Prep Baseball Report

Preseason ProCase: Player Analysis


By: Pete Hamot and Drew Locascio
Illinois Staff

On Wednesday, Jan. 31, our Illinois/Wisconsin staff traveled to Rhino Sports Academy in Shorewood, Illinois to host the third annual Preseason ProCase. The event was made up of 20 high-level prospects from Illinois and Wisconsin, and are players we believe MLB teams should know about heading into the spring season. The event was an overall success, with a number of the prospects showing well for themselves in front of nearly 20 MLB scouts, and even one player earning an invite to the Super 60

Below you'll find scouting reports for each player that attended the event, along with videos and some of the measureable data collected.

POSITION PLAYERS 

Jimmy Anderson SS / RHP / Joliet West, IL / 2024

Positional Profile: SS/RHP
Body: 6-0, 190-pounds. Athletic frame. Strong lower half.
Hit: RHH. Balanced, relaxed setup, slightly open front foot, works back to even with a medium stride, controls body well into foot strike, repeats.  Easy, balanced swing, rhythm in the hands, works into a flat path. Intent to use the whole field, loose and easy stroke with little perceived effort, worked some line-drives up the middle and to both gaps, repeats. 73.7 mph bat speed with 15 G’s of rotational acceleration.
Power: 94 max exit velocity, averaged 87.7 mph. 329’ max distance.
Arm: RH. INF - 86 mph. Short 3/4 release, plays on the move and from multiple angles.
Defense: Soft, fluid hands, clear confidence and feel for the position, plays with rhythm and timing, moves well to both sides, clean exchange, showed the ability to change body positions and angles on double play turn.
Run: 6.94 runner in the 60. 

Jackson Brewer OF / 1B / Homestead, WI / 2024

Positional Profile: OF/1B
Body: 6-3, 220-pounds. XL frame. Strength throughout. Broad shoulders.
Hit: LHH. Athletic, balanced setup, short stride, short/direct hands to the ball, simple and controlled throughout. Consistently on the barrel with authority and ease, worked the whole field, elevated contact to pull-side while showing the ability to use the whole field and work gap-to-gap, maintained balance through contact, highly repeatable swing, impressive overall round.  73 mph bat speed with 17 G’s of rotational acceleration.
Power: 100 max exit velocity, averaged 93.3 mph. 361’ max distance.
Arm: LH. OF - 92 mph. Long reach out of the glove, moves into a 3/4 slot.
Defense: Confident routes, gets behind the baseball, one-handed gather off to the side. 
Run: 6.50 runner in the 60. 

Savion Flowers OF / 1B / Kenwood Academy , IL / 2024

Positional Profile: OF/1B
Body: 6-5, 200-pounds. Highly-advanced, physical and athletic frame. Strong lower half.
Hit: LHH. Athletic, balanced setup, hands start low and work short to the ball, controls body well into foot strike. Quick hands to the ball, easy pop off the bat especially to pull-side, present bat strength, led entire event with a 101.5 max EV, second in max batted ball distance with 367', quick hands (22.3 mph average hand-speed, led event in max hand-speed with 25 mph, big power potential.  69.5 mph bat speed with 13 G’s of rotational acceleration.
Power: 102 max exit velocity, averaged 84.7 mph. 368’ max distance.
Arm: RH. OF - 94 mph. Easy, loose arm out of an over-the-top slot, life out of the hand with above-average arm-strength.
Defense: Deliberate actions and footwork through the ball, one-handed gather to the side, gains momentum into a crow hop.
Run: 7.19 runner in the 60. 

Jalen House OF / OF / Downers Grove South, IL / 2024

Positional Profile: OF/OF
Body: 6-0, 175-pounds. Lean athletic build. Broad shoulders.
Hit: LHH. Wide, balanced setup, short/minimal stride, simple and repeats, short/direct path to the ball.  Easy operation with rhythm, flat path, worked line-drives up the middle and to his pull-side, quick bat through the zone, stays balanced through impact, athletic operation. 75.7 mph bat speed with 27 G’s of rotational acceleration.
Power: 98 max exit velocity, averaged 91 mph. 344’ max distance.
Arm: LH. OF - 88 mph. Long out of the glove, transitions into a high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Athletic with a bounce to his step, plays through the ball with rhythm, one-handed gather, fields in stride, moves well into a crow hop.
Run: 6.52 runner in the 60. 

James Love 3B / SS / Joliet West, IL / 2024

Positional Profile: 3B/SS
Body: 6-1, 205-pounds. Athletic build. Strong lower half.
Hit: RHH. Wide setup, hangs foot into a medium stride, bat tilt into foot strike with a controlled load.  Intent to do damage with whip in the barrel out front, looks to elevate the ball to pull-side, ball jumps off the bat, second in-event with a max EV of 101.1 mph.  72.3 mph bat speed with 13 G’s of rotational acceleration.
Power: 101 max exit velocity, averaged 96 mph. 347’ max distance.
Arm: RH. INF - 89 mph. Short arm action, 3/4 slot, can play on the move and from multiple angles, plays with life across the diamond.
Defense: Steady, soft hands, plays through the ball, stays low with clean footwork; clean transfer and double play turn, comfortable to make plays to both sides of his glove.
Run: 7.07 runner in the 60. 

Brock Lulewicz 3B / SS / Muskego, WI / 2024

Positional Profile: 3B/SS
Body: 6-1, 205-pounds. Thick lower half. High waist. Strength throughout.
Hit: LHH. Relaxed setup, slightly crouched, balanced with a controlled leg-lift, medium stride, active hands pre-pitch, hands sway back through stride.  Creates hand-separation at foot strike, flat path, worked the whole field with ease, flashed ability to drive it the other way, on the barrel consistently with an average EV of 90.6 mph.  71.4 mph bat speed with 17 G’s of rotational acceleration.
Power: 96 max exit velocity, averaged 90.6 mph. 344’ max distance.
Arm: RH. INF - 86 mph. Short arm action, 3/4 release.
Defense: Steady hands, clean transfer, works from the ground up and plays through the ball, deliberate footwork.
Run: 7.16 runner in the 60. 

Jameson Martin SS / 2B / St. Laurence, IL / 2024

Positional Profile: SS/2B
Body: 5-11, 190-pounds. Strength throughout. Compact frame.
Hit: RHH. Athletic, balanced setup, wide base that works into a medium stride, gains ground towards the mound. On the barrel with authority up the middle and to the pull-side, natural backspin up the middle/pull-side, showed ability to go the other way, consistently worked the ball on a line, polished/mature round with feel to hit, loose arms with extension out front, remains short to the ball with a repeatable path and operation, second in-event with an average EV of 94.7 mph. 72.1 mph bat speed with 15 G’s of rotational acceleration.
Power: 100 max exit velocity, averaged 94.7 mph. 346’ max distance.
Arm: RH. INF - 83 mph. Short, athletic arm action, quick to release, plays from multiple slots and on the move.
Defense: Soft hands, fluid footwork, plays low and through the ball, secures the ball into body, showed ability to change body position and angles on double play turn.
Run: 7.30 runner in the 60. 

Mason Palermo C / SS / Oswego East, IL / 2025

Positional Profile: C/SS
Body: 6-0, 176-pounds. Well-proportioned build.
Hit: RHH. Open setup, relaxed with some rhythm in the hands, works back to the plate with a long stride, and gains ground to the mound. Pull-side approach, uphill path at times with intent to lift, showed ability to go with the ball on the outer half the other way, some whip through the zone, led entire event with a max batted ball distance of 371'. 71.5 mph bat speed with 7 G’s of rotational acceleration.
Power: 95 max exit velocity, averaged 87.4 mph. 371’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 78 mph. Short to the ear, clean arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.01-2.05 pop times. Short, quick transfer, works in-line towards target and gains ground to second, moves well out of the crouch.
Run: 6.86 runner in the 60. 

Kenny Perez SS / 2B / De La Salle , IL / 2024

Positional Profile: SS/2B
Body: 5-10, 185-pounds. Evenly proportioned strength throughout.
Hit: RHH. Wide, balanced setup, hangs foot slightly, hands rock back into a medium stride, pre-pitch rhythm. Creates hand separation at foot strike, flat path with a pull-side approach, lifted contact to pull-side at times, quick hands through the zone, led event in average hand-speed (23.1 mph) and max hand-speed (25 mph).  73.7 mph bat speed with 18 G’s of rotational acceleration.
Power: 93 max exit velocity, averaged 84 mph. 348’ max distance.
Arm: RH. INF - 89 mph. Short, 3/4 slot, plays on the move and from multiple angles with body control, athletic arm with life across the diamond.
Defense: Soft hands, fluid actions and footwork, plays with rhythm, clean exchange, showed ability to cover ground laterally, athletic double play turn with feel and ability to change angles. All the tools to stick on the infield moving forward.
Run: 7.18 runner in the 60. 

Charlie Vercruysse SS / RHP / University, IL / 2024

Positional Profile: SS/RHP
Body: 6-2, 190-pounds. Lean frame. Long limbed, high-waisted with broad shoulders.
Hit: RHH. Athletic, balanced setup, slight upper half lean over the plate, toe-taps into a medium stride. Hands work on top of the baseball, flashed extension out front, worked to stay up the middle of the field with line-drives and elevated contact, and used the ground through impact.  68.5 mph bat speed with 8 G’s of rotational acceleration.
Power: 95 max exit velocity, averaged 85.3 mph. 342’ max distance.
Arm: RH. INF - 88 mph. Short, quick arm action, 3/4 slot, can play from multiple slots.
Defense: Sure-handed, gains ground through transfer. Quick first step at times, clean/steady double play turn.
Run: 7.06 runner in the 60. 

Jude Warwick SS / 2B / Downers Grove North, IL / 2024

Positional Profile: SS/2B
Body: 6-1, 160-pounds. Lean, high-waisted frame. Long limbs.
Hit: LHH. Relaxed, athletic setup, even weight distribution, hangs foot into a medium stride, controls his body well into foot strike. Easy, loose hands, line-drive approach, worked the whole field, showed the ability to stay through and inside the baseball and drive it the other way at times; creates easy whip through the zone. 69 mph bat speed with 12 G’s of rotational acceleration.
Power: 94 max exit velocity, averaged 83.7 mph. 294’ max distance.
Arm: RH. INF - 86 mph. Loose, fluid 3/4 release, plays on the move and from multiple slots.
Defense: Soft and confident hands, athletic actions with fluid footwork, gains easy ground to both sides, plays with rhythm and clear feel for the position, above-average body control on plays taking him to his back hand and slow rollers, clean double play turn with the ability to change angles and body position.
Run: 6.75 runner in the 60. 

TWO-WAYS

David Cox SS / 3B / Nazareth Academy, IL / 2024

Positional Profile: SS/3B
Body: 6-4, 210-pounds. Thick lower half. Broad shouldered.
Hit: RHH. Wide setup, medium stride, hands start by head and work into a short path to the ball.  Stays direct, hands play on top of the baseball, flat at times, uses ground through impact, whole field approach, hard elevated contact to pull-side at times, rotational through the zone, third in-event in max batted ball distance (T361'). 69.2 mph bat speed with 9 G’s of rotational acceleration.
Power: 96 max exit velocity, averaged 87.7 mph. 362’ max distance.
Arm: RH. INF - 89 mph. Short 3/4 release, plays from multiple slots, life and ease out of the hand.
Defense: Steady hands, clean transfer, fluid footwork that breaks down before the ball, stays low and plays through the ball. 
Run: 7.39 runner in the 60. 

Positional Profile: RHP
Delivery: Controlled delivery into a high leg-lift, drops and drives quickly down the mound, hands separate while reaching with front leg into stride, works in-line.
Arm Action: RH. Long/loose arm circle out of the glove, high 3/4 slot, clean arm path.
FB: T88, 87-88 mph. Plays with some life through the zone, heavy arm-side action at times. T2133, 2084 average rpm.
CB: 72-75 mph. Gradual 11/5 shape with downer action, some feel around the zone. T2141, 2082 average rpm.
CH: 77-78 mph. Maintains arm-speed, flashed late drop when kept to his glove-side. T1628, 1587 average rpm. 

Brayden Mazzacano OF / LHP / Schaumburg , IL / 2024

Positional Profile: OF
Body: 6-2, 175-pounds. Athletic build. Strength in the lower half.
Hit: LHH. Open, upright setup, toe-tap stride, coils hip and gains ground toward the mound into a long stride, slight bat tilt into foot strike.  Loose, quick bat, plays with ease and rhythm. Intent to lift the ball up the middle and to his pull-side with some extension through impact.  69.8 mph bat speed with 17 G’s of rotational acceleration.
Power: 94 max exit velocity, averaged 83.6 mph. 355’ max distance.
Arm: LH. OF - 92 mph. Loose, athletic arm, clean arm path into a high 3/4 slot, ball jumps out of the hand.
Defense: Athletic actions, fluid footwork, breaks down before the ball, soft hands, one-hand gather to the side, fields with rhythm. 
Run: 6.75 runner in the 60. 

Positional Profile: LHP
Delivery: Stretch only, slightly open front foot, high/athletic leg lift, slight coil with the upper half into balance point, slight drop/drive lower-half, strides in-line, easy operation with little perceived effort.
Arm Action: LH. Short arm circle, 3/4 release, some quickness out front.
FB: T91, 90-91 mph. Life through the zone with some carry at times, slight arm-side run, jumps out of the hand, low release height. T2287, 2237 average rpm.
CB: 79-80 mph. Sharp, tight 1/7 shape, missed up occasionally but had better depth down in the zone. T2126, 2101 average rpm.
CH: 85-86 mph. Deceptive arm-speed, kept down, heavy fade to the arm-side, flashed late dive. T1609, 1542 average rpm.

Blaine Williams C / RHP / Tremont, IL / 2025

Positional Profile: C
Body: 6-0, 195-pounds. Compact frame. Strength throughout.
Hit: RHH. Wide, balanced setup with slight knee bend, medium stride, active hands pre-pitch, stays mostly short to the ball.  Pull-side approach, flat path, rotational through the zone, creates leverage and hard elevated contact to pull-side at times. 78.8 mph bat speed with 26 G’s of rotational acceleration.
Power: 95 max exit velocity, averaged 89.6 mph. 342’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 87 mph. Short to the ear out of the glove, transitions in a high 3/4 slot, ball explodes out of the hand with carry to his target, consistently put throws around the bag.
Defense: 2.01-2.06 pop times. Explosive out of the crouch, gains ground easily to second while staying in-line, clean exchange, gains momentum into throws, deadens the ball out front on blocks.
Run: 6.80 runner in the 60. 

Positional Profile: RHP
Delivery: Side-saddles into a high leg lift, slight coil into balance point, drop/drive lower-half, works in-line, jumps down the mound and lets his momentum take him downhill. 
Arm Action: RH. Long, loose arm swing into a 3/4 slot, quick arm out front.
FB: T91, 89-91 mph. Plays with cutting action, pulled off to glove-side. T2227, 2121 average rpm.
SL: 75-78 mph. 10/4 shape, flashed sharp action when kept middle/glove-side. T2404, 2342 average rpm.
CH: 79-82 mph. Thrown with intent, flashed fade to the arm-side, occasionally got under it. T1963, 1889 average rpm.

PITCHERS

Ryan Anderson RHP / Minooka , IL / 2024

Positional Profile: RHP
Body: 6-6, 225-pounds. Long, lean frame, projectable.
Delivery: Controls body into a high leg lift, rides back leg down mound, works in line, moves quickly down the mound into foot plant from balance point.
Arm Action: RH. Long out of glove into a high 3/4 slot, loose arm.
FB: T89, 87-88 mph. Plays with run to arm-side with control around zone, worked to both sides of the plate, missed to arm-side at times. T2413, 2251 average rpm.
SL: 78-79 mph. Sharp, tight 10/4 shape, flashed late action to glove side, miss was low and to glove-side, showed ability to land for strikes and use as put-out offering just off the plate. T2435, 2376 average rpm.
CH: 83-84 mph. Near identical fastball arm-speed, fades to arm-side, looked to keep low and under the zone. T1532, 1453 average rpm.

Ethan Eberle LHP / 1B / Normal Community, IL / 2024

Positional Profile: LHP/1B
Body: 6-5, 220-pounds. Large build, long limbs with a high waist.
Delivery: High, straight leg-lift out to the side, slight coil with the upper-half, tall/fall lower-half that works in-line down the mound, repeats well despite his deceptive delivery. 
Arm Action: LH. Long arm swing, arm moves quickly into a 3/4 slot.
FB: T92, 91-92 mph. Heavy arm side run, over 19" at times, showed control to glove-side, miss was to arm-side.  T2143, 2005 average rpm.
CB: 77-78 mph. Sharp downward action, late 1/7 shape, clear arm-speed through release, can land for strikes and place under the zone. T2394, 2314 average rpm.
CH: 82-84 mph. Plays well off fastball, heavy arm-side run with near fastball arm-speed, controlled around and under the zone. T1954, 1844 average rpm.

Aidan Hayse RHP / SS / Joliet Catholic, IL / 2024

Positional Profile: RHP/SS
Body: 6-3, 193-pounds. Athletic build, round shoulders, evenly proportioned strength.
Delivery: Controlled tempo, highly athletic, controlled leg lift, slight coil into balance point, slight drop/drive, works in line, athletic finish. 
Arm Action: RH. Compact, clean arm circle, high 3/4 release, explosive arm-speed.
FB: T94, 91-94 mph. Explodes out of the hand, plays up in the zone with run to the arm-side. T2309, 2207 average rpm.
SL: 83-85 mph. Sharp 10/4 shape, late bite with feel around and under the zone, well above average spin (+2900 rpm), true out-pitch potential. T2944, 2726 average rpm.
CH: 86-89 mph. Thrown with fastball intent, plays with late dive to the arm-side, kept mostly at the bottom/under the zone. T1861, 1804 average rpm.

Bryce Koch RHP / OF / Barrington, IL / 2024

Positional Profile: RHP/OF
Body: 6-5, 190-pounds. Lean, athletic, highly projectable frame.
Delivery: Stretch only, slightly open front foot, medium/high controlled leg lift, pre-bend in back knee and rides down the mound, strides in line, athletic operation and finish.
Arm Action: RH. Long reach in the back out of the glove, transitions into a high 3/4 release.
FB: T93, 91-92 mph. Life out of the hand, jumps through the zone with carry and backspin (2400-2500 rpm). T2567, 2476 average rpm.
CB: 78-79 mph. Sharp 11/5 action, late bite, tight shape with above-average spin (+2500 rpm), landed for some strikes, missed up occasionally. T2595, 2440 average rpm.
CH: 84-86 mph. Thrown with near fastball arm-speed, slight run to the arm-side, kept mostly to arm-side, miss was low. T1755, 1573 average rpm.

Jack Olson RHP / OF / Antioch, IL / 2024

Positional Profile: RHP/OF
Body: 6-3, 212-pounds. Strong, durable build, strength in the lower-half.
Delivery: Up-tempo pace, medium leg-lift, slight coil into balance point, moves quickly into a drop/drive lower-half, strides in-line with a front leg reach down the mound.
Arm Action: RH. Long arm reach in the back, high 3/4 release. 
FB: T92, 90-92 mph. Some life out of the hand with carry up in the zone, worked in the upper quadrant with occasional miss low or glove-side. T2335, 2219 average rpm.
CB: 71-73 mph. 11/5 shape, flashed depth and bite when landed for strikes. T2381, 2305 average rpm.
SL: 75-76 mph. 10/4 shape with some depth, pulled off to glove-side. T2310, 2266 average rpm.
CH: 77-79 mph. Slight decel, showed some run to the arm-side. T2079, 2059 average rpm.

Luke Weber RHP / OF / Highland Park , IL / 2024

Positional Profile: RHP/OF
Body: 6-1, 180-pounds. Athletic build, compact with some strength.
Delivery: Slightly up-tempo, athletic leg lift, drops into back knee with a coil before striding down the mound, works in line.
Arm Action: RH. Long, loose arm swing, 3/4 slot.
FB: T91, 90-91 mph. Slight run arm-side, plays up in the zone from a low release window. T1937, 1826 average rpm.
SL: 75-76 mph. Sharp 10/4 shape, landed for strikes, sells with arm-speed. T1979, 1862 average rpm.
CH: 84-85 mph. Deceptive arm-speed, fades to arm-side with some sink, kept mostly down and under the zone. T1973, 1873 average rpm.

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