Prep Baseball Illinois Pitcher of the Week: Conor Essenburg
April 30, 2024
Lincoln-Way West is off to a scorching 20-0 start, and one key contributor to their success has certainly been LHP Conor Essenburg (2025; Kansas State). Facing off against not just one of the top teams in the state, but one of the top offenses, Essenburg twirled a gem against No. 9 Downers Grove North in their 5-0 victory last Wednesday, earning himself this week’s Pitcher of the Week honors.
In a top-10 Power 25 matchup, Essenburg faced a potent Downers Grove North lineup and was utterly dominant, taking a no-hitter into the seventh inning before surrendering a weak hit that dropped just in front of the left fielder, ending his bid. He was in control the entire game, finishing with a line of 6.2 innings pitched, the lone hit allowed, three walks and 13 strikeouts.
The southpaw attacked the Trojans with a fastball that worked up to 93 mph early, cruising around 90 mph and settling in around 87-89 in the later innings. He went to both a curveball and a slider for swing and miss, with the curveball having more depth off a 1/7 plane in the mid-70s, and the slider playing with lateral action at 77-78. He also went to a changeup around 79-81 mph to keep hitters even more off-balance, playing with hard fading action to his arm-side.
Extended look at LHP Conor Essenburg (@LWWestBaseball, 2025; Kansas State commit).
— Prep Baseball Illinois (@PrepBaseballIL) April 25, 2024
FB sat 91-92, T93 mph in the first, settled in 87-89 throughout all seven innings. SL was go-to secondary, sharp bite at 77-78. Flashed mid-70s CB and CH at 79-81. @ShooterHunt https://t.co/IP3veLal3R pic.twitter.com/ew7soT2X3W
On the year, Essenburg now has a perfect 6-0 record on the mound with 26.1 innings pitched, only five hits allowed, 26 walks and 57 strikeouts.
He has also been one of their top hitters so far this season, finishing this past week at a 5-for–10 clip with three home runs, a double, triple, five RBIs, six runs scored and seven walks - as he now brings his season batting average to .446 with an OPS of 1.445.
Conor Essenburg
Class of 2025 / 1B
Player Information
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Graduating Class: 2025
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Primary Position: 1BSecondary Position: LHP
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High School: Lincoln-Way WestState: IL
- Summer Team: Top Tier
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Height: 6-1Weight: 198lbs
- Bat/Throw: R/L
Videos
(4/17/24)
We're thankful for the POTW submissions we received from the coaches across the state. The players who garnered POTW consideration will earn a place within tomorrow's Diamond Notes story, so be on the lookout for that.
Related Content
Scouting Report
A dynamic two-way prospect in the state’s 2025 class, 1B/LHP Conor Essenburg (Lincoln-Way West; Kansas State commit) put his talents on display at The MAX this weekend. A 6-foot-1, 198-pound athlete, Essenburg repeatedly produced hard contact to the middle of the field from a fast left-handed swing. He found the barrel seven times at 95+ or higher throughout his round, with his three hardest batted balls checking in at 101 mph, 102.1 mph, and 105.1 mph, respectively. All of Essenburg’s Blast Motion metrics are advanced - peak hand speed (24.1 mph), average hand speed (23.6 mph), max bat speed (80.3 mph), average bat speed (77.9 mph). He tied for the event’s hardest throw across the infield, from first base, at 90 mph, and he also pitched at 86-88 mph on the mound.