Prep Baseball Report

St. Louis Open: Statistical Analysis


Diego Solares
Staff Writer, Associate Scout

On Wednesday, June 16th, PBR Illinois and PBR Missouri combined to run the St. Louis Open at GCS Ballpark, home of the Gateway Grizzlies in Sauget, IL. This event was opened to all members of the 2022-to-2025 high school graduating classes and served as an identifier for future invite only events across the two states.

Shortly after the event we published our Quick Hits piece that shined some light on those who showed well throughout the day. We’ll continue our post-event coverage by rolling out our traditional stat story today and taking a look at some numerical standouts. Throughout the week week we’ll continue to unveil some of the data collected from this event with the help of our partners at TrackMan and Blast Motion, so be on the lookout for that.

+ RHP Drew Petska (Carterville, 2022) emerged as a high-follow uncommitted arm in the Illinois’ junior class following this event. Petska comfortably led the pack in max fastball velocity, bumping his fastball up to 92 mph while sitting in the 88-91 mph range throughout.

+ Two members of the 2023 class showed promising arm strength on the mound, each topping at 85 mph with their fastballs: RHP Sam Cardwell (Desmet, MO) and RHP Evan Davis (Waterloo).

+ 6-foot-4, 180-pound OF Shannon Cross (Wentzville Holt, MO, 2022) showed off next-level athleticism by running a 6.64 in the 60-yard dash, the fastest of the entire event. Cross recorded the third-hardest max throwing velocity from the outfield at 81 mph as well.

+ C Clayton Chandler (North County, MO, 2022) is a strong 6-foot, 215-pound athlete with some physical tools that translated to his on-field workout. Chandler led all the catcher’s in throwing velocity, topping at 79 mph from the crouch, and also recorded the hardest-hit ball of the day, squaring one up at 98 mph during his BP round.

+ Left/left OF Daniel Darin (Gibault Catholic, IL, 2023) showed off some intriguing tools attached to a wiry 5-foot-8, 175-pound frame. The uncommitted sophomore led the event in throwing velocity from the outfield by three ticks, reaching back for an 86 mph bullet during his defensive workout. He translated that arm strength to the mound, topping at 84 mph on his fastball from the left side. Darin showed some bat strength at the plate as well, barreling his best batted ball up at 93 mph, the second-hardest hit ball of the day. 

TOP 60-YARD DASH

Rank Name State School Class Pos 60-yard
1 Shannon Cross MO Wentzville Holt 2022 OF 6.64
2 Grant Dotson MO Jackson 2023 2B 6.93
3 Nicholas Janik IL Columbia 2023 OF 7.04
4 Brock Bacus IL Normal Community 2022 SS 7.06
5 Kenny Taylor IL Quincy Senior 2022 OF 7.08
6 Connor Mendell MO Fort Zumwalt South 2024 C 7.12
7 Parker Price IL Eldorado 2023 LHP 7.13
8 Kaleb Julian MO Glendale 2024 RHP 7.15

MAX FASTBALL VELOCITY

Rank Name State School Class Pos Max FB
1 Drew Pestka IL Carterville 2022 RHP 92 mph
2 Dylan Bates MO Fort Zumwalt West 2022 RHP 85 mph
^ Evan Davis IL Waterloo 2023 SS 85 mph
^ Sam Cardwell MO Desmet 2023 RHP 85 mph
3 Daniel Darin IL Gibault Catholic 2023 OF 84 mph
4 Jeffrey Fearnley MO Francis Howell Central 2022 RHP 83 mph
5 Clayton Chandler MO North County 2022 C 82 mph
6 Parker Price IL Eldorado 2023 LHP 80 mph
^ Kaleb Julian MO Glendale 2024 RHP 80 mph
7 John Hilpert IL Belleville West 2025 RHP 79 mph

MAX EXIT VELOCITY

Rank Name State School Class Pos Exit Velo
1 Clayton Chandler MO North County 2022 C 98
2 Daniel Darin IL Gibault Catholic 2023 OF 93
3 Dylan Bates MO Fort Zumwalt West 2022 RHP 92
^ Mekhai Gover MO University City 2023 C 92
^ Connor House IL Roxana 2022 1B 92
4 Evan Davis IL Waterloo 2023 SS 91
5 Drake Wittenbrink IL Columbia 2023 1B 90
^ Nick Hooper MO Grain Valley 2022 1B 90
^ Michael Politte MO Lindbergh 2024 SS 90

MAX INFIELD VELOCITY

Rank Name State School Class Pos INF Velo
1 Brock Bacus IL Normal Community 2022 SS 78
^ Sam Cardwell MO Desmet 2023 RHP 78
^ Dylan Bates MO Fort Zumwalt West 2022 RHP 78
2 Evan Davis IL Waterloo 2023 SS 76
^ Alex Connoyer IL Quincy Notre Dame 2023 3B 76
^ Michael Politte MO Lindbergh 2024 SS 76

MAX OUTFIELD VELOCITY

Rank Name State School Class Pos OF Velo
1 Daniel Darin IL Gibault Catholic 2023 OF 86
2 Parker Price IL Eldorado 2023 LHP 83
3 Shannon Cross MO Wentzville Holt 2022 OF 81
4 John Hilpert IL Belleville West 2025 RHP 78

MAX CATCHER VELOCITY

Rank Name State School Class Pos C Velo
1 Clayton Chandler MO North County 2022 C 79
2 Brayden Biggs IL Belleville West 2023 C 76
3 Alex Connoyer IL Quincy Notre Dame 2023 3B 73

TOP POP TIMES

Rank Name State School Class Pos Pop Time
1 Donald Timon IL Mascoutah 2023 C 2.00-2.12
2 Clayton Chandler MO North County 2022 C 2.03-2.15
3 Alex Connoyer IL Quincy Notre Dame 2023 3B 2.12-2.20
4 Brayden Biggs IL Belleville West 2023 C 2.14-2.21

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

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