Prep Baseball Report

Fox River Open: Statistical Analysis


By Andy Sroka
Staff Writer, Associate Scout

On Monday, June 15, the PBR Illinois staff held its annual Fox River Open showcase at Boomers Stadium in Schaumburg, an open event primarily featuring 2021 and 2022 prospects from the north and northwest suburbs of Chicago.

Today, we’re going to begin breaking the event from a statistical perspective, utilizing the measured data we gathered. We’ll share the leaderboards from each of the statistical categories, highlighting the top performers at the Fox River Open, all of whom remain uncommitted.

TOP 60-YARD DASH

Rank Name State School Class Pos 60-yard
1 John Ahler IL Marian Central Catholic 2022 SS 7.05
2 James Linn IL North Boone 2021 OF 7.23
3 Micah Johnson IL Stillman Valley 2021 LHP 7.25

From Marian Central Catholic, middle infielder John Ahler (2022) paced this group by nearly two-tenths of a second with a 7.05 mark. You’ll see his name elsewhere within this analysis, too. Ahler performed well across the board on Monday and emerges as a name to keep an eye on inside the state’s ‘22 class as the summer rolls on. Uncommitted members of the 2021 class, James Linn (North Boone) and Micah Johnson (Stillman Valley), each also ran well.

MAX FASTBALL VELOCITY

Rank Name State School Class Pos Max FB
1 Jace Phelan IL Lane Tech 2021 RHP 81 mph
2 Erik Carlson IL Oak Park-River Forest 2022 RHP 79 mph
^ John Creviston IL Brother Rice 2021 LHP 79 mph
3 Joey Gaskill IL Elk Grove 2021 SS 77 mph
^ Micah Johnson IL Stillman Valley 2021 LHP 77 mph

Lanky Lane Tech right-hander Jace Phelan (2021) is a 6-foot two-way prospect who was up to 80 mph on Monday, leading this small group. Oak Park-River Forest’s Erik Carlson was up to 78 mph, which led the 2022 prospects in attendance.

MAX EXIT VELOCITY

Rank Name State School Class Pos Exit Velo
1 Erik Mitchell IL St. Charles East 2021 OF 93
^ Jayden Lobliner IL St. Charles North 2022 C 93
2 Grant Vosburgh IL Oswego 2021 3B 91
3 Tony Rath IL St. Rita of Cascia 2021 SS 90

This group revealed some follow bats denoted by their bat strength. St. Charles East’s Erik Mitchell (2021) has obvious physicality in his right-handed bat, and so does Jayden Lobliner (St. Charles North, 2022) – the two were tied atop this leaderboard with 93 mph highs. Lobliner put on a particularly interesting show in batting practice, launching a couple balls over the left field fence with highly aggressive, on-the-barrel swings from the right side. His strong right-handed bat and natural instincts and actions from behind the plate make him a big winner this early in the summer showcase season.

MAX INFIELD VELOCITY

Rank Name State School Class Pos INF Velo
1 John Ahler IL Marian Central Catholic 2022 SS 82
2 Tony Rath IL St. Rita of Cascia 2021 SS 81
3 Matthew Robertson IL Libertyville 2021 1B 78

Two of the best infield defenders on the day also happened to take the lead within this category: Ahler and Tony Rath (St. Rita, 2021). Ahler has the makings of becoming a smooth middle infielder and he took a clean and easy round of BP from the right side. Rath is a 6-foot-2 athlete with some bat strength (91 mph off the tee at the exit velo station) who also has the actions to make it on the left side of the diamond.

MAX OUTFIELD VELOCITY

Rank Name State School Class Pos OF Velo
1 Erik Carlson IL Oak Park-River Forest 2022 RHP 81
^ Jace Phelan IL Lane Tech 2021 RHP 81
2 Jason Akers IL Schaumburg 2021 OF 79
^ Erik Mitchell IL St. Charles East 2021 OF 79

The two arms who recorded two of the day’s firmest fastballs were tied atop this leaderboard with 81 mph highs to home. Phelan has a loose arm with long levers while Carlson is more of a compact 5-foot-7 with some innate strength attached to his game.

MAX CATCHER VELOCITY

Rank Name State School Class Pos C Velo
1 Jayden Lobliner IL St. Charles North 2022 C 80
2 Travis Zdanowski MI Grand Rapids West Catholic 2021 C 75

Lobliner’s bat helped him break out at this event but it was his traits behind the plate that will keep him as a high-follow through the summer. He showed natural arm strength that topped 80 mph on his throws through the infield, comfortably leading the way in this group. Making his way from Michigan, Travis Zdanowski (Grand Rapids West Catholic, 2021) recorded a 75 mph high to second.

TOP POP TIMES

Rank Name State School Class Pos Pop Time
1 Jayden Lobliner IL St. Charles North 2022 C 1.97-2.08
2 Travis Zdanowski MI Grand Rapids West Catholic 2021 C 2.03-2.19
3 Lucas Waunn IL Fenwick 2021 C 2.18-2.29

Naturally, Lobliner’s arm strength and above-average actions overall helped him pace this group, too. He was quick and clean on the transfer while demonstrating some soft hands upon reception. Zdanowski took some solid reps behind the plate, too, and averaged the second-lowest pop time on Monday, behind only Lobliner.

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