Nathan
Cera

Uncommitted. Trim, 6-foot-1, 165-pound frame with room for added strength in the future. Batted third and played the hot corner for the Hawks. He was all over the barrel from the right side, showing a mature approach at the plate. Cera utilizes a direct path paired with quick hands, while displaying high bat-to-ball skills. He finished the game 3-for-4 with a triple, and the walk-off hit to secure the win for the Hawks. He also showed to be a steady defender at the hot corner.

6-foot, 150-pounds. Gave our staff an intriguing look on the mound on Sunday evening. Long levers, moves athletically down the mound with a clean arm and whippy ¾ release. Cruised with his fastball around 78-79 mph, playing with some running action to his arm-side. The separator in his arsenal appears to be his slider, which he can land for strikes and to put hitters away with up to 2600 rpm, 72-73 mph.

Nathan Cera was another 2026 right-handed arm to know from Maine South. Cera has a loose, quick arm as well that plays from a lower slot. The 6-foot, 150-pound, right-hander has intent to work at the bottom of the zone with a low-80s fastball (T83) with late running action. He also mixed in an upper 70’s sinker with noticeably more run and sink while averaging 16.2 inches of horizontal movement. His slider plays with above-average spin at T2,433 rpm, average 2,388 and late horizontal action. The changeup rounds out the four-pitch repertoire.

Positional Profile: 3B/RHP
Body: 6-0, 150-pounds. Lean, wiry frame.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, fluid load, toe tap stride. Loose hands, rotational through the zone at times, looks to keep the ball on a line, pull-side approach. 61.6 mph bat speed with 15 G’s of rotational acceleration.
Power: 82 max exit velocity, averaged 74.7 mph. 288’ max distance.
Arm: RH. INF - 82 mph. OF - 85 mph. Long arm swing, 3/4 release, plays from multiple slots on the move. OF: Loose, athletic arm, 3/4 release with some quickness into release.
Defense: INF: Easy, fluid actions, natural on the move, soft hands. OF - Fluid footwork, plays with pace, intent through release.
Run: 7.28 runner in the 60.

Positional Profile: 3B/RHP
Body: 6-0, 150-pounds. Lean, wiry frame. Delivery: Fluid, uptempo delivery, tall and fall, works closed down the mound and lands square.
Arm Action: RH. Long, quick arm action, 3/4 slot.
FB: T83, 80-82 mph. Lively out of the hand, late run and sink. T1966, 1934 average rpm.
SL: 70-71 mph. Late horizontal action, tight spin. T2433, 2388 average rpm.
CH: 75-76 mph. Thrown with arm speed, heavy run and sink at times. T1623, 1551 average rpm.

A couple of young 2026 arms who showed a feel for the mound and deserve a follow moving forward are Stephen Winkler (Mount Carmel), Nathan Cera (Maine South) and Dallan Krewatch (University of Chicago). All three worked their fastballs in the 70s and paired it with well above secondary offerings that have a chance to turn into go-to offerings down the road. 

Positional Profile: OF/RHP
Body: 5-10, 140-pounds. Thin, wiry frame.
Hit: RHH. Wide, slightly crouched setup, long stride. Flat path with extension through contact, uses the middle of the field.
Power: 79 max exit velocity, averaged 74.1 mph. 230’ max distance.
Arm: RH. INF - 78 mph. OF - 78 mph. OF: Fluid arm action into a high 3/4 slot. INF: Lively arm, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: OF: Active feet pre-pitch, steady actions, sure-handed, plays through the ball. INF: active footwork, soft hands and athletic actions.
Run: 7.65 runner in the 60. 

Delivery: Fluid tall and fall delivery, works uptempo and on-line.
Arm Action: RH. Loose arm action, 3/4 slot.
FB: T78, 76-77 mph. Plays clean out of the hand, run and sink at times. T2228, 2118 average rpm.
CB: 65-67 mph. Tight spin, advanced action and sweep. Plays with feel and off a 10/4 plane. Advanced offering that should be a swing and miss pitch moving forward. T2500, 2465 average rpm.