has highly athletic actions on the infield, playing with fluidity and confident hands into a quick release. 6.76 runner in the 60. 

OF Clancy Rogers (Glenbrook South, 2026) opened some eyes with his ultra-loud round of BP. There’s some present strength in his 6-foot-2, 202-pound frame, boasting long levers with room to add on even more muscle in the future. At the plate, the right-handed hitter showed easy strength with some lift, working long through the zone and reaching up to 106 mph for his peak EV, averaging 98 mph and reaching up to 379’ for his peak distance. Most of his loud contact came to his pull-side, but he also showed the ability to drive it up the middle and the other way. He has some other tools to pair with his big strength at the plate, topping at 92 mph from the outfield - and he’s also a 7.03 runner in the 60. 

OF Josh Colaizzi (Bartlett, 2026) is yet another uncommitted prospect that showed loud tools across the board. He started things off by cruising to a 6.71 in the 60, easily translating his athleticism to the outfield with steady hands and fluid footwork, showing a quick release at times and an extremely strong arm (T94 mph). At the plate, the right-handed hitter has a strong and compact swing with intent to elevate to his pull-side, averaging 91 mph for his EV with a 100 mph peak - also reaching up to 381’ for his max distance. 

C Brandon Thomsen (St. Viator, 2026) was a standout winner from the Future Games this past summer and he’s still an uncommitted name to know from the day. He looks to have added even more strength to his 6-foot-1, 200-pound frame, and it has clearly paid off with a 102 mph peak EV, averaging 93 mph. The right-handed hitter took a polished round with strength on the barrel and some feel to lift to the whole field. He continues to look to be a high-level defender behind the plate with advanced actions and a natural ability to present pitches around the zone. He has a clean/quick glove-to-hand, creating a pop-time down to 1.76  (T81 mph). 

C Adam Swanson (Ottawa Township, 2026) is a must-know name that was a member of Team Illinois at the Future Games this past summer. The right-handed hitter took a loud round of BP, working with a compact and balanced swing that was able to elevate with ease to his pull-side, averaging 93 mph for his EV with a peak of 96 mph (T358’). He’s a well-above average athlete with a 6.70 in the 60, and he also improved his pop-time to a 1.81 (T82 mph) with improved actions. 

C Maxx Grieme (Taylorville, 2026) emerged a winner from the day, coming off a strong showing a couple weeks prior in southern Illinois. The 5-foot-10, 200-pound backstop showcased a strong right-handed swing, working on top of the baseball with intent to lift up the middle and the other way, topping out at 101 mph for his EV with an average of 90 mph throughout his round. He has a clean glove behind the plate, working in-line from the chute with a clean transfer and pop-time as low as 1.80 (T81 mph). 

C Andrew Satunas (Lockport, 2026) has been a name our staff has liked over the years, and he gave us one of his best looks to date. A left-handed hitter, Satunas has a strong and compact operation that is able to stay balanced through impact, flashing bat-speed with a flatter path, showing some feel for the barrel to his pull-side (T94 mph; 89 mph avg. EV). He had a strong round defensively, improving his pop-time to a 1.85 with a controlled glove-to-hand, working quickly out of the glove and short to the ear (T76 mph). 

INF Daniel Coyle (St. Laurence, 2026) is a proven in-game performer, and he has a lot to like in his right-handed swing. Throughout his round, he showed the ability to manipulate the barrel and use the whole field, giving a polished look while consistently working on the barrel (T95 mph EV; 89 mph avg. EV). On the infield, Coyle showed active footwork through the baseball to pair with steady hands and a clean transfer. His arm showed clear life with effort across the diamond, topping out at 88 mph. 

INF James Feigleson (St. Charles East, 2026) is a high-ceiling uncommitted name to follow from the day. Listed at 6-foot-2, 180-pounds, he has a lean and athletic build you can dream on, and he has the tools to match. The right-handed hitter has an athletic swing that creates length and extension through the zone, staying mostly pull-side with some feel to use the middle, upside operation (T94 mph EV; T350’). Defensively, Feigleson has natural and athletic actions with fluid footwork, pairing with soft hands and appearing natural on the move. His arm is incredibly strong and also boasts the ability to play from multiple slots (T93 mph). 

INF Logan Nordentoft (Prospect, 2026) is an upside right-handed hitter with some power potential. He has a wiry and projectable frame, standing in at 6-foot-2, 172-pounds with plenty of room to add strength. At the plate, he showed easy strength and jump off the barrel, using his long levers to lift the ball with ease (T95 mph EV; 88 mph avg. EV). He’s an athletic defender on the infield with a soft glove, showing confident actions and body control on the move. 

INF Mason Netcel (St. Charles North, 2026) had a quality all-around day, initially impressing with his round of BP. The right-handed hitter used controlled intent throughout his round with some loud contact up the middle and to his pull-side, reaching up to 100 mph for his EV while averaging 90 mph throughout (T353’). On the infield, Nelcel attacks the baseball with some pace and steady hands, working into a clean release, playing accurately from multiple angles (T86 mph). 

INF Griffin Meeker (Tremont, 2026) came away a winner from the day, showing well particularly at the plate. Listed at a projectable and lean 6-foot-1, 185-pounds, the right-handed hitter took a quality round of BP with a direct and slightly uphill stroke, working on the barrel throughout with a middle/pull-side approach (T92 mph EV). On the infield, he plays low and through the baseball while securing the ball out front, gaining ground through the ball and into release (T86 mph). 

C Jacob Szpiganowicz (Conant, 2026) is a highly intriguing name to circle from the day, and he’s still uncommitted. The right-handed hitter showed strong hands throughout his round while working on top of the baseball with some feel to stay up the middle and to his pull-side with loud contact (102 mph peak EV; 92 mph avg. EV). He’s shown the ability to play multiple positions in-game but only worked out as a catcher in this look, reaching down to a 2.09 for his pop-time with a velocity of 76 mph down to second. 

OF/INF Jaylen Ware (Simeon, 2026) looked to be one of the more projectable and high-ceiling players in attendance. He has an ultra-projectable 6-foot-2, 175-pound frame with lean strength and a high-waist, holding all sorts of room to fill out in the coming years. At the plate, the right-handed hitter showed athletic hands with a compact and direct swing, working on the barrel with some pull-side feel and the ability to lift at times (T91 mph EV; T348’). He worked out both on the infield and in the outfield, though he looked more natural in the outfield with quick feet and a high motor, playing with long/athletic strides through the baseball with steady hands. He has a shorter arm action out of the glove and a high ¾ slot, reaching up to 86 mph from a crow hop. 

INF Lou Ratcliffe (Lyons Township, 2026) took one of the more physical rounds of BP on the day. Listed at 5-foot-10, 182-pounds with present strength throughout and broad shoulders, the right-handed hitter reached up to 103 mph for his EV with a compact and balanced swing, displaying easy strength at impact with some feel to lift. He also put up impressive BLAST metrics, averaging 75 mph for his bat-speed and just under 23 mph for his hand-speed. 

INF Brady Holland (Mount Carmel, 2026) keeps raising his stock with strong showings in front of our staff. The 5-foot-11, 168-pound infielder showed his usual smooth and athletic actions on the dirt, playing from the ground up with soft hands and a clean double-play turn. At the plate, the right-handed hitter looked the part with a balanced and compact stroke, showing athletic hands with feel to work on the barrel throughout with line-drives (T96 mph EV; 91 mph avg. EV). 

OF Kamran Alikhan (Nazareth Academy, 2026) is an uncommitted name that keeps getting better. He has lowered his 60-time from a 6.96 to a 6.86, and also improved his outfield velocity two mph to 87 mph while showing athletic actions with a confident glove and clean release. We’ve long liked the right-handed swing, working to stay on top of the baseball and up the middle of the field, staying balanced with easy effort through impact (T93 mph). 

OF James Dooman (Glenbrook South, 2026) had a loud round of BP from the right side. Listed at 5-foot-10, 193-pounds with present strength and broad, sloped shoulders, Dooman showed feel to elevate up the middle of the field with strong hands throughout his round, peaking at 97 mph for his EV while averaging 90 mph. In the outfield, he showed clean and easy actions, reaching up to 85 mph from a crow hop.

OF Grady Garofalo (Lemont, 2026) is a lean, athletic outfielder from the day with a high ceiling, standing in at 6-foot-2, 181-pounds with a lean build and high waist. The left-handed hitter showed easy strength to his pull-side throughout his round with some lift, also flashing line-drive feel up the middle of the field (T93 mph EV; T345’). Defensively, he’s light on his feet with easy actions and steady hands, working with a clean arm and high ¾ slot (T88 mph). 

INF Mickey Lotus (St. Laurence, 2026) looks to have made some notable gains over the last year. A switch-hitter, his rounds of BP stood out with the ease and repeatability he has, remaining loose and handsy with a line-drive approach that stays middle of the field. On the infield, he showed quick feet and soft hands with an ultra-quick release. 

INF Jonathan Osornio (Mount Carmel, 2026) had a memorable round of BP from the day. His frame stands out at 6-foot-1, 203-pounds, looking to have added some strength over the last year while still holding room for more. The right-handed hitter was all over the barrel in his round, averaging 92 mph and peaking at 100 mph (T344’) - showing a strong and compact swing with a slightly uphill path, keeping the ball on a line to his pull-side and the middle of the field. His BLAST metrics were also impressive, averaging 74 mph for his bat-speed and peaking at 82 mph. 

C Sam Webb (Providence Catholic, 2026) and C Caleb Hornbrook (Normal University, 2026) are two physical right-handed hitting catchers to note from the workout - both wielding strong RH swings and high EVs (Webb - 95 mph; Hornbrook - 100 mph). 

C Peter Corthinos (Maine South, 2026) and OF Johnny Andretich (Plainfield North, 2026) are a couple more names that impressed with the bat, each working into the low-90s their EVs with clean swings - while Corthinos also impressed with a 1.81 pop-time (T77 mph) 

TWO-WAYS

INF/RHP Caden Kendall (Andrew, 2026) had a quality showing with the bat and on the mound at the event. He presents a noticeably strong and sturdy frame at 5-foot-10, 180-pounds. On the mound he featured a two-seam fastball that had both run and sink to it, playing at the bottom of the zone at 87-89 mph. He then went to a 67-69 mph big-breaking 12/6 curveball that was in the zone 75% of the time. He also threw his slider for 75% strikes, sitting 71-74 mph with shorter action than the curveball. Kendall rounded out his mix with a 76-77 mph changeup that played with slight fade and dive. At the plate, Kendall showed strong hands with a flat path and some intent through impact, working to keep the ball on a line with a peak EV of 98 mph. 

RHP/OF Frank Costabile (Stevenson, 2026) is one of the more dynamic prospects in the region, and perhaps the country. Starting with what he was able to do on the mound, the strong 5-foot-7, 175-pound right-hander featured a lively 90-93 mph (T94) fastball that played with sinking action for 83% strikes. His slider had high-spin (avg. 2625 rpm) from a 10/4 shape, with some feel for the zone. Costabile would complete his arsenal with a 79-83 mph changeup that had hard diving action (avg. -1.5” IVB). At the plate, Costabile took a loud round of BP from the right side, showing some feel to use the whole field with a flatter path and strength at impact (T103 mph EV; 94 mph avg; T388’). 

INF/RHP Jason Phillips (Plano, 2026) continues to impress as a physical two-way prospect in the state. He took an ulta-loud round of BP, reaching up to 103 mph for his EV while averaging 92 mph, showcasing a direct and quick swing with easy bat-speed (81.5 mph avg.), creating loud contact up the middle and to his pull-side. On the mound, the right-hander has a loose and whippy ¾ arm, creating a fastball with natural sink in the 86-88 mph range, topping at 89 mph. He paired the fastball with a slider that showed short 10/4 shape, flashing sharp action and depth at 77-79 mph (T2745 rpm). His final offering was a changeup at 77-80 mph, playing with hard running action to his arm-side. 

PITCHERS

Our staff got an updated look at RHP Tyler Townsend (Sycamore, 2026) over the weekend. The former Future Gamer has made noticeable strides since we last saw him, now standing at a physical and presently strong 6-foot-1, 200-pounds. Townsend started his pen sitting 90-92 mph (T93) with his fastball that showed carry at times. He had a strong feel for the zone (80% strikes) with his 77-79 mph slider that played sharp, spinning at an average of 2391 rpm. Townsend also pounded the zone (80% strikes) with an 81-84 mph changeup that played with sinking action, located at the bottom of the zone. 

RHP Jack Slightom (Lyons Township, 2026) has continued to show to be a must-know name in the state’s junior class. He possesses an imposing and durable frame at 6-foot-3, 193-pounds. Slightom is a clean and controlled mover down the mound with a loose/clean arm action. His fastball has made a jump since we last saw him at the State Games, now sitting 90-91 mph (T92) with the pitch. His cutter played off his fastball well at 81-84 mph with an average of 4.7” of cut with some spin-feel (avg. 2293 rpm). He would then go to an 80-81 mph changeup that played with heavy fading action (avg. 17.6” HM). Slightom rounded out his arsenal with a 74-75 mph curveball with late vertical action. Slightom will be a name to continue to follow throughout the upcoming spring.

Starring on the gridiron in the fall, RHP Keaton Reinke (St. Charles North, 2026) remains a must-know two-sport star in the state. He stands at an athletic 6-foot-4, 206-pounds with possibly even more left in the tank physically. The fastball plays with plenty of easy life out of the hand, sitting 88-89 mph, while being around the zone. His curveball was the most impressive offering on this day, playing sharp (avg. 2395 rpm) at 74-76 mph with an 11/5 shape for 100% strikes. To round out his potent three-pitch mix, he mixed in a 79-81 mph changeup that flashed feel for the zone with slight diving action. 

RHP Chase Rhodes (Tremont, 2026) had a loud showing with one of the bigger fastballs of the day. The 6-foot-4, 192-pound right-hander has a strong, workhorse frame, and he is able to repeat his delivery well with some ease. His fastball played in the 91-92 mph range with quality feel for the zone, showing natural arm-side run with easy life out of the hand. He showed two different breaking balls - the first being a curveball with 12/6 shape and depth at 71-73 mph, and the second being a shorter lateral slider with good separation, 78 mph. His final offering was a changeup with above-average sinking action and feel for the zone, 77-79 mph. 

RHP Andrew Dawson (Tremont, 2026) is a strong, athletic arm that owns a 6-foot, 187-pound frame. He’s a quick mover with minimal wasted movement and a compact, quick arm action. Dawson made some clear strides over the off-season, showing an 88-91 mph fastball that topped out at 92 mph with some life through the zone. Dawson’s breaking balls look to still be developing, but they have quality shape at times. His upper-70s changeup rounds out his four-pitch mix, and it played with heavy fade (avg. 17.4 inches HM). Uncommitted, Dawson is an arm-to-know in the class.

RHP Brandon Pelz (Bartlett, 2026) was another uncommitted arm who left the event a winner, showing feel for four pitches in his ‘pen. Presenting a sturdy and durable 6-foot, 193-pound frame, Pelz started off his day with an 88-90 mph (T91) fastball that played with carry (avg. 16.4” IVB). He showed the ability to spin both breaking balls; with his curveball (avg. 2381 rpm) sitting 74-77 mph, and his slider (avg. 2354 rpm) sitting 79-82 mph. Pelz rounded out his arsenal with a 75-78 mph changeup that played with fade and sink.

LHP Samuel Chin (St. Laurence, 2026) has started to make some serious strides, and it's no surprise when looking at how easy and clean of a mover he is. The southpaw has a silky delivery with medium balance point, working in-line and repeating well down the mound. His arm circle is uninterrupted and plays from a loose ¾ slot. His fastball sat in the 85-86 mph range, topping at 87 mph with high spin (T2408 rpm). His curveball has wipeout potential with depth and 1/7 shape, landing it consistently to back-door righties at 72-74 mph (T2790 rpm). His changeup was arguably his best offering, selling the pitch with arm-speed and allowing it to come out clean with natural fade, 77-79 mph with feel. 

RHP Luke Blackwell (Valmeyer, 2026) is a must-know uncommitted arm from the day. There’s some present strength in his 6-foot-2, 200-pound frame, creating a downhill delivery down the mound with a longer arm action into a ¾ window. His fastball sat comfortably in the 89-90 mph range throughout, playing mostly straight and setting up a bullet slider at 76-78 mph. His final offering was a changeup he could land in the zone with hard run, 81-83 mph. 

RHP Alec Novotney (Ottawa Marquette, 2026) came away a big winner from the event after showcasing a polished ‘pen. Checking in at 5-foot-11, 183-pounds, Novotney has an athletic frame with strength. Coming off a basketball season after a playoff loss, Novotney looked the part of one of the Crusaders’ top players on the hardwood, scoring 36 points in a game just a little over a week before the event. At this event, Novotney showed a fastball that sat 88-89 mph with mostly straight actions. He then showed two separate breaking balls, both of which he threw with confidence and looked like well above-average offerings. His curveball sits in the low-70s with sharp, 11/5 shape, spinning for an average of 2553 rpm, and generating -13.1 inches of IVB and -15.9 inches of HM, on average. His slider played with similar shape, spinning for an average of 2612 rpm, and generating an average of -8.7 inches of IVB and -15.5 inches of HM. To round out his mix, Novotney threw a changeup with fade, and he showed the ability to work down in the zone. Novotney continues to trend up, and with his present polish with a four-pitch mix, Novotney is a must-know arm to see this spring.

RHP Joe Kelly (Loyola Academy, 2026) is a name familiar to our staff who remains uncommitted. Standing at a sturdy and well-proportioned 6-foot-1, 191-pounds, Kelly showed intrigue with his three-pitch mix. His fastball sat 85-87 mph with armside run and carry through the zone. His slider played with slurve-action and high-spin (avg. 2425 rpm) at 70-72 mph. Kelly turned over a 74-76 mph changeup that played with sink (avg. 2.7” IVB) to round things out. 

RHP Chase Lockwood (Libertyville, 2026) is a highly clean mover that looks to have made a jump in velocity. He has a lean, athletic build with more room to add strength, standing at 6-foot-1, 176-pounds. His arm is loose and whippy, playing from a higher ¾ slot and creating a fastball at 85-86 mph with carry traits. His curveball has out-pitch potential, playing with sharp 11/5 shape and depth, spinning over 2,600 routinely at 70-72 mph. His slider has a completely different profile than the curveball, showing true horizontal break and depth with over 2,400 rpm at times, landing it for strikes consistently at 78-79 mph. His final offering was a changeup at 78-79 mph, showing hard dive at times. 

RHP Dean Miller (Glenbrook North, 2026) stands in an intriguing 6-foot-2, 175-pound frame with plenty of room for added strength. He’s a loose, athletic mover on the mound with a long, loose arm action out of a lower slot. His fastball sat 86-89 mph in this ‘pen with heavy arm-side action throughout. He showed feel for both his off-speed offerings, throwing his changeup with fastball intent while generating fade and downer action (avg. 11.9” HM; -9.0” IVB). Miller rounded out his three-pitch mix with a 76-78 mph slider that played with sharp, sweeping actions, while averaging a 2536 rpm spin rate. He came away a winner having made his Prep Baseball showcase debut in the process, and he’s established himself as an uncommitted arm-to-know.

LHP Nico Harper (Libertyville, 2026) is a name our staff has long been fans of since first seeing him in 2022. He stands in an athletic, 5-foot-10, 165-pound frame with long levers and a high waist. He works a shorter arm path with clear quickness out front, sitting 86-87 mph in this look with mostly straight actions. He spins his slider well (avg. 2391 rpm) with tight, sharp action at times, and he rounded out his mix with a mid-70s changeup that worked with fade. Harper is an uncommitted arm to follow in the state.

RHP Colin Dwyer (Nazareth Academy, 2026) showed off a high-spin arsenal throughout his ‘pen. His fastball cruised right at 83-84 mph with arm-side run and some feel for the zone. The separator in his arsenal is his curveball, spinning over 2,600 rpm on average and reaching over 2,700 rpm at times with sharp bite and feel, 72-75 mph. His changeup showed hard running action to the arm-side, sitting 76-77 mph. 

RHP William Houston (Stagg, 2026) stands in an athletic frame with plenty of room for added strength at 5-foot-11, 148-pounds. He’s an athletic mover with a shorter, quick arm path, consistently throwing his fastball at 88-89 mph. He showed confidence in a low-70s breaking ball that played with sharp, 10/4 shape at times, averaging -16.5 inches of HM and -0.7 inches of IVB. He threw his 79-81 mph changeup with fastball intent, showing confidence to work low in the zone, and the pitch played with heavy fade. Houston will be a name to see in-game this spring after an impressive bullpen at last weekend’s event.

RHP Cameron Barnes (Oak Park-Rover Forest, 2026) stands in a strong, physical 6-foot-3, 213-pound frame. He’s a simple mover on the mound with a compact and quick arm action. In this look, his fastball sat 86-87 mph with life through the zone. He then turned to a curveball that played with 12/6 shape in the mid-70s, and a splitter with straight downer action and slight fade. He’s an uncommitted junior to know in the state.

RHP Antonio Brown Jr. (Homewood-Flossmoor, 2026) is a physical 6-foot-1, 217-pound uncommitted arm in the junior class. He worked out of a stretch-only delivery and showed a fastball that sat 88-89 mph, topping out at 90 mph with some life. He turned to a curveball that played with short, 11/5 shape, and rounded out his three-pitch mix with a change-up that showed slight fade with deceleration. 

RHP Colin Chung (Lake Zurich, 2026) was another standout to note. He stands at a well-proportioned 5-foot-11, 172-pounds. Chung’s fastball played clean out of the hand with life through the zone at 86-87 mph, while showing run (avg. 17.4” HM). He spun both breaking balls well; with his 12/6 curveball averaging over 2450 rpm (T2618) at 69-72 mph, and his slider averaging 2238 rpm (T2400) at 72-73 mph. Chung would also toss in a 73-75 mph splitter that killed spin (avg. 698 rpm) and showed out-pitch potential with hard diving action. 

RHP Josh Rudnick (Huntley, 2026) continues to show well for our staff. Standing at a 6-foot-3, 198-pound frame with upside. Rudnick’s arsenal was headlined by an 85-86 mph fastball that played firm with carry. His curveball was in the zone 75% of the time at 72-73 mph with hard 11/5 action. Rudnick also showed a 76-78 mph slider that showed short 10/4 shape. He completed his repertoire with an 80-82 mph changeup, showing sink to the arm-side and flashing strike-feel. An arm to continue to follow for what should be another highly-competitive Huntley squad.

RHP Ronan Owens (Lane Tech, 2026) works out of a well-proportioned, 6-foot-3, 198-pound frame. Working out of a stretch-only delivery, Owens showed a short arm action with a fastball up to 90 mph, but sitting mostly 88-89 mph with quality spin (avg. 2370 rpm). He threw two breaking balls, both playing with similar 11/5 shape and generating around the same average spin rates and movement metrics. He rounded out his mix with an upper-70s changeup that looks to still be developing. Owens remains an uncommitted arm-to-follow closely this spring.

LHP Ryan Flanagan (Lincoln-Way East, 2026) continues to stand out for our staff, after showing well for us in the fall. The high-waisted 6-foot, 162-pound southpaw has a loose arm on the mound, paired with an athletic delivery. His fastball sat 84-85 mph (T86) with arm-side run and feel for the zone. Flanagan showed two breaking balls; a 73-76 mph curveball with 1/7 shape that landed for strikes, and a 72-75 mph slider that showed sweeping action. He would round things out with a 79-80 mph changeup that had fade and feel for the zone.

RHP Jack Schiek (Lockport, 2026) is a young-looking 6-foot-2, 175-pound right-hander that showed well on the day. He’s a loose and easy mover with a compact and clean arm from a ¾ slot. His fastball showed some carry traits in the 85-87 mph range, setting up a curveball with shorter horizontal action at 71-73 mph, landing it consistently for strikes. His final offering was a straight changeup in the 75-77 mph range. 

RHP Jake Matise (Mount Carmel, 2026) displayed high-feel for his entire repertoire on this day. He has a smooth and athletic operation down the mound at 6-foot, 190-pounds. He sat 86-87 mph with his fastball, showing carry (avg. 17.8” IVB) and a high-feel for the strike zone (80% strikes). His best off-speed pitch was a 72-73 mph slider that played with 10/4 shape and feel for the zone (75% strikes). His curveball showed big break (avg. -17.8” IVB) from a 12/6 shape at 67-71 mph. Rounding out Matise’s arsenal was a 76-78 mph changeup that played with fade action (avg. 16” HM). Uncommitted, Matise is a name to continue to follow this spring. 

RHP Nick Linares (Payton College Prep, 2026) stands in a well-built, 6-foot-1, 206-pound frame. He showed an intentful delivery on the mound with a fastball up to 90 mph, but sitting mostly 88-89 mph throughout. He then turned to a curveball that played with 12/6 shape, playing with depth down in the zone, and a low-70s change-up that flashed heavy fade and depth at times. Linares is an uncommitted arm to follow. 

LHP Will Bemrich (Mundelein, 2026) showed some upside on the mound, standing in a 6-foot-3, 192-pound frame with long levers. He utilized a stretch-only delivery with a long, loose arm action out of a low ¾ slot. His fastball sat 86 mph throughout with heavy arm-side action. Bemrich also threw a changeup, showing feel with fade, sitting 78-80 mph, and a slider with short horizontal action, spinning at an average of 2594 rpm. He’s yet another uncommitted follow in the class.

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