Prep Baseball Report

Fox River Open: Statistical Analysis


Diego Solares
Staff Writer, Associate Scout

On Tuesday, June 15, the PBR Illinois Staff traveled to Hoffer Field at Judson University to hold the annual Fox River Open. This event was open to all high school graduates from the 2022-to-2024 classes and served as an identifier for future invite-only events, including the prestigious PBR Future Games. 

Shortly after the event’s conclusion, our scouting staff published a Quick Hits piece that highlighted the main takeaways from the day’s workout. Today, we’ll start by breaking down all the data we gathered at the event, starting with those who stood out from a traditional statistical standpoint. We’ll continue to roll out data-filled content throughout the week, gathered by our partners at TrackMan and Blast Motion, so be on the lookout for that.

For now, let’s highlight a few numerical standouts from Tuesday’s event:

+ From Batavia HS, INF Eric Gonzalez (2022) was one of the top statistical performers from this event in his PBR debut. The 6-foot-2, 205-pound Gonzalez tied for the event lead with an 82 mph high across the infield, recorded the second-hardest batted ball of the day at 97 mph, and also ran a 7.06 in the 60-yard dash.

+ OF Jeremy Peddle (St. Ignatius, 2022) ran the fastest 60-yard dash of the day by .10 seconds, registering an above-average 6.77 time on our lasers for his age. The 6-foot-1, 160-pound Peddle topped out at 80 mph from the outfield to home; tying for the third-highest mark of the day.

+ Another name to know from Batavia HS: C Henry Saul (2023). The sophomore backstop topped at 76 mph from the crouch to second base, tied for the event lead, and also averaged the quickest pops out of the chute, ranging from 1.93-2.09 seconds. Saul’s hardest batted ball left his barrel at 90 mph during his BP round, good for the second hardest hit ball of the day from a 2023 graduate. 

+ C Matthew Schuring (Dundee Crown, 2023) is a 6-foot-1, 195-pound athlete that put together a quality workout last Tuesday, especially from a statistical standpoint. Schuring recorded the hardest hit ball of the day from an underclassman, squaring one up at 95 mph during his batting practice round. He also ran a 7.16 in the 60-yard dash and topped out at 74 mph from the crouch to second base. 

+ OF Charlie Saul (Batavia, 2022) is a broad-shouldered 6-foot, 185-pound athlete that led this event’s outfield group in max throwing velocity by three ticks, maxing out at 84 mph.

+ Two Huntley arms led the way with the hardest fastballs of the event, both topping at 85 mph and sitting in the 83-85 mph range: LHP Michael Vitellaro (2022) and RHP Cole Modrich (2022).

TOP 60-YARD DASH

Rank Name State School Class Pos 60-yard
1 Jeremy Peddle IL St. Ignatius 2022 OF 6.77
2 Blake Stempowski IL Geneva 2022 3B 6.87
3 Brennan Luz IL Joliet Catholic 2022 3B 6.98
4 Drew Bennett IL Jacobs 2022 SS 6.99
5 Eric Gonzalez IL Batavia 2022 SS 7.06
6 Nate Stempowski IL Geneva 2024 SS 7.07
^ Owen Drummond IL Jacobs 2022 SS 7.07
7 Hank Friedrich IL Notre Dame of Niles 2022 OF 7.10
8 Peter Mitchell IL Jacobs 2022 OF 7.14

MAX FASTBALL VELOCITY

Rank Name State School Class Pos Max FB
1 Michael Vitellaro IL Huntley 2022 LHP 85 mph
^ Cole Modrich IL Huntley 2022 RHP 85 mph
2 Evan Chung IL Lake Zurich 2022 RHP 83 mph
3 Eric Gonzalez IL Batavia 2022 SS 82 mph
^ Frank Freeman IL St Ignatius 2022 C 82 mph
^ Braden Alfano IL Rochelle 2022 LHP 82 mph
4 Owen Drummond IL Jacobs 2022 SS 81 mph
^ Anthony Fedele IL St. Charles North 2022 RHP 81 mph

MAX EXIT VELOCITY

Rank Name State School Class Pos Exit Velo
1 Owen Hensler IL Central 2022 RHP 100
2 Eric Gonzalez IL Batavia 2022 SS 97
3 Nolan Czako IL Bishop McNamara 2022 SS 96
4 Matthew Schuring IL Dundee Crown 2023 C 95
^ Shea Gaffney IL Glenbard North 2022 OF 95
5 Charlie Saul IL Batavia 2022 OF 93
^ Owen Drummond IL Jacobs 2022 SS 93
6 Braylon Kilduff IL Byron 2024 3B 92
^ Peter Mitchell IL Jacobs 2022 OF 92
^ Brennan Luz IL Joliet Catholic 2022 3B 92
^ Colin Ryder IL St. Charles North 2024 1B 92
^ Blake Stempowski IL Geneva 2022 3B 92
^ Evan Chung IL Lake Zurich 2022 RHP 92

MAX INFIELD VELOCITY

Rank Name State School Class Pos INF Velo
1 Evan Chung IL Lake Zurich 2022 RHP 82
^ Eric Gonzalez IL Batavia 2022 SS 82
2 Nolan Czako IL Bishop McNamara 2022 SS 81
^ Drew Bennett IL Jacobs 2022 SS 81
3 Hank Friedrich IL Notre Dame of Niles 2022 OF 79
4 Owen Hensler IL Central 2022 RHP 77
^ Owen Drummond IL Jacobs 2022 SS 77

MAX OUTFIELD VELOCITY

Rank Name State School Class Pos OF Velo
1 Charlie Saul IL Batavia 2022 OF 84
2 Hank Friedrich IL Notre Dame of Niles 2022 OF 81
3 Peter Mitchell IL Jacobs 2022 OF 80
^ Shea Gaffney IL Glenbard North 2022 OF 80
^ Jeremy Peddle IL St. Ignatius 2022 OF 80
4 Joshua Caccia IL St. Charles North 2024 RHP 79
^ Marcus Milianti IL Mount Carmel 2022 OF 79

MAX CATCHER VELOCITY

Rank Name State School Class Pos C Velo
1 Frank Freeman IL St Ignatius 2022 C 76
^ Henry Saul IL Batavia 2023 C 76
2 Preston Sewell IL Belvidere North 2022 C 75
3 Jack Desmond IL Glenbard West 2022 C 74
^ Matthew Schuring IL Dundee Crown 2023 C 74

TOP POP TIMES

Rank Name State School Class Pos Pop Time
1 Henry Saul IL Batavia 2023 C 1.93-2.09
2 Preston Sewell IL Belvidere North 2022 C 2.03-2.13
3 Ryan Stary IL Huntley 2022 C 2.05-2.26
4 Frank Freeman IL St Ignatius 2022 C 2.06-2.19
5 Daniel Bastidas IL Metea Valley 2024 C 2.07-2.13
6 Joshua Schumacher IL Dixon 2024 C 2.17-2.26

For a look at the full stats from this event, click HERE.

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