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Top Tier Scout Day: Takeaways

August 19, 2025
By: Illinois Scouting Staff

On June 3rd, the Prep Baseball Illinois staff hosted the Top Tier Scout Day at Triton College in River Grove, IL. 61 players participated in a pro-style workout, gathering unrivaled access to data through our state-of-the-art tech partners, as well as in-depth scouting analysis from our Prep Baseball Illinois staff.

Today, we will be looking at the prospects that stood out to our staff within this Takeaways story.

TOP TIER HQ

POSITION PLAYERS

OF Jacob Hite (St. Laurence, 2028) showed an easy line drive approach at the event. A right-handed hitter, he maintained balance throughout his operation, and reached a max exit velocity of 95.4 mph with a peak distance of 320 feet. Hite also showed to have quick hands through the zone (avg. 21.6 mph hand speed), while also flashing bat speed (T74.4 mph).

C Dylan Kassab (Hinsdale Central, 2026; Indiana) had one of the loudest rounds of BP during the event. The physical catcher clocks in with a 5-foot-10, 205-pound frame. The right-handed hitter’s barrel creates leverage through the zone while swinging with intent. The Indiana commit connected on three home runs while coming in with an average exit velocity of 95.7 mph (max EV of 105 mph) while having a 92% hard hit percentage. Behind the plate, Kassab posted a pop time of 1.78-2.00. The catcher also showed off some advanced speed behind the plate as he posted a 7.15 60 time.

INF Johnny Louise (Montini Catholic, 2027) displayed some of the loudest tools at the event. Louise clocks in at a strong 6-foot-2, 217-pound frame. The right-handed hitter operates from a wide stance with strong hands. He swings with intent with loud pull-side power and a quick barrel. Louise had an average exit velocity of 93.9 mph (99.6 mph max EV) while having an average batted ball distance of 173 feet (351 ft. max) with a 73% hard hit percentage. Louise had an average bat speed of 74.3 mph (78.1 mph max) while having an average hand speed of 20.5 mph (21.6 mph max). Defensively, Louise moved well around the infield while throwing from all angles with an infield velocity of 87 mph.

C Andrew Lehman (St. Rita, 2028) showed an advanced swing for the 2028 class. Lehman clocks in at a strong 5-foot-8, 165-pound frame. The right-handed hitter operates from a wide, athletic setup with strong, quick hands while having a gap-to-gap approach. Lehman had an impressive average batted ball distance of 200 feet (294 ft. max) while having a max exit velocity of 88.8 mph. The catcher is a name to keep an eye on in the coming years.

INF Xavier Martin (Oak Park-River Forest, 2027) had an impressive round of BP during the event. Martin clocks in at an athletic 5-foot-10, 184-pound frame. The right-handed hitter operates from a balanced setup with quick hands while swinging with intent. Showed a strong barrel with a pull-side approach. Martin had an average exit velocity of 90.6 mph (98.7 mph max EV) while having a max batted ball distance of 266 feet with a 73% hard hit percentage. The infielder showed off his speed as he ran a 6.82 60.

C Hunter Segal (Lake Central, 2028) and INF Juleyn Stephens (Moline, 2028) each displayed upside looks at the plate. Segal clocks in at a strong 6-foot-1, 195-pound frame. The right-handed hitter operates from a wide setup with a foot-hand into a small stride. Segal displayed his easy pull-side strength with an average exit velocity of 88.3 mph (95.8 mph EV). He had an average batted ball distance of 239 feet (351 ft. max) while having a 60% sweet spot percentage. Stephens clocks in at a strong 5-foot-11, 215-pound frame. The right-handed hitter operates from a balanced setup with a medium stride. Stephens showed off his pull-side power with an average exit velocity of 85.5 mph (91 mph max EV) and an average batted ball distance of 272 feet (315 ft. max) with an 83% sweet spot percentage.

C Tristan Steger (St. Laurence, 2027) had one of the top all-around showings during the event. Steger clocks in with an athletic 6-foot-2, 188-pound frame with room to add strength. The left-handed hitter operates from a wide setup, utilizing easy bat speed while creating length through the zone with a gap-to-gap approach. Steger had an average exit velocity of 85.7 mph (97.9 mph max EV) while having an average batted ball distance of 177 feet (350 ft. max). He had an average bat speed of 73.2 mph (77.1 mph max) and an average hand speed of 21.2 mph (22.7 mph max). The catcher showed really clean actions from behind the plate while posting a pop time of 1.97-2.08 with a catcher velocity of 79 mph.

TWO-WAYS

OF/RHP Mason Bruesch (Geneva, 2027) has been steadily on the rise over the past year, and his showing on both sides of the ball in this look did nothing but further cement that. There’s plenty to dream on in his frame, listed at a lean 6-foot-2, 175-pounds. He’s an above-average athlete with a 6.76 in the 60, and he pairs it with a twitchy and athletic right-handed swing, peaking at 100 mph for his EV. Perhaps his most intriguing look was on the mound, where he worked up to 89 mph from a lower, deceptive slot with heavy arm-side run. He also showed the ability to spin his breaking balls over 2,400 rpm, both showing more lateral shape in the mid-70s. His final offering was a changeup at 81-82 mph with heavy fade, landing it around the zone consistently.

MIF/RHP Kameron Cox (Montini, 2028) continues to look like one of the top rising sophomores in the state. The right-handed hitter has an athletic swing with a gap to gap approach, working on the barrel to the whole field with a peak EV of 91 mph. He’s an advanced defender with clear feel for the position, confident/soft hands with fluid footwork, crisp/clean transfers, range to both sides of his glove. His arm also looks to be able to stick on the left side of the infield, topping at 84 mph with a quick and clean release. He also hopped on the mound and gave a brief but loud look, topping at 84 mph with the fastball.

RHP/OF Blake Brown (Homeschool, 2027) showed out as one of the top two-way players in attendance. Currently the No. 49 ranked player in Michigan, Brown ran his fastball up to 89 mph with over 2,500 rpm, setting up a sharp downer curveball and sweeping slider, both with over 2,500 rpm as well. At the plate, the right-handed hitter worked on the barrel and on the top of the baseball with a longer, flat path - reaching up to 97 mph for his peak EV. He’s an impressive athlete with a 6.89 in the 60, and he moves well in the outfield to pair with his strong arm (T91 mph OF).

RHP/OF Maddux Munson (Sioux Falls, 2027) was far and away one of the day’s biggest winners. Currently the No. 4 ranked player in South Dakota, Munson showed a heavy, power fastball up to 90 mph, coming from a higher, over-the-top slot with some intent downhill. He also showed both a downer curveball and 10/4 slider, both in the low/mid-70s. He also shined at the plate with one of the loudest rounds of BP on the day, showing easy strength at impact with the ability to lift the baseball, peaking at 104 mph for his EV (95 mph avg.) and 421’ for his max distance.

LHP/1B Grant Statler (Hononegah, 2027) is a name to follow from the day. On the mound, he’s an athletic mover with a simple and repeatable delivery, pairing with a clean/quick arm and ¾ release. His fastball topped at 88 mph with heavy arm-side run, cruising more in the 84-87 mph range. He showed a knack to spin his breaking ball (T2478 rpm), playing with shorter 1/7 shape at 72-74 mph. Flashed a changeup with over 21” of run, sitting around 76-79 mph. At the plate, he has a longer, flat swing that looks to keep the ball on a line, working to the gaps at times with a peak EV of 94.5 mph.

OF/RHP Gavin Helpingstine (Brother Rice, 2028) looked to be one of the top athletes in attendance, cruising to a 6.64 to start off his day. He has a twitchy, athletic swing with intent to lift the baseball, peaking at 99 mph for his EV with an average of 90 mph. He showed a strong arm both in the outfield and on the mound, topping out at 82 mph from a crowhop and 83 mph with the fastball.

PITCHER ONLY’s

RHP Kyle Buckholtz (Lyons Township, 2027) is a projectable right-hander to note from the day, listed at a lean and wiry 6-foot-3, 170-pounds. The right-hander sat 80-83 mph with the fastball, showing carry traits with over 17” IVB at times. The curveball played with a shorter 11/5 shape, but he could land it in the zone consistently, 70-73 mph. His final offering was a changeup in the 73-75 mph range with up to 18” of run at times, flashing feel for the zone.

RHP Grayson Carrigan (Montini, 2028) gave one of the more unique looks on the day with his lower, sidearm slot. He’s an athletic mover with a quick arm, and he showed an impressive ability to control the zone with his arm angle at this young of an age. The fastball played with heavy arm-side run and sink in the 76-79 mph range, peaking at over 21” of run. Slider played with a bullet, gyro shape at 66-69 mph, but the changeup looks to be the go-to secondary with a similar profile and release to the fastball, fading heavily to his arm-side at 71-72 mph.

RHP Colin Giles (St. Ignatius, 2027) gave one of the louder looks on the day. Listed at 6-foot-5, 175-pounds, Giles has a projectable and long-limbed frame that should only continue to get more physical in the coming years. The fastball played in the low-80s, peaking at 83 mph in this look with hard arm-side run at times. The curveball showed some slurve action with depth, 67-69 mph with scattered control. Showed the ability to land his changeup around the zone at 72-74 mph, peaking at just over 18” of run.

LHP Jameson Rapinchuk (Harvest Christian, 2026) gave a loud look despite batting some command. The fastball played 86-88 mph from a lower and deceptive angle, setting up a bullet slider at 72-74 mph and straight changeup, 78-80 mph. The fastball was sprayed a bit in this look but it’s no doubt a loud offering, and the SL/CH look to be quality secondary offerings when around the zone.

TOP TIER CENTRAL

POSITION PLAYER

OF Will Haley (St. Joseph-Ogden, 2026) showed off some impressive tools during the event. Haley clocks in at an athletic 5-foot-9, 158-pound frame with room to add strength. The right-handed hitter operates from an athletic setup with a simple lift/place stride. Has loose hands with a line-drive approach. Had an average exit velocity of 85.7 mph (95.9 mph max EV) while having a max batted ball distance of 288 feet. Haley had an impressive average hand speed of 22.1 mph (23.6 mph max) with an average bat speed of 70.2 mph (71.9 mph max). Haley had a 60-time of 6.75 as he rounded out his showcase.

TWO-WAYS

RHP/INF Traxton Roberts (Armstrong, 2027) looked to have one of the highest ceilings in attendance. He has a lean and wiry 6-foot-2, 175-pound frame, and it looks like he still has some growing left to do. He has a clean delivery with some whip in his arm out front, topping at 89 mph with the fastball and flashing a wipeout curveball with sweep at 64-67 mph (T2386 rpm), still some rawness overall but very projectable movement patterns. At the plate, the right-handed hitter worked on the barrel and on top of the baseball with a repeatable swing, peaking at 97 mph for his EV while using the whole field.

LHP/OF Peyton Campbell (Auburn, 2026) gave a strong look on both sides of the ball. On the mound, the southpaw showed a clean delivery and fastball that played up to 83 mph with feel for the zone. He also showed a tight, shorter curveball at 74-77 mph and sweeping slider at 71-73 mph. At the plate, he showed a flat and compact swing that worked on the barrel, staying mostly pull-side with a peak EV of 92 mph.

3B/RHP Layten Gerdes (Fieldcrest, 2026) showed well on both sides of the ball. He has an athletic frame at 6-foot-1, 183-pounds, and there’s a mix of present strength and room for more muscle. He’s an athletic mover on the mound with a clean arm, peaking at 87 mph with feel around the zone. He can also land both a curveball and slider in the zone, both playing in the low-70s, with the slider showing notable horizontal break (T-23.4” HM). His changeup is another quality offering with slight run to the arm-side and the ability to throw it for strikes. At the plate, he has an intentful swing with intent to lift and do damage to the whole field, peaking at 95 mph for his EV. He’s also a steady defender on the infield with sure-handed actions and a strong arm (T87 mph).

PITCHER ONLY’s

RHP Morgan Patterson (Illini Bluffs, 2028) is an upside arm to make note of from the day. His fastball got up to 78 mph, but what really stood out was his ability to spin his breaking balls - with the curveball playing over 2,600 rpm at 67-69 mph and the slider over 2,700 rpm at 64-68 mph.

RHP Sam Schwartz (Richwoods, 2027) gave a quality look on the mound with a high-spin arsenal. Listed at 6-foot, 175-pounds, the right-hander has a controlled delivery that clears his hips at footstrike, setting up a quick arm from a higher ¾ release. His fastball played at 82-83 mph with noteworthy carry traits (22” avg IVB), also peaking at over 2,300 rpm. His curveball and slider both spin at above-average clips with different shapes - as the curve played at 65-67 mph with more 11/5 shape and around 2,300-2,400 rpm. The slider showed some sweeping action with out-pitch potential, 69-71 mph (2,500-2,600 rpm). He also flashed a splitter at 72-73 mph that he killed spin on, landing it around the zone half the time.

TOP TIER WEST

OF Nicholas Rodriguez (South Elgin, 2026) showed some of the most improved numbers compared to last year’s Top Tier Scout Day. Rodriguez is listed as an athletic 5-foot-9, 155-pound frame with room to add strength. The right-handed hitter operates a narrow, slightly open setup with a toe-tap trigger. Has an upward bat path with intent to lift the ball. Rodriguez had an average batted ball distance of 269 feet (365 ft. max) with an average exit velocity of 84.4 mph (97.1 mph max EV). The outfielder is a clean mover with fluid action while having a quick, short arm action and posting an 83 mph velocity from the outfield. Rodriguez showed off his athleticism as he ran a 6.91 60.

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