Prep Baseball Report

Prospect Identification Showcase: Class of 2013 Analysis



By Matt Yarber

The Prep Baseball Report Prospect Identification Showcase on June 12 at Oakton Community College featured a wide range of talented Class of 2013 and 2014 prospects from all over the state. While there were several impressive Class of 2013 prospects in attendance, Glenbrook South LHP Kyle Pauly and Jacobs SS Kenny Finn took top honors.

Here, we take a look at all the Class of 2013 prospects in attendance.

Class of 2013

1. Kyle Pauly, LHP, Glenbrook South HS, Class of 2013
Pauly is a 6-foot, 170-pound left-handed pitcher who impressed with a loose, quick arm.  Pauly throws from a high 3/4 arm slot and showed hard arm side run on his 81-84 mph fastball.  His secondary pitches include a curveball (69-71 mph) that flashed tight spin and a sharp break and a 69 mph changeup.  Pauly throws three pitches for strikes and commands the zone nicely. He repeats his delivery and maintains rhythm and tempo well.

2. Kenny Finn, MIF, Jacobs HS, Class of 2013
Defensively, Finn proved himself to be one of the better middle infield prospects in the Class of 2013. The 5-foot-11, 150-pound Finn demonstrated a true feel for the position, displaying soft hands, easy footwork and a quick exchange. He moved fluidly to the ball, taking sound routes, and played through the ball well.  He also showed some arm strength, topping at 79 mph across the diamond.  Offensively, Finn exhibited a relaxed, easy plate approach. He remained balanced throughout, showing some bat speed as he consistently made hard contact.

3. Cody Dietz, RHP/OF, Harlem, Class of 2013
Dietz is a 5-foot-10, 215-pound multi-positional player who showcased the best positional arm strength at the event, firing 87 mph strikes from the outfield.  He exhibited smooth actions and played through the ball well, moving seamlessly into his throws.  Offensively, Dietz displayed a strong lower half that produced solid power and backspin carry as he consistently pulled the ball to left field. He has an overall quiet plate approach and generated considerable force at contact. On the mound, Dietz throws from over the top with a fastball that was in the 78-80 mph range.  His curveball was in the 63-64 mph range.

4. David Schurr, LHP, Oswego East HS, Class of 2013
Schurr is a long-limbed 6-foot-3, 175-pound left-handed pitcher who showcased repeatable mechanics                                                                                                                                                                     rhythm on the mound.  Schurr’s arm works with little effort, as his fastball sat in the 82-84 mph range.  He also throws a 64-67 mph curveball, and a 72-73 mph changeup.

5. Ryan Van Volkenburg, LHP/OF, Lisle HS, Class of 2013
Van Volkenburg is a 5-foot-11, 165-pound multi-positional player who displayed command of three pitches on the mound.  Van Volkenburg throws from a high 3/4 slot with a quick arm.  His fastball showed arm side life with occasional sink while sitting in the 76-77 mph range.  He threw his curveball for strikes that sat at 58-59 mph.  Offensively, Van Volkenburg has a relaxed plate approach. He has balanced setup with a smooth, repeatable swing from the right side. He remains balanced throughout as he made consistent hard contact. Defensively, Van Volkenburg moved athleticially and had an accurate arm that topped at 81 mph from the outfield.  He ran a 7.13 60.

6. Colin Telmanik, C, Crystal Lake Central HS, Class of 2013
Telmanik is a 6-foot-1, 180-pound catcher who impressed in all facets of the game.  From behind the dish, Telmanik showcased an accurate arm (77 mph) and swift feet, resulting in a best pop time of 1.92 with throw right on the bag.  Offensively, Telmanik exhibited some pull side power potential, taking an economical path to the ball.  He showed a mechanically sound approach at the plate, using a strong lower and a level bat path to spray line drives.

7. Nicholas Loggarakis, MIF, Glenbrook South HS, Class of 2013
Loggarakis is a 5-foot-11, 150-pound middle infielder who exhibited sound, athletic footwork and took concise routes to the baseball.  He demonstrated accurate throws across the diamond that was clocked at 79 mph.  Offensively, Loggarakis displayed a line drive swing maintaining excellent balance through contact.  He showed fluidity at the plate, creating rhythm and barreling up baseballs to all fields.  Additionally, Loggarakis ran a 7.09 60.

8. Patrick Houlihan, MIF, Nazareth HS, Class of 2013
Houlihan is a 5-foot-7, 155-pound middle infielder who exhibited soft hands and quick footwork.  His feet and hands work in concert, as he showed an advanced feel for the game. He took accurate routes and played through the ball well.  He displayed an accurate arm (78 mph) from across the diamond and smooth actions.  Offensively, Houlihan has a balanced set up and creates a rhythm with in swing.  A line drive hitter, he stays flat through the zone and maintains balance throughout.

9. Parker Harold, 1B/RHP, Crystal Lake South HS, Class of 2013
Harold is a 6-foot-4, 200-pound multi-positional player who impressed with strong lower half.  At the plate, Harold showcased sound mechanics and a solid approach to the baseball.  Starting from a wide stance, Harold is able to generate power with his lower half, spraying line drives to all fields.  On the bump, Harold exhibited a high 3/4 arm slot with a fastball that topped at 81 mph.  His secondary pitches consist of a 64-66 mph curveball and a 73-75 mph changeup.

10. Brett Milazzo, OF, Carmel Catholic, Class of 2013
Milazzo is a 5-foot-9, 165-pound outfielder who ran an event-best 6.78 60.  Offensively, the left-handed hitting Milazzo has a relaxed, easy plate approach. He maintains excellent balance throughout and stays quiet. He used his aggressive lower half to lace line drives all over the field.  Defensively, Milazzo demonstrated an accurate arm from the outfield, topping at 78 mph. 

11. Kyle Burton, OF, Herscher HS, Class of 2013
Burton is an athletic 5-foot-9, 155-pound outfielder who ran a 6.87 60.  Burton showed off his athleticism defensively, taking good routes to the baseball and playing through the baseball.  He exhibited an accurate arm that was clocked at 78 mph.  Offensively, Burton has quick hands at the plate, demonstrating bat speed through the zone.

12. Matt Reschke, RHP/OF, Hinsdale South HS, Class of 2013
Reschke is an athletically built 6-foot-2, 185-pound multi-positional player with a projectable frame.  Reschke showcased his athleticism by running a 7.07 60.  At the plate, Reschke displayed excellent balance through contact with gap to gap power potential.  On the mound, Reschke displayed some rhythm, mo showcasing a 78-80 mph fastball from a high 3/4 arm slot.  He threw two secondary pitches: a 63-65 mph curveball with some depth and a 67-69 mph changeup.

13. Peter Cozzi, OF, St. Rita, Class of 2013
Cozzi is a 5-foot-11, 165-pound outfielder with an athletic frame who ran a 7.17 60. Cozzi hits from an open setup and demonstrated a level, line drive-producing swing. Defensively, he moves with athletic purpose in the outfield, taking good routes and showing the ability to stay on top.  His best velocity from the outfield was 76 mph. 

14. Nick Binder, INF, South Elgin HS, Class of 2013
Binder is a 6-foot, 160-pound infielder who displayed an easy left-handed swing.  Binder showcased a fundamental swing and gets good extension after contact.  Defensively, Binder showed good actions in the field and was clocked at 75 mph across the diamond.

15. David Panicko, RHP, Crystal Lake Central, Class of 2013
Panicko is a projectable 6-foot-6, 185-pound right-handed pitcher who exhibited a fastball that topped at 83 mph.  His changeup displayed life down in the zone and sat at 74 mph.  Additionally, Panicko threw a splitter that sat at 76 mph.

15. Jason Buss, RHP, Libertyville HS, Class of 2013
Buss is a 6-foot, 180-pound right-handed pitcher who displayed a 77-79 mph fastball from an over the top arm slot.  His most impressive pitch, though, was his knuckleball, which was in the 71-72 mph range and showed solid movement and Buss possessed a good feel for the pitch. (Editor’s Note: We are not usually fans of knuckleballs, but this one is thrown firmly and confidently.) Buss’s knuckleball looks like it will get a lot of hitters out. His other secondary pitches include a 65-66 mph curveball and a 77-78 mph changeup.

Best of the Rest (Alphabetically)

Colin Ash, RHP/OF, Naperville North HS, Class of 2013
Ash is a 5-foot-9, 150-pound multi-positional talent who impressed at the plate with his line-drive swing.  Ash creates solid loft on his swing, getting behind the ball well and using his lower half to drive the ball to all fields. Defensively, Ash took sound routes to the baseball and displayed an accurate arm (81 mph).  On the mound, Ash throws from over the top with a fastball topped out at 79 mph and showed some arm side life.  He changed speeds well with his two secondary pitches; a 63-64 mph curveball and a change-up that sat at 69 mph.

Isidoro Briceno, MIF, Proviso West, Class of 2013
Briceno is a 5-foot-11, 120-pound middle infielder who displayed solid hands in the field and threw 67 mph across the infield. 

Arron Buck, C/3B, Rockford Guilford, Class of 2013
Buck is a 5-foot-10, 175-pound catcher who displayed the ability to keep his hands inside the ball and have an opposite field approach at the plate.  From behind the dish, Buck had a best pop time of 2.10 and showed good feel behind the plate with his receiving skills.

Chris Cockle, LHP, Crete Monee, Class of 2013
Cockle is a 5-foot-10, 152-pound left-handed pitcher who exhibited run and solid feel for his fastball that was clocked at 78 mph.  He showcased a 12/6 curveball with depth that sat at 63-66 mph.  Cockle’s changeup showed deception and sat at 67-68 mph.

Cory Demos, 3B/RHP, Taft, Class of 2013
Demos is a 5-foot-11, 165-pound two-way player who exhibited an accurate arm across the diamond (71 mph).  Demos displayed soft hands and showed some range up the middle.  On the mound, Demos exhibited a fastball that topped at 75 mph with some life to it.  His curveball showed solid downward movement and sat at 63-64 mph.  Demos had a changeup that was 66-69 mph that he kept down in the zone well.  He also threw a slider with bite at 66-67 mph.

Zach Ehlers, LHP, Glenbrook North HS, Class of 2013
Ehlers is a 5-11, 150-pound left-handed pitcher with an athletic frame who threw from a high ¾ arm slot.  His fastball topped at 74 mph and his slider sat at 63-64 mph.  Ehlers’ changeup sat at 61-62.

Alex Galik, RHP/OF, Downers Grove South, Class of 2013
Galik is a 6-foot, 170-pound multi-positional player who possesses a line drive swing with gap-to-gap power potential.  Galik shows a balanced approach at the plate, and uses the whole field to his advantage.  Defensively, Galik exhibited an accurate arm in the outfield.  On the mound, he showcased a fastball that sat between 78-80 mph.  His best pitch was his changeup that showed solid depth and sat at 70-71 mph.

Matt Hickey, MIF/3B, Jacobs HS, Class of 2013
Hickey is a 5-foot-11, 165-pound infielder who impressed at the plate with his ability to square the baseball up to all fields.  Hickey hits from a wide stance and swings with a level bat path.   Defensively, showed an accurate arm across the infield, which was clocked at 74 mph.  Additionally, Hickey ran a 7.37 60.

Cameron Jones, C, Plainfield North HS, Class of 2013
Jones is a 5-foot-10, 165-pound catcher who displayed sound footwork behind the plate.  He exhibited soft hands and showed the ability to handle all types of pitching.  He had a best pop time of 2.12 and was clocked at 70 mph from the crouch.  Offensively, Jones displayed good balance through his swing and a level bat path through the zone.

Frank Kolb, INF, Peotone HS, Class of 2013
Kolb is a 6-foot-1, 225-pound infielder who was clocked at 68 mph across the diamond.  At the plate, Kolb has a strong lower half which can be used to generate some power potential.

Josh Lung, OF/3B,Burlington Central HS, Class of 2013
Lung is a strong bodied 6-foot-1, 180-pound multi-positional talent with quick feet, running one of the better 60s of the day, 6.82.  Defensively, Lung was clocked at 71 mph from the outfield. At the plate, Lung showed an aggressive approach with pull-side power potential.

Tim Misner, MIF, St. Charles North HS, Class of 2013
Misner is a 5-foot-11, 160 pound middle infielder who took good routes to the baseball and was clocked at 74 mph across the diamond. Offensively, Misner squared up some baseball, working up the middle well.  Additionally, Misner ran a 7.51 60.

Sam Munno, LHP, Oak Park-River Forest, Class of 2013
Munno is a 6-foot-2, 185-pound left-handed pitcher who throws a 77-80 mph fastball for strikes.  Munno also showcased a curveball that sat in the 65-66 mph range and a 69-71 mph changeup that flashed some arm side and sink when down in the zone.

James Padley, MIF/RHP, Lake Forest, Class of 2013
Padley is a 5-foot-8, 135-pound multi-positional player who exhibited agile feet with a good feel for the game.  Padley plays through the ball well in the outfield, with throws that were clocked at 75 mph showing solid carry and life.  Offensively, Padley has a solid left-handed swing, displaying sound balance through contact as he squared up the baseball to all fields.  On the mound, Padley was consistent with his pitches, throwing all three around the plate.  He has a fastball that was in the 71-73 mph range that ran up to 74 mph, with a curveball that sat between 62-64 mph, and a 68-69 mph changeup.

Justin Pasko, RHP/OF, T.F. South, Class of 2013
Pasko is a long-legged 6-foot-2, 155-pound multi-positional player who displayed good athleticism at the event, running a 6.99 60.  Pasko moved well in the outfield, getting through the baseball and was clocked at 81 mph.  On the bump, Pasko throws a 75-77 mph fastball, a curveball that sits in the 59-60 mph range, and a 68 mph changeup.

Tyson Powers, C, Amboy, Class of 2013
Powers is a 6-foot-2, 175-pound catcher who had a best pop time of 2.29 and was clocked at 71 mph from the crouch.  Offensively, Powers has a balanced setup and uses his lower half well to get around on the baseball.  Additionally, Powers ran a 7.28 60.

Michael Rogers, LHP, Libertyville HS, Class of 2013
Rogers is a big 6-foot-5, 180-pound left-handed pitcher with a projectable frame.  Rogers’ fastball sat in the  75-78 mph range, while his curveball was in the 61-64 range.  Additionally, Rogers showcased a changeup that sat at 69-71 mph.

Eric Schiller, RHP, Crystal Lake South, Class of 2013
Schiller is an athletically built 6-foot-3, 180-pound right-handed pitcher who throws from over the top and has a 77-79 mph fastball with sink.  This lanky right hander displayed a sharp 68-71 curveball with an 11/5 shape and a 67 mph changeup.

Jack Spangler, OF/SS, Peoria Richwood HS, Class of 2013
Spangler is a 6-foot-1, 150-pound multi-positional player who displayed fluid footwork from shortstop, taking concise routes to the baseball.  From the outfield, Spangler played through the baseball and was clocked at 74 mph.  Offensively, Spangler showed solid bat speed through the zone and barreled up the baseball to all fields.

Matt Warren, C, Merrillville HS (IN), Class of 2013
Warren is a 6-foot-1, 180-pound catcher who received the ball well during pens, staying low and balanced while handling all types of velocity.  Warren had a best pop time of 2.33 and was clocked at 68 mph from the crouch.  Offensively, Warren has a well-balanced, line drive swing.  Additionally, Warren ran a 7.64 60.

Ron Willis, OF, Peoria Heights HS, Class of 2013
Willis is a raw, athletic 6-foot-3, 180-pound outfielder who has a very projectable frame.  Offensively, Willis exhibited bat speed through the zone, displaying gap-to-gap power potential.  Willis’ hands work fast, and with some mechanical improvements, he could be a very interesting prospect.  Defensively, Willis was clocked at 78 mph.  Additionally, Willis ran a 7.09 60.

Zach Wilson, RHP, Peoria Heights HS, Class of 2013
Wilson is a long-legged 6-foot-3, 160-pound right-handed pitcher who demonstrated late sink on his 79-81 mph fastball, with the ability to keep it in the zone.  His curveball showed solid 12/6 action, sitting at 64-68 mph.  Wilson also exhibited a good-looking 72-73 mph changeup with fastball arm speed and sink.

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