The Underclass Invitational is one of Illinois’ most highly anticipated events on the PBR Illinois showcase calendar. The invitation-only event for the state’s top 2022 and 2023 prospects was held on Feb. 16, at The MAX in McCook, Ill. Over 110 of Illinois’ best freshman and sophomores represented themselves at the sold-out event.

As expected, this was an absolutely loaded event that yielded to us a brand new crop of underclass talent to follow as they continue maturing and developing at the high school level. Soon following the event we released early analysis with our Quick Hits and Statistical Analysis. 

Today we continue the roll-out of our position-by-position breakdown of the event, with a look at the 2023 arms in attendance. One of the biggest riser’s from the event RHP/INF Ryan Hussey (Providence Catholic) leads the talented crop of freshman arms. Hussey, an athletically-built, right-hander has an easy, athletic and quick arm that sat 81-82 mph, touching 83 and projects for much more velocity to come as he fills out that 5-foot-11, 160-pound frame. He also mixed in a curveball with depth on an 11/5 plane as well as a deceptive changeup with feel down in the zone. 

Right behind Hussey was another talented, athletically-built right-hander, Andrew Ressler (Huntley). Ressler has a clean arm and pounded the zone with his three-pitch repertoire, including an 81-83 mph fastball. 

Read on below for reports on all of the 2023 pitchers from the event

TOP 2023 PITCHING PROSPECTS

1. Ryan Hussey, Providence Catholic (IL), 2023
 Positional Profile: RHP/SS
 Body: 5-foot-11, 160-pounds. Wiry, high-waisted frame. Plenty of room to fill out.
Delivery: Athletic on the mound, tall/fall delivery, high front side, short strider. Works direct to target, athletic finish, easy effort.
Arm Action: RH. Long, clean, easy arm action, high 3/4 slot, projects for much more velocity to come.
FB: T83, 81-82 mph. Easy out of the hand, plays with downhill tilt, strikes.
CB: 67-71 mph. 11/5 shape, late action.
CH: 75-78 mph. Maintains fastball arm speed, consistently plays down in the zone. 

2. Andrew Ressler, Huntley (IL), 2023
Positional Profile: RHP. Polished right-hander that pounds the zone and has innate feel to spin.
Body: 6-foot, 170-pounds. Strong, athletic well-proportioned frame.
Delivery: Smooth drop/drive type delivery, loads into back hip, level shoulders, works in line with target to a square landing. Easy effort, clean and polished delivery.
Arm Action: RH. Short, quick arm action, high 3/4 slot.
FB: T83, 81-83 mph. Played with late arm-side run and sinking action, consistently pounded the zone.
CB: 66-69 mph. 11/5 shape, flashed sharp action with depth, thrown with intent, potential swing-and-miss offering.
CH: 73-75 mph. Thrown with near fastball arm speed, flashed arm-side run, strikes. 

3. Benjamin Oosterbaan, Hinsdale Central (IL), 2023
Positional Profile: RHP/SS
Body: 6-foot-2, 145-pounds. Lean, lanky, highly projectable frame.
Delivery: Smooth, repeatable tall/fall type delivery, showed a slide-step out of the stretch, level shoulders, throws online, lands closed from target. Clean mechanics, confident tempo, feel for himself on the mound.
Arm Action: RH. Long, loose arm action, high 3/4 slot.
FB: T80, 78-79 mph. Primarily plays straight, flashed arm-side run with late action.
CB: 72-75 mph. Thrown with intent, 11/5 shape, sharp bite, feel to spin.
CH: 69-75 mph. Near fastball arm speed, fading action. 

4. Brady Louck, Plainfield East (IL), 2023
Positional Profile: LHP
Body: 5-foot-10, 155-pounds. Wiry, athletic build.
Delivery: Smooth tall and fall delivery, works slightly across his body with minimal effort throughout.
Arm Action: LH. Long, loose, quick arm action, 3/4 slot.
FB: T82, 78-82 mph. Controlled the zone, arm-side-run.
CB: 64-66 mph. 2/8 shape, slurve action, feel.
CH: 70-74 mph. Works the bottom of the zone, sink and fade.

5. Tommy Haggerty, Homewood-Flossmoor (IL), 2023
Positional Profile: RHP
Body: 6-foot, 155-pounds. Lean, high-waisted frame.
Delivery: Athletic drop/drive type delivery, repeats, shoulders stay level, works on line to target with an athletic finish.
Arm Action: RH. Long arm action, high 3/4 slot. Quick arm.
FB: T83, 80-82 mph. Plays straight, pounds the zone.
CB: 65-68 mph. 11/5 shape, gradual action, plays down in the zone.
CH: 71-76 mph. Near fastball arm speed, plays with arm-side run. 

6. Nicholas Lacson, Barrington (IL), 2023
Positional Profile: RHP/C
Body: 6-foot, 165-pounds. Well-proportioned strength.
Delivery: Smooth, repeatable tall and fall delivery, works directionally down the mound and lands square.
Arm Action: RH. Long arm action, high 3/4 slot with quickness out front.
FB: T84, 81-82 mph. Thrown for strikes, works mostly straight.
CB: 69-72 mph. 10/4 shape, occasional sweeping action.
CH: 77-79 mph. Best secondary offering, maintains arm speed, arm-side-run and sink, feel. 

7. Grant Tenuta, Sandburg (IL), 2023
Positional Profile: RHP
Body: 6-foot, 170-pounds. Strong, well-proportioned build.
Delivery: Tall/fall type delivery, level shoulders, lands open to target, works quick with some rhythm.
Arm Action: RH. Short arm action, high 3/4 slot.
FB: T84, 81-82 mph. Primarily played straight, flashed arm-side run.
CB: 67-69 mph. 11/5 shape, slight deceleration in arm action.
CH: 68-70 mph. Showed arm-side run and sink. 

8. TJ Schlageter, Joliet Catholic (IL), 2023
Positional Profile: LHP/OF
Body: 6-foot-1, 175-pounds. Athletic, well-proportioned frame.
Delivery: Athletic on the mound, strong front side, directional to target with an athletic finish, easy effort.
Arm Action: LH. Long arm action, high 3/4 slot.
FB: T79, 77-78 mph. Flashed late arm-side run, strikes.
CB: 62-64 mph. 1/7 shape, decelerates arm action.
CH: 69-71 mph. Near fastball arm speed, showed sinking action, some strikes.

9. Caleb Diver, Dunlap (IL), 2023
Positional Profile: RHP
Body: 6-foot, 162-pounds. Compact, athletic build.
Delivery: Athletic delivery, aggressive lead leg, front side stays strong. Works on line with target, athletic finish, throws with some effort.
Arm Action: RH. Long draw, over-the-top slot. Quick arm speed.
FB: T83, 82-83 mph. Four-seam type, plays straight. Strikes.
CB: 67-71 mph. 11/5 shape, gradual action.
CH: 73-74 mph. Slight deceleration in arm action, primarily played straight but occasional arm-side run. 

10. Alexander Vinci, Marist (IL), 2023
Positional Profile: LHP
Body: 5-foot-11, 130-pounds. Lanky, long-levered build. Projects.
Delivery: Stretch only, high front side, creates extension downhill, works on line to target, front foot closed at landing.
Arm Action: LH. Long, quick arm action, over-the-top slot.
FB: T78, 75-77 mph. Plays with present arm-side run, some strikes.
CB: 68-69 mph. 1/7 shape with depth, maintains fastball arm speed, feel to spin strikes.
CH: 66-69 mph. Flashed fading action. 

Best of the Rest (Listed Alphabetically)

Jack Butera, Niles West (IL), 2023
Positional Profile: RHP
Body: 6-foot, 160-pounds. Mature, athletic frame.
Delivery: Throws across his body, methodical delivery, strong front side, on line with target, lands square. Smooth rhythm with easy effort throughout.
Arm Action: RH. Long, loose arm action, high 3/4 slot.
FB: T78, 77-78 mph. Plays straight, strikes.
CB: 65-67 mph. 11/5 shape, breaks early, some strikes.
CH: 71-74 mph. Near fastball arm speed, occasional fading action down in the zone. 

Cooper Cohn, McHenry (IL), 2023
Positional Profile: C
Body: 5-foot-9, 160-pounds. Smaller, athletic, live-bodied frame.
Delivery: Smooth delivery, slow and controlled, stays on-line, lands square.
Arm Action: RH. Short arm action plays from a high 3/4 window.
FB: T83, 81-82 mph. Thrown for strikes, slight arm-side-run action.
CB: 70-73 mph. 10/4 shape, slurvy action at times, feel for the zone.
CH: 77-79 mph. Maintains arm speed at times, worked down in the zone.

Patrick Gardner, Lemont (IL), 2023
Positional Profile: LHP
Body: 6-foot-3, 210-pounds. Athletic, proportional frame. Projects.
Delivery: Tall/fall type delivery, strong front side, throws across his body, throws on line to target.
Arm Action: LH. Short draw, high 3/4 slot.
FB: T77, 75-76 mph. Flashed slight arm-side run, strikes to glove side.
CB: 63-65 mph. 11/5 shape, gradual action.
CH: 67-72 mph. Near fastball arm speed, plays straight up in the zone. 

William Ho, Hinsdale Central (IL), 2023
Positional Profile: RHP
Body: 5-foot-10, 195-pounds. Strong lower half.
Delivery: Drop/drive delivery, loads into front hip, strong front side, directional to target, rhythm throughout, throws with some effort.
Arm Action: RH. Long arm action, over-the-top slot.
FB: T81, 77-81 mph. Plays straight.
CB: 63-66 mph. 11/5 shape, gradual action.
CH: 71-75 mph. Sinking action that plays down in the zone. 

Brandon Johnson, Lemont (IL), 2023
Positional Profile: RHP
Body: 5-foot-11, 155-pounds. Lanky frame. Projectable.
Delivery: Slow, methodical slight drop and drive delivery, stays on-line lands front-toe slightly closed.
Arm Action: RH. Long, full arm circle, over-the-top slot.
FB: T77, 74-77 mph. Slight arm-side-run.
CB: 68-71 mph. 11/5 shape flashed sharp spin and depth.
CH: 70-71 mph. Occasional fade.

James Stanisic, Maine South (IL), 2023
Positional Profile: RHP
Body: 5-foot-9, 145-pounds. Smaller, athletic build.
Delivery: Stretch-only delivery, works slightly across his body and lands square.
Arm Action: RH. Short, compact arm action, high 3/4 slot.
FB: T77, 74-77 mph. Works mostly straight.
CB: 68-71 mph. 11/5 shape, landed for strikes at times.
CH: 69-73 mph. Arm-side-run and sink.

Trey Swiderski, Joliet Catholic (IL), 2023
Positional Profile: RHP/1B
Body: 5-foot-11, 155-pounds. Wiry, athletic build.
Delivery: Tilt/topple type delivery, high front side, lands closed to target, recoil finish.
Arm Action: RH. Long arm action, high 3/4 slot.
FB: T80, 78-80 mph. Plays straight.
CB: 67-71 mph. 10/4 shape, occasional sweeping action. 

James Traficanti, East Leyden (IL), 2023
Positional Profile: 1B
Body: 6-foot-2, 250-pounds.
Delivery: Starts slightly crouched, level shoulders, on line with target, upright finish.
Arm Action: RH. Short arm action, 3/4 slot.
FB: T75, 72-74 mph. Flashed arm-side run, some strikes.
CH: 69-69 mph. Near fastball arm speed, plays straight.
SPLT: 65-68 mph. Downward actions. 

Charlie Wolf, St. Ignatius (IL), 2023
Positional Profile: RHP
Body: 6-foot, 150-pounds. Lanky, high-waisted frame. Projects.
Delivery: Stretch only, tall/fall type, level shoulders, directional to target, lands square, throws with some effort.
Arm Action: RH. Short, loose arm action, over-the-top slot. Quick draw.
FB: T81, 79-81 mph. Flashed slight arm-side run.
CB: 62-63 mph. 12/6 shape, late bite, thrown with intent, some strikes.
CH: 70-71 mph. Decelerated arm action, primarily plays straight but showed occasional cutting action.

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