On Saturday, February 22nd, the Prep Baseball Illinois staff traveled to SportsBarn East in Wood River, Illinois to host the Southern Illinois Rising Stars ID. This event served as an open identifier into the state's 2029 and 2030 graduates, providing our staff an early look at the area's top players as they continue to progress as prospects.

These early Rising Stars events also serve as key identifiers for future invite-only events, including the Prep Baseball Junior Future Games.

Today we take a look at a couple of the standouts, as well as breakdown the top statistical performers from the day with our “Statistical Analysis” below.

STAT STORY

FASTBALL VELOCITY (MAX)

FASTBALL SPIN RATE (AVG.)

60-YARD DASH

EXIT VELOCITY (MAX)

TOP INFIELD VELOCITY

TOP OUTFIELD VELOCITY

TOP CATCHER VELOCITY

TOP POP TIMES

+ CLICK HERE for a look at the complete statistics from the event.

ALL PROSPECTS (LISTED ALPHABETICALLY)

Jace Chadduck, Amelia V Carriel Jr High (IL), 2030
Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 5-5, 120 pounds.
Hit: RHH. Upright, relaxed setup, minimal pre-pitch movement. Flat path, loose hands, looks to keep the ball on a line.
Power: 74 mph max exit velocity (60.3 avg.); 222-foot max batted distance.
Arm: RH. C - 60 mph.Short arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.65-2.78 pop time range; Low, flexible setup, steady receiver. Directional out of the crouch, clean release.
Athletic Testing: 8.51 runner in the 60-yard dash

Mason Conaway, Rochester (IL), 2029
Positional Profile: 3B
Body: 5-6, 130 pounds.
Hit: RHH. Wide, balanced setup, fluid quiet pre-pitch rhythm. Controls the barrel, direct to the ball, compact, looks to keep the ball on a line, pull-side approach.
Power: 71 mph max exit velocity (65.4 avg.); 244-foot max batted distance.
Arm: RH. INF - 66 mph. Long, full arm action, plays from an over-the-top slot.
Defense: Stays behind the ball, secures the baseball, two-hand gather out front, steady actions.
Athletic Testing: 8.84 runner in the 60-yard dash

Positional Profile: RHP
Delivery: High leg lift with coil, tall/fall down the mound.
Arm Action: RH. Clean, compact arm action, high 3/4 slot.
FB: T67, 66-67 mph. Clean out of the hand, straight action. T1474, 1438 average rpm.
CB: 56-57 mph. Thrown with arm speed, proper shape, depth at times. T1588, 1480 average rpm.
CH: 62-63 mph. Some fade and downer action. T1205, 1148 average rpm.

Griffin Jansen, Morton (IL), 2029
Positional Profile: RHP/1B
Body: 5-10, 160-pounds.
Delivery: Clean, fluid mover down the mound, works slightly across his body with minimal effort throughout.
Arm Action: RH. Loose, easy arm, plays from a high 3/4 slot.
FB: T73, 71-73 mph. Easy out of the hand, occasional arm-side-run. T1707, 1550 average rpm.
CB: 60-62 mph. 12/6 shape, short wrinkle. T1303, 1194 average rpm.
CH: 62-63 mph. Plays with arm speed, sells the pitch, above-average feel for his age. T1506, 1475 average rpm.

Carter Luckett, Edwardsville (IL), 2029
Positional Profile: OF
Body: 6-3, 160 pounds. Long-levered upside frame.
Hit: LHH. Calm, open setup in the box. Leg-kick timing trigger. Easy direct swing, stays balanced and looks to control the barrel. Line-drive approach.
Power: 78 mph max exit velocity (74.8 avg.); 180-foot max batted distance.
Arm: RH. OF - 75 mph. Long arm action, plays over-the-top.
Defense: Athletic actions, stays behind the ball, has feel for the position, steady one-hand gather off front foot, flashes range.
Athletic Testing: 7.68 runner in the 60-yard dash

Positional Profile: RHP
Delivery: Simple mover, small leg lift, tall/fall down the mound.
Arm Action: RH. Clean arm action, high 3/4 slot.
FB: T72, 70-72 mph. Mostly straight out of the hand. T1819, 1748 average rpm.
CB: 54-58 mph. Gradual action, 11/5 shape. T1758, 1692 average rpm.
CH: 58-61 mph. Thrown with intent, mostly straight and worked around the zone. T1675, 1500 average rpm.

Wade Putnam, Mt. Zion (IL), 2029
Positional Profile: OF/2B
Body: 5-3, 105 pounds.
Hit: RHH. Wide setup, smooth load and knee-knock stride. Flat path, hands stay on top of the ball, middle/pull-side approach.
Power: 76 mph max exit velocity (67.5 avg.); 174-foot max batted distance.
Arm: RH. INF - 70 mph. OF - 72 mph. Long, full arm action, high 3/4 slot, plays clean.
Defense: OF: Steady actions, one-hand gather off front foot, short crow hop to target. INF: Attacks the ball, two-hand gather out front, short shuffle through to target, athletic footwork, has range.
Athletic Testing: 8.10 runner in the 60-yard dash

Jace Smothers, Goreville (IL), 2029
Positional Profile: OF
Body: 6-0, 140 pounds. Lean, wiry frame.
Hit: RHH. Balanced, wide, quiet setup and minimal pre-pitch movement. Loose hands, line drive approach, long and level through the zone, hands get on top of the ball at times, hitterish look.
Power: 76 mph max exit velocity (57.3 avg.); 247-foot max batted distance.
Arm: LH. OF - 81 mph.
Defense: Athletic actions, fields the ball in stride off front foot, has range, confident glove, feel for the position.

Positional Profile: LHP
Delivery: Athletic mover, high leg lift with coil, tall/fall dwon the mound. Foot lands slightly closed.
Arm Action: LH. Clean, long arm path, 3/4 slot.
FB: T76, 72-76 mph. Comes out of the hand clean, mostly straight around the zone. T2006, 1861 average rpm.
CB: 60-62 mph. 1/7 shape, flashed depth and tight spin at times. T1585, 1434 average rpm.
SL: 60-62 mph. Sweeping action, landed. T1558, 1489 average rpm.
CH: 65-68 mph. Plays with fade, works down. T1508, 1392 average rpm.

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