Prep Baseball Report

Preseason I.D. - Lockport: Quick Hits


PBR Scouting Staff

The second annual Lockport Preseason I.D. event produced nearly 250 players in attendance at the Bo Jackson Elite Sports Dome in Lockport, Illinois, this past Monday. Naturally, a group that large will yield plenty of players who caught our attention. Below is a compilation of notes regarding some of the players who stood out.

Prep Baseball Report’s biggest-ever Illinois roster will require some more sifting through, so keep an eye out for further analysis in the coming weeks, but consider this list an early look at the day’s most notable takeaways.

QUICK HITS

  • Unsigned senior RHP Brandon McPherson (Marmion) showed big arm strength on Monday. The 6-foot-3, 230-pound right-hander had a downhill, hard sinking fastball that touched 91 mph, sitting 88-90 mph. To go along with his hard fastball, he showed a 12/6 curveball at 75-79 mph. McPherson will likely be one of the more coveted uncommitted senior arms this spring.

  • 2019 Jack Hansen (Lane Tech) is a 6-foot-1, 185-pound right-handed pitcher who displayed convicted secondary stuff including a 72-73 mph curveball, and an 85-86 mph fastball.

  • Another 2019 arm that jumped out was LHP Codey Quirin (Oswego). Quirin separates himself with feel for a tight 70-71 mph curveball on 1/7 plane and a sinking fastball at 82-84 mph that touches 85 mph. His lean frame and clean arm only leads to more development down the road.

  • RHP Jay Schueler (Rock Falls, 2019) finished off his ‘pen touching 86 mph. He’s a slight drop-and-drive type arm who also shows feel for an aggressive changeup at 79-81 mph.

  • 2019 RHP Jacob Karaba looks to be adding to an already solid Neuqua Valley pitching staff. Karaba has excellent command of an 85-87 mph fastball with arm side run that he peppered the bottom of the zone with. Add a straight change with feel and a short darting curveball at 73-75 mph and Karaba could catapult himself high into the rankings.

  • RHP Tristan Cazel (St. Charles North, 2019) is an arm to follow this spring. Cazel throws a cutter that acts more like a hard sweeping slider with good late action at 72-75 mph and should compliment his 83-84 mph fastball well.

  • Maybe one of the top 2020 arms in attendance was RHP Ryan Manikowski (Providence Catholic). Manikowski is only 5-foot-11, 150-pound but had a much bigger fastball and slider combination. His fastball sinks at 83-85 mph and a hard 75-76 mph slider. All from a 3/4 slot.

  • RHP Tim Rybarczyk (Lincoln-Way Central, 2019) is all of 6-foot-5, 225-pounds and his big frame is a strong follow, currently sitting 83-85 mph.

  • RHP Nathan Hardman (Normal University, 2019) kept everything at the bottom of the zone, including a hard running 83-85 mph fastball.

  • Junior Dean Procarione, a right-handed pitcher from Minooka, showed a big spike in velocity since the summer. Procarione was 78-81 mph in July and was up to 87 mph on Monday.

  • RHP Ryan Klainos (Libertyville, 2019) showed above average stuff with an 84-86 mph fastball that topped at 87 mph.

  • RHP Robert Jackman Jr. (Lincoln-Way West, 2019), unknown to our staff, came out with a big arm both from the outfield and on the mound. At 6-foot-3, 200-pounds he ranged from 83-89 mph and touched 90 mph on his last pitch.

  • RHP Jeremy Fox (Riverside-Brookfield) showed one of the better arms out of a 2021, touching 83 mph on his last pitch, sitting 79-80 mph throughout. His breaking ball showed depth and feel.

  • One of the biggest winners from the event was freshman infielder Ryan Moerman (Lockport). Moerman has the tools to be a high-level middle infield defender. Advanced, natural infield actions; confident defender, soft hands, throws from multiple angles and plays with feel. Offensively, natural lift in his swing and shows feel for the barrel.

  • Lincoln-Way East juniors Cameron Lee and Ryan Ritter were two of the more intriguing infielders in attendance. Ritter has advanced infield actions, soft hands and a lightning quick transfer at times. Lee is long and lean at 6-foot-2, 160-pounds, ranges well on the infield and maintains body control on the move. Both have loose, athletic, projectable right-handed swings.

  • Left-handed hitting MIF Patrick McCabe (Morris, 2019) looked confident in the box and sprayed line-drives to all fields. Smooth defender with soft hands and an accurate arm.

  • 3B Luke Fiantago (Prairie Ridge, 2019) had a good all around day on the infield. At the plate he impressed with a loose, easy swing, present bat speed and routinely barreled baseballs to all fields. On the infield he has a strong arm with carry to his throws at 85 mph.

  • Another infielder with an easy, strong, right-handed swing was Brody Macak (Monticello, 2019). Macak made a lot of hard contact and worked gap-to-gap.

  • 2020 infielder Nick Serr (Minooka) made an impression at his first PBR showcase. Natural infield defender, fluid footwork, soft hands and made the run through play look easy. At the plate, Serr stays within himself, stays short to the ball and works the middle of the field.

  • Two 2021 infielders to follow moving forward are Gavin Arseneau (Oswego) and Jayden Gonzalez (De La Salle). Arseneau currently lacks strength but has a simple, handsy, repeatable swing at the plate. Gonzalez profiles as a third base type with a simple swing, fast bat and worked the middle of the field in BP.

  • L/L OF Max Rundberg III (Chicago Bulls College Prep, 2020) is a high-ceiling prospect with a loose athletic frame. He’s a natural defender with an above-average arm in the outfield and loose fluid hands at the plate that work gap to gap.

  • Stevenson’s Isiah Hart (2019) is a physical 6-foot-1, 190-pound outfielder who showed well at the plate with strong hands and above average bat speed. Hart also ran a 6.98.

  • Tony Mosher (Plainfield South, 2019) is a strong, stocky 5-foot-9, 205-pound outfielder. Mosher showed a plus arm from the outfield at 91 mph along with pop in his right-handed bat.

  • Jack Jonota (Stevenson, 2019) is a premium receiver with soft hands and posted some of the better pop times on the day, he’s a high-energy receiver who has a lot of presence behind the dish.

  • Sam LaBarbera (Metea Valley, 2019) is a left-handed hitting catcher with an above-average bat and posted a 2.00 pop time.

  • Catcher Carter Stubitz (Neuqua Valley, 2020) had an advanced approach at the plate, he showed loose hands that made hard contact. Defensively his arm showed carry and athletic feet.

  • Marist catcher Jonny Crowel (2021) showed strong tools and projection across the board, a follow in the 2021 class.

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