Prep Baseball Report

Q&A With Illinois State Commit Ryan Duncheon


By: Peter Hamot
Assistant Scouting Director, Illinois & Wisconsin

RHP/C Ryan Duncheon (East Peoria, 2026) is a name our staff became quite familiar with last year. He showed well on numerous occasions both in-event and in gameplay, eventually earning an invitation to the Future Games down in Emerson, GA to represent Team Illinois, committing to Illinois State not long after. 

He provides intrigue on both sides of the ball, but where he really opened some eyes was on the mound with his big arm. He showcased one of the loudest fastballs on Team Illinois at the Future Games, running his fastball up to 92 mph to go along with a high-spin curveball (2500 RPM) and a changeup. 

When he’s not pitching you can usually find him behind the plate, where his arm-strength is once again on display, limiting the run game. He also is no stranger to hard contact at the plate in front of our staff, finding the barrel routinely in-game and also showing well in a showcase setting with exit velocities in the mid-90s. 

We recently had the chance to talk to Duncheon about his recruitment process and some other fun topics, found below. 

OUR Q&A 

PBR: What were your expectations about the recruiting process? What were you looking for out of a college program to continue your baseball career at?

Ryan: I was looking to make good connections with coaches that had reached out to me. I was looking for a scholarship that would let me pitch and play the field which allowed my bat to stay with me.

P: Did location or distance from home play a factor in your decision?

R: Yes it did, I did want to stay closer to home so my parents, grandparents, and friends could still come and watch me play. 

P: When did the recruiting process really start to heat up for you? Where did the school you committed to first see you play?

R: The recruiting process really started to heat up since the first day colleges were able to reach out. I have always gone to Illinois State University camps since I was little. They saw me pitch at Duffy Bass during high school against Normal U-High. 

P: What do you like most about the program you chose, and what were the key factors in making your decision?

R: I really enjoy the coaching staff, the facilities, closer to home and the history in the program. 

P: What other schools were on your short list before you made your final decision?

R: Iowa, Northern Illinois and Cincinnati. 

P: Who is the best player you have faced in your state? What about them makes for a tough opponent?

R: Kamrin Jenkins, it was the semi-final of a PBR Tournament in Rantoul. I was pitching and it didn’t matter what I threw him, he was always on time and ready to produce at the plate. Kamrin is a very skilled player in the field as well.

P: At what point in your career did you realize you were a college-caliber player and became serious about taking your game to the next level?

R: I really started figuring out that my game was collegiate-caliber when I was 14/15 years old. I realized that when I started putting more and more time into baseball, my game started to drastically improve. I started to realize that as my bat and arm got a lot stronger, I was able to consistently produce. 

P: What advice would you give to young baseball players striving to get where you are?

R: I would give the advice of, it doesn’t matter where you are now there is always more room for improvement. You are your own worst enemy, keep working and improvements will come. 

P: What is the most memorable moment in your baseball career to this point?

R: My most memorable moment of my baseball career is being recruited by Illinois State but also hitting 92 MPH at the Futures Games.

P: Preview your high school team's season for us. How do you feel your team will be?

R: I think our school team will be very good again. I feel like we have the capability to have a deep run into the playoffs. 

P: How did the Future Games and/or the Illinois State Games affect your recruitment process? Did you receive more attention following the event(s)?

R: Yes, the Futures Games helped a lot with the recruitment process. When it was my innings to be on the mound during the Futures Games I hit 92. The exposure I received from that opportunity was by far the best way coaches started to seriously notice what I could do. So yes, the Futures Games helped with the scholarship. 

P: If you could steal any tool or quality from another player in the state, what would it be and who would it be from?

R: I would steal Nolan Ramoley’s speed. 

P: Who is the next talented young player to keep an eye on out of your high school or travel program?

R: Luka Sando, he is not on my team or go to the same school but he does catching lessons with my father. 

P: Did Prep Baseball assist in your recruiting? Whether it be through a showcase, tournament coverage, tweets, etc? If yes, please explain. 

R: Yes! Prep Baseball assisted in my recruitment process in many ways. The invite to the Future Games and Illinois State Games was an amazing opportunity that I was thankful for!  I also was able to be promoted by PBR from their Twitter posts & reports they put out from the tournaments and showcases that I had been invited to attend. The metrics that PBR kept track of and posted are also so valuable to the recruiting process. 

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