Our Fall Rising Stars ID took place following our Underclass Showcase on Sunday October 15th at The MAX in McCook, IL. The open event designed for 2028 and 2029 prospects featured 18 prospects, many of whom took part in their first PBR event.

Today we take a look at a couple of the standouts, as well as breakdown the top statistical performers from the day with our “Statistical Analysis” below.

TAKEAWAYS

+ Putting together an impressive day overall was INF/RHP Paris Head (N/A, 2029). Head measures in at an athletic 5-foot-8, 140-pounds with upside. Head started the event off with a bullpen where he showed the ability to spin the ball at an advanced rate for his age, as well as fill the zone with his two-pitch mix. Head’s fastball sat 72-73 mph, topping out at 74.7, playing low in the zone. Head spun an 11/5 curveball at an average 2351 rpm (T2458 rpm), landing for strikes at 60 mph. The right-handed hitter has a simple swing that stays short and direct through the zone with line-drive feel and a middle of the field approach. He also put together a smooth defensive workout, showing easy and highly-athletic actions up the middle for his age, paired with a loose, clean and accurate arm. Head posted the highest infield velocity for the event at 74 mph.

+ A left-handed hitting infielder to know from the event was INF Ameen Khan (N/A, 2029). Khan has a balanced, quiet setup, controls the barrel and was consistently on time with a line-drive approach. Khan continued to show well on the infield where he plays with rhythm, active feet and sure hands.

+ Another seventh-grader who earned a mention was C/INF Aiden Garcia (N/A, 2029). The right-handed hitter has a confident/hitterish look in the box combined with a fluid swing that made consistent hard contact on a line and to both gaps throughout his round; registered an 85% line-drive percentage throughout his round. Garcia worked out as both a catcher and an infielder at the event, and showcased athletic actions at both spots. Behind the dish, Garcia works with clean actions for his age, while posting the best pop time range for the event at 2.25-2.46. He also showcased the strongest arm from the crouch at 67 mph. On the infield, Garcia was comfortable and natural on the move with soft hands and an accurate arm at 71 mph (second-highest for the event).

+ OF Quinn Champion (Lyons Township, 2028) is an intriguing, high-waisted 5-foot-8, 135-pound underclassmen to monitor moving forward. Right-handed hitter, compact swing that stayed on-plane and created bat speed for his age. Consistently on the barrel, gap-to-gap approach and averaged the highest exit velocity for the event at 74.1 mph. In the outfield, attacked the baseball with clean routes and gained ground through release. Champion’s arm plays with a long draw out of the glove from a high ¾ slot, recording the second-hardest bullet of the day from the outfield at 72 mph.

+ RHP/INF Henry Murphy (Maine South, 2028) displayed two-way potential at the event. On the bump, he is a fluid, smooth mover downhill with a quick and whippy arm action. Murphy’s fastball found the zone at 70-73 mph, while throwing the hardest fastball of the event at 74.8 mph. Changeup showed to be the best of his off-speed offerings sitting 64-65 mph. He also spun two different breaking balls with his curveball sitting 57-59 mph with 12/6 action, and a short-breaking slider at 59-61 mph that played down in the zone. At the plate he has easy, loose hands and lifted contact to both gaps. Defensively, he was natural and comfortable on the move while flashing an above-average double play feed/turn for his age.

+ Turning in one of the better bullpens on the day was RHP Cylis Rainey (N/A, 2028). Rainey is a clean, smooth mover down the mound and his arm plays with whip and comes out of an over-the-top slot. He has a polished three-pitch mix, especially for his age which featured the second-hardest fastball at the event; T74.6 mph. Playing off of his fastball was a short 11/5-shaped slider that played around the zone at 60-64 mph. Rainey rounded out his mix with a 61-64 mph changeup. Rainey played with easy actions and rhythm both in the outfield and on the infield. He also recorded the top outfield velocity from the event at 76 mph.

+ INF/RHP Nolan Maranell (Wheaton Warrenville South, 2029) was yet another 2029 who deserves a mention from the event. The two-way prospect started his day by showing a three-pitch mix on the mound, with his fastball topping at 70 mph. The fastball worked mostly straight and his 11/5 curveball played off of it at 58-60 mph, while showcasing as his best secondary offering. His changeup played at 63-65 mph. Maranell did his best work as a position player on the infield where he plays with bounce and athletic actions, especially for his age. He is comfortable ranging to both sides of the infield and plays with soft, confident hands and fluid release. The right-handed hitter stays long and level through the zone while working gap-to-gap.

+ 1B/LHP Nolan Hecht (N/A, 2028) is a left/left two-way prospect to note from the event. Offensively, short, simple swing, repeated line-drive contact with loose, strong hands and the top exit velocity of the event; T81 mph. He was also comfortable around the first base bag during defense, showing athleticism and a loose arm that was good for the second-strongest of the event at 71 mph. He rounded out his day on the mound where he sat 70-71 mph.

+ MIF Chase Boykin (N/A, 2029) stood out on the infield at the event. The young prospect has advanced actions and feet on the infield that should allow him to stick there for the foreseeable future. Boykin is easy and relaxed on the move, plays from the ground up with soft receptive hands and rhythmic pace to his game. Has the potential to be an advanced infield defender down the road. He also ran a 7.59 which is above-average for his age and flashed quick hands and was consistently on time during BP.

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS

FASTBALL VELOCITY (MAX)

FASTBALL SPIN RATE (AVG.)

SWIFT 60-YARD DASH

EXIT VELOCITY (MAX)

It is to be noted that this event was for the classes of 2028 & 2029. Not all participants will not have an exit velocity as some players

TOP INFIELD VELOCITY

TOP OUTFIELD VELOCITY

TOP CATCHER VELOCITY

TOP POP TIMES

+ CLICK HERE for a look at the complete statistics from the event.