Prep Baseball Report

IL Preseason All-State - Upperclass: Preview


By: Diego Solares
Associate Scout, Staff Writer

This Saturday, Feb. 26th, the PBR Illinois staff will host the Preseason All-State: Upperclass event at The MAX in McCook, IL. This is an invitation-only event that features the top juniors across the state. Every year the Preseason All-State Showcase highlights the “Who’s Who” of the junior class. This event is limited and exclusive to the top prospects in Illinois and serves as a springboard as you enter the high school season.

For more information about the Preseason All-State event, including which players from the Illinois’ 2023 class will be in attendance, click HERE.

EVENT HISTORY

We’ve seen the state’s top prospects during their junior seasons on a year-to-year basis since we first ran the Preseason All-State showcase back in 2012. Last year’s event was a successful one, featuring 94 college commits in total and a multitude of Division I signees as well.

Six of the state’s top-15 prospects from the 2022 class participated in this event last year and each of them represented Illinois at the Super 60 a few weeks ago: RHP/INF Owen Murphy (Riverside-Brookfield; Notre Dame), OF Brendan Summerhill (Whitney Young; Arizona), RHP Ethan Patera (Downers Grove South; Louisville), INF Estevan Moreno (Montini Catholic; Notre Dame), INF/OF Luke Adams (Hinsdale Central; Michigan State) and SS Shai Robinson (Homewood-Flossmoor; Illinois State).

There were several highly-touted names in the state’s current senior class in attendance at last year’s event, which you can find by clicking HERE.

2022 ROSTER

Per usual, this year’s roster is scattered with upper-echelon talent throughout. Below are a handful of names, both position players and pitchers, that are heading to The MAX on Saturday.

POSITION PLAYERS

Bryer Arview SS / 2B / Civic Memorial, IL / 2023

From 9/8/2021: "...climbs up 15 spots from our previous list, up to the No. 37 overall spot on our updated board. An athletic 6-foot-1, 170-pound left-handed hitter, Arview earned himself a spot on Team Illinois at this year’s PBR Future Games after a strong showing at the All-State Games in late June. He’s a 6.79 runner with athletic, sure-handed actions on the infield dirt that should help him stick at shortstop in the long run, all while profiling as a potential top-of-the-order left-handed hitter that’s comfortable working to all fields. "

Jaden Correa SS / 2B / De La Salle, IL / 2023

From 9/9/2021: "...slotted in at No. 32 overall in the state. Correa’s strong showing at the PBR at The Rock 16U Championships in Wisconsin this summer helped earn him an invite to the PBR Future Games where he made the most of the opportunity. He put together an impressive all-around performance, standing out during the initial Workout Day, and he went on to earn the MVP honor for Team Illinois’ in the first game in which he slugged a home run. At 6-foot, 176 pounds, Correa has a loose, athletic body, fluidness to his overall game and a flair for making the highlight reel play. He should have a chance to continue to move up the Illinois board as he gains consistency to his defensive play. "

Cooper Cohn C / RHP / McHenry, IL / 2023

From 2/15/2022: "...put together one of the top all-around performances of the day. The two-way prospect took a loud round of BP, showing quick, strong hands and consistently driving baseballs to both gaps with authority. Cohn averaged 89.6 mph off the bat, max of 96.2, as evidence of this. Defensively, he has a highly advanced skill set behind the plate, starting with his arm strength.  He consistently registered sub-2.00 pop times, with his best coming in at 1.83.  His exchange is lightning quick and his hands play quiet and soft. His throws topped at 82 mph while playing on-line, with carry and accuracy to the right side of the bag. That arm strength carries over to the mound where he profiles as a dynamic bullpen piece with a four-pitch mix. Cohn’s fastball sat 87-88 mph (average spin rate of 2,222 rpm) while showing two high-spin breaking balls; his curveball spun at nearly 2,500 rpm on average in the upper-70s, while his slider averaged 78.2 mph, spinning at 2,415 rpm. This was a particularly strong two-way showing by one of Illinois' most interesting uncommitted juniors."

Christian Graves 3B / RHP / Jacobs, IL / 2023

From 2/15/2022: "...continues to show well as one of the more physical bats still uncommitted in the 2023 class. The broad-chested, 6-foot-2, 210-pound right-handed hitter, has a determined look in the box, takes aggressive, intentful swings and rattled the cage when his swing synced up. Graves led the event with a max exit velocity of 99.4 mph while registering a hard-hit rate of 66 percent. On top of that, Graves recorded the second highest average bat speed at McHenry, measured at 77.6 mph."

Kaden Griffitts OF / LHP / Williamsville , IL / 2023

From 3/27/2021:

Positional Profile: OF/LHP
Body: 5-10, 175-pounds. Athletic frame.
Hit: LHH. Balanced setup, short stride, simple pre-pitch actions. Short, whippy swing, strong, level bat path, barrel control, creates backspin, consistent hard contact, line drives, pull-side tendencies, advanced round of BP.
Power: 93.31 max exit velocity, averaged 86.84 mph. 336’ max distance.
Arm: LH. OF - 87 mph. Short arm action, high 3/4 arm slot, throws flash carry.
Defense: Steady outfield actions, hands play out front, clean exchanges, plays through the ball with athleticism.
Run: 6.97 runner in the 60. Above average runner.

Riley Iffrig 1B / Edwardsville, IL / 2023

From 9/28/2021:

Positional Profile: 1B
Body: 6-3, 184-pounds. Athletic build with evenly distributed strength throughout.
Hit: L. Starts in a relaxed setup, creates separation during load, leg-kick timing trigger, hangs foot into a short stride.  Quick barrel to the ball with an uphill path, drops back shoulder to help initiate lift, loose arms throughout the swing with consistent hard contact, produced a max EV of 95.6 mph with a max distance of 342'.
Power: 95.6 max exit velocity,
Run: 7.52 runner in the 60.

Tony Konopiots 3B / SS / Downers Grove North, IL / 2023

From 9/28/2021: "...One of the more intriguing prospects during the workout portion of the event. Konopiots has a 6-foot-1, 185-pound, wide-shouldered, athletic frame that continues to get better on every look. Konopiots took a polished round of BP, showing off advanced ease and balance at the plate while repeating his swing at a high-level. Konopiots peppered both gaps throughout his rounds of BP with a max exit velocity of 94 mph. The swing is currently built to work gap-to-gap with plenty of power to tap into moving forward. Defensively, he is a smooth, actiony defender with the ability to play all over the infield. High-follow 2023 prospect."

Zachary Kwasny 3B / RHP / Lincoln-Way East, IL / 2023

From 9/30/2021: "...Kwasny is another arrow-up offensive prospect on this Top Tier Americans 17U squad, as the 6-foot-4, 210-pound physical specimen continued to drive balls with authority at our PBR at The Rock Fall Championships. He routinely showed impact-type contact off the barrel, and controls his levers well to stay short through the zone given his size. The relative ease that Kwasny produces hard contact with is what has him penciled in as another middle-of-the-order type bat at the next level."

Bryce Nevils C / OF / Brother Rice, IL / 2023

From 1/29/2022: "Uncommitted, 6-foot-1, 188-pound, athletic frame with advanced strength in his lower half. Worked out behind the plate and in the outfield. Possesses some of the softest, receptive hands from behind the plate, in the class. Highly-advanced receiver with clean, athletic actions and plays directional out of the crouch. Arm played over the top from the crouch and topped at 74 mph with a low pop time of 1.95. Caught our attention with his round of outfield defense. Active, quick feet, proper routes, got behind the baseball and looked natural despite being fairly new to the position. Played through the baseball athletically and showed off a quicker, stronger arm than he did behind the plate. From the outfield, his arm played quick and quick while his throws played with true four-seam carry, were consistently on the target and topped at 86 mph. At the plate, right-handed hitter has quick, strong hands and keeps the barrel flat and through the hitting zone a long time. Nevils was on the barrel with authority (65% sweet spot percentage) of his swings which was fourth-best of the event. Nevils averaged 82.7 mph off the bat and his furthest batted ball travelled 342 feet. One of the top uncommitted prospects in the Illinois’ 2023 class."

Ryan Niedzwiedz SS / 2B / West Aurora, IL / 2023

From 6/29/2021:

Positional Profile: SS
Body: 6-foot, 180-pounds. Athletic frame.
Hit: LHH. Even setup, weight loaded on backside, leg kick trigger, short stride. Loose, repeatable swing, quick hands, short, level path, consistently on time/on barrel, advanced round of BP, gap-to-gap approach, line drives.
Power: 96.34 max exit velocity, averaged 89.36 mph. 284’ max distance.
Arm: RH. INF - 90 mph. Short, loose arm action, high 3/4 arm slot, strong throws carry across infield, best infield velocity at the event.
Defense: Sure-handed, fields with two hands, funnels to center, plays with proper direction, flashed ability to change arm angles and play on the move.
Run: 7.28 runner in the 60. 

Adam Schilz SS / RHP / Warren , IL / 2023

From 6/29/2021:

Positional Profile: SS
Body: 6-foot-2, 175-pounds. Lean, athletic, upside frame.
Hit: LHH. Athletic, balanced setup, quiet pre-pitch actions. Short, loose levered swing, creates easy bat speed, effortless pop, path works slightly uphill, looks to make contact out front, consistently on barrel, gap-to-gap line drives.
Power: 94.85 max exit velocity, averaged 89.06 mph. 360’ max distance.
Arm: RH. INF - 80 mph. Long arm action, high 3/4 arm slot.
Defense: Steady hands, quick exchange at times, plays through ball toward target.
Run: 7.15 runner in the 60.

Lucas Smith OF / 3B / Nazareth, IL / 2023

From 9/30/2021: "...Smith’s knack for making contact and pure bat-to-ball skills are evident, as we’ve now seen him hit on multiple occasions this calendar year. He’s a strong, compact 5-foot-11, 185-pound athlete with a short swing that stays on plane through the zone, making for a steady line drive type of offensive profile. He looks the part of an everyday top-of-the-order type on offense."

Troy Stukenberg SS / 2B / Lyons Township, IL / 2023

From 2/13/2022: "..Perhaps the day’s biggest winner and put up a truly impressive performance in all facets. Built at a strong, compact 5-foot-9, 175-pounds, Stukenberg cruised to an event-high 6.63 in the 60-yard dash to start his day. He checked several boxes on the offensive side, showcasing loose athletic hands and a consistent plane through the zone. Stukenberg’s hardest hit ball left his barrel at 98.5 mph and he made hard contact throughout, as evidenced by his 94.2 mph average exit velocity and 88.9% hard-hit rate (percentage of batted balls with exit velocities over 95 mph). He stood out amongst a quality infield crop defensively, working with ease across the diamond with an advanced feel for his body’s actions and an arm that reached an 86 mph high, too. It was a positive start to the season for Stukenberg and this event certainly helped enhance his prospect status."

Trey Swiderski OF / 1B / Joliet Catholic , IL / 2023

From 4/14/2021: "...Fits the mold of many of the talented midwest Louisville commits elite athleticism and the combination of speed and power. At 6-foot-2, 195-pounds, the frame is impressive and the movement patterns that it produces are both smooth and efficient. The right-handed hitter flows through a natural, fluid load that allows him to gain ground through impact while letting quick hands guide the barrel through the zone. He has present pull side power (104 mph exit velocity) that should only continue to increase in coming years, along with 6.8-speed and a 93 mph arm from the outfield. Swiderski is a dynamic athlete with one of the highest ceilings in the class."

Johnny Wendling C / 3B / St. Laurence , IL / 2023

From 3/29/2021: "...Made a strong impression at his first-ever PBR event. Wendling has a strong 5-foot-11, 200-pound compact frame and it directly translates into his right-handed swing. Wendling stays short to the ball, repeats his swing well, and generates easy bat speed and strength. Wendling routinely was on the barrel, driving the ball into the backside gap while covering both sides of the plate. Wendling recorded a peak exit velocity of 94.7 mph off the bat, and a 87.6 mph average."


PITCHERS

Logan Barnett RHP / C / Pontiac, IL / 2023

From 6/29/2021:

Positional Profile: RHP/C
Body: 6-foot-4, 230-pounds. Ultra-physical frame with strength attached throughout.
Delivery: Drop/drive type delivery, stacks weight onto back quad, high front side, works in line to target with an intentful finish through release. Fast tempoed worker, repeats.
Arm Action: RH. Shorter, compact arm action that works from an over-the-top slot.
FB: T87, 84-87 mph. Plays firm as it enters the zone, lively in upper quadrants. Mostly straight action, occasionally cuts it.  T2173, 1974 average rpm.
CB: 70-72 mph. Knuckle-curve type, 12/6 shape. Swing-and-miss upside.  T1949, 1842 average rpm.
CH: 79-80 mph. Minimal usage, thrown from a higher slot on average than fastball, straight action.

Adam Behrens RHP / 2B / Warren Township, IL / 2023

From 9/9/2021: "...was one of the biggest winners this summer and parlayed it into a trip to the Future Games to throw for Team Illinois. All Behrens seemed to do this summer is pound the strike zone, miss barrels and win baseball games. The 6-foot-3, 200-pound, wide-shouldered right-hander showed much of the same at the Future Games, pounding the zone with a heavy fastball that seems to get on hitters at 84-87 mph. Behrens also has the ability to throw his curveball and changeup in any count, making it a tough at-bat for hitters and giving him a starter profile moving forward. Behrens features one of the highest floors of any arm still on the market in Illinois. Behrens jumps over 40 spots, up to No. 23 in the class."

Michael Belbot RHP / 3B / Stevenson, IL / 2023

From 2/13/2022: "...is another right-hander who walked away from Saturday's showcase as a big winner. Belbot has a well-proportioned 6-foot-1, 180-pound frame with a clean arm that works from a high ¾ slot. Belbot’s running fastball never dipped below 88 mph, reaching an 89 high on his best bullet, cruising at 2,291 rpm on average. The right-hander opted for a sharp slider a as his go-to secondary, clocked in the 74-75 mph range while spinning at an average of 2,630 rpm, showing depth with 11/5 shape and kept primarily down in the zone and thrown with arm-speed. Belbot also showed some feel for a changeup in the 82-83 mph range, mostly straight, but thrown for strikes at times. The uncommitted right-hander should continue to make impressive strides in the coming years and is definitely an arm to follow this spring."

Breyan Brooks LHP / OF / Homewood-Flossmoor , IL / 2023

From 9/9/2021: "...recently attended our White Sox Ace Scout Day and continued to show big strides to his overall game, ultimately earning himself a spot on our updated rankings list. The 6-foot, 185-pound Brooks pounded the zone with an 84-86 mph fastball in his ‘pen, reaching an 87 mph high from the left side. He mixed in a sharp mid-60s curveball with depth that flashed swing-and-miss spin off a 1/7 plane and also threw his changeup at arm speed, spotting it down in the zone."

Jack Duncan RHP / 3B / Macomb, IL / 2023

From 6/29/2021:

Positional Profile: RHP/3B
Body: 6-foot-1, 190-pounds. Strong, sturdy frame, defined lower half.
Delivery: Stretch only, tall/fall type delivery, athletic at balance point, level front side throughout. Hands separate on time, advanced hip/shoulder separation at front footstrike, works in line to target throughout. Fluid, easy all-around operation.
Arm Action: RH. Long arm action, high 3/4 slot.
FB: T88, 82-87 mph. Four-seam type with mostly straight action, firm as it enters the zone.  T2400, 2192 average rpm.
SL: 72-74 mph. 10/4 shape, slight lateral action, landed for strikes.  T2253, 2186 average rpm.

Lleyton Grubich LHP / OF / McHenry , IL / 2023

From 2/15/2022: "...came away a winner at Saturday’s event, showing off impressive feel for a lively three-pitch mix. The athletic 6-foot-1, 185-pound southpaw works with a smooth drop/drive lower-half down the mound, creating easy power while remaining in-line to the plate. From a fluid ¾ arm slot, Grubich worked his fastball up to 87 mph (2,231 rpm high) with hard arm-side sink (-16.8 inches on average), all while filling up the zone. He went to a short breaking ball in the 78-80 mph range, kept down in the zone with 2/8 shape, also thrown for strikes consistently. The lefty finished off his repertoire with a unique high-spin changeup that played off his typical fastball arm speed and dove late to the bottom of the zone, again thrown for strikes."

Tommy Haggerty RHP / RHP / Homewood-Flossmoor, IL / 2023

From 9/8/2021: "...is a polished right-hander who is highly competitive on the mound – and that combination earned him some quality varsity innings for a strong Vikings club this past spring. Haggerty carried over his impressive sophomore season into the summer, where he seemed to earn the win each time he took the ball. The 6-foot-2, 190-pound, high-waisted, upside right-hander goes right at hitters, pitching mainly off his fastball (T86 mph) that he can command to both sides of the plate. Haggerty also has the ability to land his breaking ball for a strike in any count. This Homewood-Flossmoor righty should continue to see his stock rise if he can turn his breaking ball into a swing-and-miss offering moving forward. He's an upside uncommitted arm in the ‘23 class to know, now ranked at No. 53."

Joseph Martin RHP / SS / Newark, IL / 2023

From 10/14/2021: "...solidified our preconceived notions of him with an impressive showing. The 6-foot-1, 170-pound right-hander bumped his fastball up to 87 mph, sitting at 85-86 mph throughout. Martin’s fastball characteristics are extremely analytically friendly, as he averaged roughly 19 inches of vertical break from a low release angle (4.71 ft. average) naturally creating upward vertical carry through the zone. Martin ripped off his mid-70s slider with fastball conviction and threw his changeup at arm speed, killing spin and averaging 17.6 inches of horizontal movement."

Bennett Musser RHP / OF / Mundelein, IL / 2023

From 3/13/2021:

Positional Profile: RHP/OF
Body: 6-1, 175-pounds.
Delivery: Stretch only with some effort, works in line, lands squared, finishes upright.
Arm Action: RH. Short loose arm action, quick arm speed, high 3/4 slot.
FB: T88, 87-88 mph. Late arm-side movement. T2287, 2169 average rpm.
CB: 73-76 mph. 11/5 break, fastball like arm speed, thrown for strikes. T2328, 2239 average rpm.
CH: 74-76 mph. Fading action, near fastball arm speed. T2166, 1628 average rpm.

Jacob O'Day INF / RHP / Normal Community, IL / 2023

From 6/20/2021:

Positional Profile: SS/3B Advanced athlete on the mound with an upside arsenal.
Body: 6-foot-2, 165-pounds. Lean, lanky levers, high-waisted frame.
Delivery: Twitchy uptempo delivery, some drop/drive action downhill. Whippy hip/shoulder separation at footstrike, works in line to target, upright finish through release. Throws with effort.
Arm Action: RH. Short and loose arm action, high 3/4 slot. Advanced arm speed for age.
FB: T85, 82-84 mph. Plays with natural arm-side action, averaged 13.6 inches of horizontal movement.  T2247, 2171 average rpm.
CB: 66-70 mph. 11/5 shape.  T2161, 2120 average rpm.
SL: 68-69 mph. Thrown with more intent and conviction than curveball. More lateral action, spin projects.  T2171, 2167 average rpm.
CH: 74-76 mph. Maintains near fastball arm speed while releasing from a lower slot on average. Occasional late fading action, some strikes. 

Gavin Parkerson RHP / 3B / Armstrong , IL / 2023

From 12/10/2021: "...led the 16U Illinois Braves by throwing four strong innings and he struck out nine while allowing only one run. Parkerson is a compact athlete who reaches above-average velocity with a clear ease, and he showed the feel to dial the fastball’s velo up and down when necessary – up to 88 mph in the first, coasting in the mid-80s otherwise, as it was all he need to earn swings and misses at the top of the zone. He also utilizes a breaking ball that flashed sharp 11/5 action that he landed for strikes frequently. Offensively, Parkerson’s a right-handed hitter with a smooth, fluid swing, and he showed off the ability to use the entire field by smashing a triple off the right field fence, and launching a homer to his pull-side later in the game."

Grant Tenuta RHP / Sandburg, IL / 2023

From 5/5/2021: "...uncommitted, currently ranked No. 29 in Illinois. 6-foot-1, 188-pounds, right-handed pitcher with a strong lower half. Simple tall-and-fall delivery, works uptempo, shoulders remain level, works in line with home. Compact arm action, above-average arm speed, high 3/4 slot. Features one of the stronger arms in the state for a 2023. Fastball sat 85-87 mph, touched 89, late hop and jump through the zone at times; scattered control in this outing. Showed a 12/6 curveball, flashed depth at times, sat 64-66 mph. Also, rounded out his three-pitch mix with a sinking changeup at 72-73 mph. Went four innings and struck out four against Lincoln-Way West."

Vince Waterman LHP / Homewood-Flossmoor, IL / 2023

From 5/30/2021: "...Kent State commmit, currently ranked 32 in Illinois, 6-foot, 180-pound, athletically built, left handed pitcher.  Very competitive demeanor on the mound, will challenge hitters with his fastball. Balanced delivery; arm action is quick and loose; delivers from a high ¾; ball jumps out of his hand with late-life down in the zone. He features a fastball with arm-side-sink and tops out at 87 mph.  Secondary pitches include above-average changeup that tops out at 79mph and sinks when it’s down in the zone.Developing curveball sits 71-73mph. High Follow 2023 Left-handed pitcher."

Charlie Wolf RHP / SS / St. Ignatius, IL / 2023

From 9/8/2021: "...Wolf, up almost 20 spots to No. 38 overall in the state's '23 class, has an athletic, 6-foot-1, 170-pound frame, loose arm action and above-average spin rate metrics which indicate he could continue to see his velocity spike in the coming years. Wolf reached an 88 mph high with his fastball this summer, spinning it at a rate ranging between 2,400-2,500 rpm typically, fit starter profile traits that includes a three-pitch mix. His best secondary offering is currently a low-70s curveball with depth and tight spin, measured at 2,313 rpm on average at the Future Games."

Drew Zemaitis RHP / 1B / Providence Catholic, IL / 2023

Athletic, broad-shouldered, 6-foot-2, 185-pound frame. Came out of the bullpen in the final game of the Limited Series. Smooth operator, athletic and comfortable on the mound, delivery is repeatable, fluid and works with minimal effort. Seemingly having a game of catch on the mound. Everything comes out of the hand clean and easy. Fastball plays with arm-side-run, late jump through the zone, sat 80-81 mph; was 82-85 mph at the PBR Midwest Fall Championship. Slider is an advanced offering, 69-70 mph, 10/4 shape, tight spin, late two-plane action, (2384 RPM; has been 2500+). Showed a curveball, 11/5 shape, depth. High-follow 2023 right-handed pitcher.
Final Line: 3 IP, H, 3 K


CHECK-IN PROCESS

Because of the high number of prospects set to attend Saturday's event, it is imperative that you read our adjusted showcase itinerary below, which will allow our staff to swiftly and efficiently educate and evaluate the players set to attend.

Additionally, in an effort to continue and develop contactless check-in strategies, upon arrival, players will scan a QR Code with their smartphone camera that will lead them to a Google Form. On that Form, players will enter their name (matching the spelling on their PBR profile) and hit submit. Upon submission, players will be prompted to click a link that will direct them to their jersey color and number, located next to their registered name.

ITINERARY

+ Check-in Times:

  • All Position Players: 12:30 pm

  • All Pitchers-only: 2:00 pm

  • Catchers will stay for both sessions.

*Times subject to change


MORE DETAILS 

Click here to learn more about our tech partners that have enhanced our players showcase experience. Partners like TrackMan, Blast Motion, and Vizual Edge have helped both our in-event evaluation process, as well the compilation of our post-event scouting reports – and they're also a tool for our players to learn more about their measured and collected data, that can be applied to improve upon their game.

Finally, masks are strongly encouraged during non-baseball activity. We will facilitate a contact-less check-in. Staff will wear masks throughout the event. Wear baseball clothes; assigned and numbered PBR jerseys will be provided. 

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