Prep Baseball Report

Lockport Preseason I.D.: Preview


By Diego Solares & Andy Sroka
Illinois Staff

This Monday, February 15 the PBR Illinois team is hosting the annual Lockport Preseason I.D. at the Bo Jackson Elite Sports Dome in Lockport, Ill. This is an open event for all high school classes (2021-24), and gives our staff an ample look at the area's top players.

For a closer look at the showcase details and the technologies we'll have on-site to assist our in-person evaluation for all in attendance, click here. For a complete look at those registered to attend this event, view the most up-to-date version of the roster by clicking here

EVENT HISTORY

We've been hosting this event for the past several years, and it's consistently provided us a look at prominent players who've later gone on to receive invitations to select events, like the PBR Future Games. Among the players in attendance at this event in 2020, there are already 44 commitments among them. 

There were several notable names that came out as winners from last year’s event, including RHP Tommy Boba (Wheaton Warrenville South, 2022; Cincinnati commit), who earned an invite to the PBR Future Games following his bullpen at this showcase last February.

Tommy Boba (8/2/20)

It was also at this event last year that LHP Evan Clark (IMG Academy, FL) burst onto our radars. A Chicago native, Clark has since transferred from Fenwick to IMG Academy in Florida, where he’s a high-follow prospect, still uncommitted.

Two ranked prospects in the state’s senior class stood out at this event in 2020 as well: C/RHP Cain Headrick (Providence Catholic, 2021; Lewis) and MIF Matt Santarelli (Lockport Township, 2021; Western Illinois).

We're looking forward to checking in on the next crop of talent from this event to earn next-level attention in the coming weeks, months, and years.

2021 ROSTER

This year's roster is already shaping up nicely, just like in years past.

Sophomores C Colin Barczi (Naperville Central, 2023), INF Jake Stefanos (Marist, 2023), and RHP Taylor Waldron (Marquette Academy, 2023) each stood out to us at various points last fall, and eventually at the Underclass Showcase in October. 

Barczi is a highly athletic, upside 6-foot-2, 200-pound catching prospect that’s ranked inside the state’s 2023 class. He took one of the loudest batting practice rounds at our Underclass Showcase this past October, posting an average exit speed of 88.3 mph, per TrackMan.

Colin Barczi (10/25/20)

Stefanos is a competitive, top-of-the-order type of bat that hits in a fluid gap-to-gap rhythm at the plate, all while displaying confident defensive actions up the middle. 

The upside that Waldron has on the mound is noticeable. He appears to have added some weight to his frame, now listed at 6-foot, 160 pounds. Back in October, Waldron’s fastball sat in the low-80s, touching 83 mph, so it’s intriguing to see what an offseason of work has done for the sophomore right-hander.

Making the trip down from Wisconsin is one of the state’s top-ranked members of its 2023 class: OF Ryan Drumm (Edgewood, 2023). Built at a proportionally strong 5-foot-11, 180 pounds, Drumm has one of the more all-around intriguing athletic skillsets in Wisconsin’s sophomore class. A former PBR Wisconsin Junior Future Games member, Drumm has a short, direct right-handed swing with gap-to-gap strength and the ball jumps when he finds the barrel. He’s also an above-average runner with noticeable arm strength for his age, topping out at 85 mph on his throws to home in our looks.

Here’s a couple more Illinois sophomore right-handers to know ahead of time: Anthony Martinez (Lockport Township) and Braden Smith (Byron). Martinez is a strong, sturdy right-hander with a heavy low-spin fastball that sits in the low-80s. Smith broke out in a big way at last year’s Madison Preseason I.D. and impressed again at our Badger State Battle tournament, when he struck out eight batters in six innings of work, while also sitting in the low-80s with his fastball and flashing a sharp, swing-and-miss breaking ball.

And if you’re looking for uncommitted juniors to monitor in Lockport on Monday, check in on INF Matthew Morsovillo (Sandburg), LHP Will O’Gorman (Champaign Central), 1B Sam Ruchala (Andrew), and INF Randy Seymour (Lincoln-Way East).

Morsovillo was one of the standouts from last October’s Fall Limited Series. There, he showed well as an upside 6-foot-4, 180-pound infielder that was all over the barrel throughout that tournament, working gap-to-gap with ease. 

O’Gorman emerged as a high-follow 6-foot-6, 205-pound southpaw after our Central Illinois Scout Day. He comfortably attacks the zone with a fastball that plays at 80-82 mph and mixes in a low-60s curveball that spins off a 1/7 plane. 

Andrew’s Ruchala is built at a physical 6-foot-2, 190 pounds, and he profiles as a right-handed-hitting corner infielder with power potential.

As for Seymour, he’s ranked inside the state’s top-100 prospects in its junior class. He’s a lean, lanky 6-foot-3, 170-pound shortstop with upside levers. He was one of the top infield prospects at last summer’s Class of 2022 Showcase after showing off an easy, controlled right-handed stroke that consistently works gap-to-gap.

Randy Seymour (7/15/20)

Skimming the roster, we’re set to meet many of the roster’s freshmen for the first time, and we’re eager to collect intel on the state’s 2024 class. However, there’s at least one name we’re familiar with prior to Monday: Marian Catholic’s Justyn Hart, a physical first baseman and left-handed pitcher who demonstrated power potential late last August at the 2024 Top Prospect Games.

Perusing the event roster, we’re set to meet a majority of players who’ve not yet attended a PBR showcase, and we’re eager to add more names to our follow lists.

NEW CHECK-IN PROCESS

Because of the high number of prospects set to attend this 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 smart phone 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

Due to state guidelines, and the facility's requirements, there will be a limit to the number of people inside the facility at one time. This showcase will operate in segmented groups, by position, under the format as follows: (Players registered for multiple sessions will need to leave the facility after completing their first session and arrive at the designated check-in time of their next session; parents will not be allowed inside of the facility.)

POSITION GROUPS

CHECK-IN TIMES (Note: Players registered for multiple sessions will need to LEAVE the facility after completing their first session and arrive at the designated check-in time for their next session):

+ All Infielders: 8:30 a.m.

+ All Outfielders: 10:30 a.m.

+ All Catchers: 11:15 a.m. (catchers will be counted on to stay for both pitching sessions)

+ Two-Way Pitchers: 12:15 p.m. (players registered as a position player and pitcher)

+ Pitchers-only: 1:15 p.m.

MORE EVENT DETAILS

Click here to learn more about our tech partners that have enhanced our players showcase experience. Partners like TrackMan and Blast Motion 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 mandatory during non-baseball activity. We will facilitate a contact-less check-in. Staff will wear masks throughout the event. Hand sanitizer stations will be accessible. Wear baseball clothes; assigned and numbered PBR jerseys will be provided.

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