The second annual Top Prospect Games - St. Louis, took place Tuesday, June 5th. The event brought together some of the top uncommitted 2019’s from Missouri and Illinois to SIU-Edwardsville. The event consisted of a showcase in the morning and games in the afternoon with 25 colleges in attendance.

A number of the players in attendance helped elevate their stock heading into the summer months. Today we take a quick look at some notable performances from the event.

ILLINOIS 2018’s

ARMS

+ Quite possibly the biggest riser of the event was RHP Andrew Pogue (Dunlap). Pogue who is every bit of 6-foot-4, has a quick, whippy arm and live fastball. The long and lean right-hander sat 88-90 mph (mostly 90) and touched 91 in his two innings of work. He was able to hold the velocity from the stretch and mixed in an improved breaking ball at 73-74 mph.

+ Another right-hander to keep an eye on moving forward is Ryan Rhoda (Prairie Central). Rhoda, listed at 6-foot-4, 180-pounds has a clean arm, ran his fastball up to 87 mph and flashed a swing-and-miss curveball at 73-76 mph.

+ LHP Cameron Edmonson (Rochester) carried over his impressive spring season into his two-inning stint at the event. The quick-armed lefty sat 86-88 mph and flashed two offspeed pitches with advanced action.

+ Jack Sauser (Normal U-High) is a 6-foot-6 right-hander with a high ceiling. Sauser pitched downhill with a fastball that sat 85-86 mph, touching 87. He also mixed in a firm slider that flashed short, late break at 77-80 mph.

+ Nate Sammer (Leroy) is a 6-foot-2 right-hander who topped at 86 mph.

LEFT-HANDED BATS

+ OF Kyle Hetherington (Crystal Lake South) had a big day. The left/left outfielder showed a loose, quick swing in batting practice and it translated to game play. Hetherington hit the only home run of the day, a deep drive to right field and later delivered a two-strike single to left on a tough left/left matchup.

+ INF’s Bobby Wisz (Lemont) and Patrick McCabe (Morris), have wiry, athletic frames, can handle the bat from the left-side and should be able to stick on the infield.

+ CF Parker Mathieson (Normal U-High) has quick-twitch in his swing and looks natural in the outfield despite only recently making it his primary position.

INFIELDERS

+ INF Josh Ohl (Edwardsville) is a steady defender with athletic actions and works through the baseball. Offensively, Ohl has a simple overall approach, controls the barrel and flashed quick-twitch.

+ INF Ben Schuler (Pontiac) has a strong, durable frame, is sure handed on the infield and made consistent, hard contact in his round of BP.

+ 3B Ethan Burgh (Prospect) and Cameron Bufford (Marian Catholic) impressed with their all-around abilities. Burgh has soft hands, a strong arm (86 mph) and worked gap-to-gap in BP. Bufford has a highly-athletic frame, reliable hands and a simple swing with bat speed. Bufford made a lot of hard contact in game.

MISSOURI 2018’S

+ Missouri catchers was one of the highlights from the event, with accurate throws, quick pop times and strong arm strength.  Max Stuart (Kirksville) topped the velo list at 79 mph, while Hyrum Bishop(Montgomery County) added a 77 mph velo.  John Stallcup (Webster Groves) posted the best pop time of the event at 2.00-seconds, with several others under 2.05-seconds. Cole Christman (Fort Zumwalt West) topped all catchers with a 90 mph exit velo.  

+ Jake Grauberger (Lee’s Summit West) showed off some impressive strength at the plate and in the field.  He was as high as 94 mph with his exit velo and posted an 87 mph positional velocity.

+ Twins Jake and Derek Beauchamp (Raymore Peculiar) impressed on the mound.  Both with similar lean builds with high upside, had clean arm actions and command of all pitches.  Jake was as high as 84 mph, while Derek was up to 87 mph, the top velos among Show-Me pitchers.

+ LHP Aaron Schromm (Parkway South) has a slender build with a loose high 3/4 arm slot.  He was 81-83 mph, touching 84 mph.

+ Joseph Daneff (Park Hill) posted the top infield velo among Missouri infielders with an 81 mph throw across the infield.  He has a streamlined build with room to add strength. 

+ Nico Hagen (Vianney) showed smooth actions at SS with a clean exchange and accurate throws at 80 mph.  

+ Several Missouri players showed well during hitting evals.  Zachry Hanlan (St. Joseph Central) posted a 93 mph exit velocity and showed power to his pull gap, while Ryan Frazier (Fort Zumwalt North), and  Adam Lewis (Francis Howell Central) posted a 92 mph or better exit velo.  Four others had a 90 mph or better exit velocity.

List of Schools in Attendance:

Bradley, Central Missouri, Concordia - Chicago, Concordia - Wisconsin, DePauw University, Eastern Illinois, Evansville, Greenville, Illinois Central College, John A. Logan, Kaskaskia, Lake Land JC, Lewis University, Lindenwood-Belleville, Missouri S&T, Quincy, Rend Lake JC, SEMO, Southeastern CC, SIU, SIU-Edwardsville, Illinois-Springfield, Valparaiso, Webster, Western Illinois

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