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Top Tier Scout Day: Takeaways

July 2, 2026
By: Prep Baseball Illinois Scouting Staff

On Tuesday, June 9th, the Prep Baseball Illinois staff hosted the Top Tier Scout Day at Triton College in River Grove, IL. 60+ 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.

We have already released a statistical and data analysis story, highlighting the top statistical performers from the event.

Today, we will be providing our scouting takeaways on some of the event's top performers.

TAKEAWAYS

TOP TIER HQ

+ INF Vincent Junkas (Downers Grove South, 2027) is an uncommitted prospect whose game continues to trend in a positive direction. An athletic and strong 5-foot-11, 178-pounds, Junkas began the event running a 6.84 60 (tied for 5th fastest for event), while reaching a top speed of 20.5 mph (tied for 3rd fastest for event). A switch-hitter, he showed noticeable pop from both sides of the dish, averaging 92 mph off the bat (T97), registering an 82% hard hit percentage paired with a max batted distance of 364 feet. Defensively, he showed a strong and accurate arm across the diamond (T84 mph) paired with rangy actions that should allow him to stick up the middle.

+ OF/RHP Jacob Hite (St. Laurence, 2028) had a big day all-around. A projectable 6-foot-2, 185-pound two-way, he ran the fastest 60 for the event at 6.66 with a peak run speed of 20.7 mph - which also led the event. A right-handed hitter, he had a loud round of BP, averaging 90 mph off the bat while recording the hardest hit ball at the event at 102.3 mph, and the second furthest ball at 366 feet. Defensively, he reached 86 mph from the crow hop and has the actions to stick in the outfield in the future. Hite then hopped on the bump and continued to impress; throwing the third-firmest fastball on the day at 87 mph, and also flashed the ability to spin his curveball (avg. 2290 rpm) at 68-70 mph. Hite is set to represent Team Illinois at the Prep Baseball Future Games later this month.

+ OF Henry Burke (Lake Forest, 2028) is another right-handed hitting prospect to continue to follow. He ran the 7th-fastest 60 (6.89) and had the firmest bullet for all of the outfielders at 90 mph. Burke also showed well with the bat; having feel to elevate with authority to the middle/pull-side. He peaked at 97 mph off the bat and his furthest ball hit registered at 357 feet.

+ LHP/OF Townes Cinninger (St. Joseph, IN, 2029) continues to look like one of the more promising southpaws in the region. A fluid and clean mover downhill at a projectable 6-foot-3, 165-pounds, he showed feel for his entire arsenal at the event. The fastball comes out easy with life at 84-86 mph with heavy armside run (avg. -18.6” HM) to pair. He threw his 68-70 mph curveball for 60% strikes with sweeping action, while also turning over a 76-78 mph changeup with over 20” of armside fade. Cinninger also has upside positionally; running a 7.00 60, and peaking at 93 mph off the bat from the left side, flashing easy pop at times.

+ OF Tyler Lanzi (Providence Catholic, 2029) continues to perform in front of our staff. He presents an athletic 6-foot, 156-pound frame with room for added strength down the road. He began his day by running the 4th-fastest 60 at 6.82 seconds with a peak run speed of 20.4 mph. He also showed athletic actions in the outfield, paired with an 83 mph arm with his throws working on a line to the plate. A right-handed hitter, he has a flatter swing that keeps the ball on a line to all fields, while flashing the ability to create jump off the barrel (T92 mph EV).

+ LHP/1B Grant Statler (Hononegah, 2027; Eastern Illinois commit) continues to show two-way upside in front of our staff. Starting on the mound, the 6-foot, 190-pound southpaw moves well down the mound with three pitches in his arsenal. His fastball sat 83-85 mph on this day, though we have seen it up to 88 mph in the past, while showing a slurve-type breaking ball at 69-71 mph, and rounding out his mix with a 76-77 mph late-fading changeup. A left-handed hitter to pair, he was on the barrel during BP; averaging 91 mph off the bat, while maxing out at 97 mph, and showing above-average bat speed (avg. 72 mph).

+ RHP Michael Garner (Willowbrook, 2027) was one of the biggest winners on the mound from the day. Standing at a lean, 6-foot-4, 190-pounds, he led the event in numerous categories on the mound; max fastball velocity (90 mph), average fastball spin rate (2305 rpm), max curveball velocity (75 mph), max slider spin rate (2629 rpm), and average slider spin rate (2538 rpm). Garner has since continued to impress in-game across the Prep Baseball Tournament landscape.

+ LHP Braden Jones (Lemont, 2029) emerged as a name to keep tabs on within the state’s incoming-sophomore class. A loose mover at 6-foot-1, 155-pounds, his fastball showed above-average spin (avg. 2305 rpm) while sitting 80-82 mph (T83). His curveball worked top-to-bottom at 63-68 mph, flashing depth, while rounding out his arsenal with a 64-66 mph changeup that was in the zone 60% of the time.

+ INF Antonio Russotiesi (Downers Grove North, 2027) is another uncommitted bat to know from the event, after performing in front of our staff over the course of the spring. The left-handed hitter was on the barrel repeatedly, posting a hard hit percentage of 100%, averaging 93 mph off the bat (T97 mph), paired with a max batted distance of 358 feet. He has a simple and repeatable swing, while trying to keep the ball on a line to all fields. Defensively, he showed reliable hands up the middle and an accurate arm across the diamond.

+ C Nick Dreves-Hunt (Lyons Township, 2027) is an uncommitted backstop to know. He ran a 6.98 60 and also was 80 mph from the chute; posting a pop time range of 1.91-1.96. The right-handed hitter also showed bat speed (avg. 70 mph), while flashing barrel strength with a max EV of 92 mph and a max batted distance of 340 feet.

+ OF Gavin Helpingstine (Andrean, IN, 2028) ran the second-fastest 60 for the event at 6.73 and continued to show well with the bat for our staff. A right-handed hitter, he was on the barrel, averaging 92 mph off the bat (T100), paired with a max batted distance of 343 feet.

+ C/INF Nick Crowley (Munster, IN, 2027) is a physical uncommitted right-handed hitter to know from the event. He led the event in average exit velocity (97 mph) and max batted distance (395 feet), while also posting the second-highest max EV (100 mph) and average distance (281 feet).

+ OF Caleb Wilson (Crown Point, IN, 2028) is a left-handed bat to know. He has a flatter path with line drive intent, and peaked at 94 mph off the bat with a max batted distance of 334 feet.

+ Two more incoming-sophomore bats that deserved a mention for their performance at the event was OF Vincent Alvarez (St. Laurence), and INF Grant Liebing (Lemont).

TOP TIER CENTRAL

+ OF/RHP Braden Davis (Galesburg, 2029) is an upside two-way prospect to know moving forward. He began the event by running a 7.01 60, and then showed advanced actions in the outfield paired with a strong arm - topping out at 84 mph. A right-handed hitter, he also showed the ability to have advanced barrel strength for his age; peaking at 93 mph off the bat with a max batted distance of 358 feet. On the bump, the high-waisted 5-foot-11, 160-pound righty threw his 80-82 mph fastball for strikes 80% of the time, and flashed feel for his secondary offerings.

+ OF Briggs Bucy (Metamora, 2027) is an uncommitted left-handed bat to know. At an athletic 6-foot-2, 180-pound frame, he ran one of the faster 60’s on the day at 6.85 paired with a peak run speed of 20.3 mph. Bucy showed the ability to hit line drives with an easy swing, while topping out at 92 mph off the bat.

+ RHP Easton Pickrel (Galesburg, 2029) continues to show well in front of our staff. Presenting a projectable 6-foot, 160-pound frame, he started off by running a 6.94 60 before showing well on the mound. His fastball worked 85-87 mph (T88) with slight cutting action at times. He then spun in a 68-69 mph slider for strikes 67% of the time with over 20” of horizontal movement. Pickrel would complete his arsenal with a 77-79 mph changeup with sink.

+ RHP Easton Wickline (Sullivan, 2029) is a name to know on the mound for the coming years. Displaying a long-levered and high-waisted 6-foot-4, 175-pound frame, he showed an intriguing four-pitch mix. His fastball worked in the 82-84 mph range (T85), with carry through the zone (avg. 18.8” IVB). He showed advanced spin on both breaking balls; with his curveball playing in the 70-72 mph range spinning with an average of 2400 rpm, and his slider sat 71-74 mph spinning at an average of 2491 rpm. Wickline also showed a changeup at 70-73 mph to round out his mix. Sullivan has also shown well in-game at Prep Baseball Tournaments this summer.

+ RHP Morgan Patterson (Illini Bluffs, 2028) is another upside arm to note. Standing at a high-waisted 6-foot-2, 166-pounds, he displayed a five-pitch mix during his bullpen. His fastball worked up to 82 mph, while being in the zone 80% of the time. He spun in both a curveball and a slider, with his slider playing with better spin on average (avg. 2159 rpm). Patterson would also go to a 72 mph changeup (avg. 2.9” IVB) and a 60-66 mph knuckleball.

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