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Unsigned Senior Showcase: Takeaways

February 5, 2025
Illinois Scouting Staff

On Sunday, February 2nd, the Prep Baseball Illinois staff hosted the Unsigned Senior Showcase at The Max in McCook, IL. This event was host to just over 20 players from around the state, all of which being seniors still looking for a home at the next level.

We started our event rollout Monday with our Statistical Analysis, and now we’re rolling right into some of the event’s standouts with our takeaways story. 

Continue reading below for scouting reports and videos on some of the day’s winners.  

Position Players

One of the top uncommitted position players left in the state, MIF Noah Fitzgerald (Lyons Township) had a strong showing on both sides of the ball. Listed at a trim and athletic 5-foot-9, 163-pounds, Fitzgerald got things going with a 6.90 in the 60-yard dash. He was all over the barrel throughout his round of BP, averaging just under 92 mph while maxing out at 97.7 mph for his EV (T353’). He has an athletic right-handed swing, staying connected through impact with a flatter path through the zone, looking to stay up the middle and to his pull-side. He’s a natural defender on the infield with soft hands and fluid footwork, boasting rhythm and timing along with the ability to move laterally with ease. Athletic prospect that will be able to stick on the infield at the next level. 

Making the trip from Indiana, OF Matt Civanich (Valparaiso High School) emerged as one of the day’s best prospects. Listed at a lean 5-foot-10, 155-pounds with plenty of room to add on more strength. He’s a quality runner with a 7.03 in the 60, and his left/left profile helps add to his prospect status. At the plate, he has a quiet load and lower-hands, working into a flatter path that will also work on top of the baseball, averaging 88 mph for his EV with a 92.6 mph max (T348’). He has a fluid rhythm at the dish with a calm presence, showing the ability to cover the plate and use the whole field. 

C/SS Alex Aguirre (Sandburg) has a proportionate and athletic 5-foot-8, 162-pound frame. At the plate, he showed a longer swing path with extension and bat-speed, registering 71 mph for his average. In addition to his bat-speed, Aguirre posted a top exit velocity of 93 mph. Defensively, he worked behind the plate and also took reps in the infield. Behind the plate, Aguirre displayed a clean transfer while working in the 2.19-2.25 range for his pops (T72 mph). In the field, he demonstrated quick feet, a smooth transfer, and an accurate arm.

C/1B Keaton Davis (Marquette Academy) has a strong 5-foot-11, 207-pound frame with some strength. At the plate, the right-handed hitter posted a top exit velocity of 99 mph, the highest on the day. His swing is longer through the zone with a flat path, creating easy jump off the barrel and bat-speed (T79.5 mph). Behind the plate, he works in-line on his throws to second with a clean transfer, recording an event-best 2.08 pop-time (T78 mph). 

3B/2B Jack Perrone (Hampshire) impressed the staff at Sunday’s event. He has a proportionate and projectable 5-foot-10, 166-pound frame. Perrone is quick and athletic, posting the best 60-yard dash time of the entire event at 6.72. The right-handed hitter has an athletic swing with loose wrists and a flatter path, working mostly to his pull-side throughout the round with a max EV of 96 mph. He has steady hands on the infield with patient actions and footwork, though his athleticism should allow him to transition to the outfield at the next level, if needed.  

A strong right-handed hitter to make note of from the day is INF Nolan Johnson (Mahomet-Seymour). Listed at 6-foot-1, 200-pounds, Johnson has an evenly distributed frame that still holds room to add on strength. He had one of the louder rounds of BP on the day, working up to 95.7 mph for his max EV while working hard on the barrel to both gaps. His swing stays on-plane through the zone with some length and looseness through impact. He showed steady hands on the infield that profiles him on the corners, also reaching up to 81 mph across. 

OF Jackson Barrins (Mount Carmel) took one of the better defensive rounds of the day, showing steady hands and footwork in the outfield, paired with the strongest arm by far in attendance (T87 mph). At the plate, he has some athleticism in his right-handed swing, working directly to the baseball with a flatter path. 

INF Nolan Benney (Belvidere North) gave a strong showing in his workout, putting up some highly impressive BLAST metrics. The right-handed hitter led the event in average hand-speed (22.3 mph) and average bat-speed (72.5 mph) - also creating the highest max rotational acceleration at 30.2 Gs. He has a compact, athletic right-handed swing that works on-plane, reaching up to 90 mph for his max EV. Defensively, he showed steady hands while playing through the ball with timing and intent. 

INF Tony Morano (Mundelein) is another bat to mention from the day, reaching up to 94 mph for his max EV. He has a simple and repeatable swing, staying balanced throughout with a flat path, working to stay up the middle of the field with line-drives. 

OF Raphael Davino (Hinsdale Central), INF Ryan Mendenhall (Williamsville) and INF Kyle Young (Proviso East) are three more hitters to note, all registering a max EV over 90 mph on the day - with Davino also leading the event in max hand-speed at 23.5 mph. 

Pitchers 

RHP Joseph Falkowski (Taft) was one, if not the biggest winner from the day. He has a stronger build at 6-foot-1, 195-pounds with round shoulders, and there's likely more room to add on strength in the coming years. Working exclusively out of the stretch, he works with some intent throughout his operation, coiling into a medium balance point before working down the mound with a drop/drive lower-half, pre-setting his front hip before he works downhill. His arm plays with a longer draw out of the glove, transitioning into a ¾ window. His fastball opened some eyes, sitting in the 88-90 mph range with some carry at times (T2337 RPM), setting up two high-spin breaking balls. His curveball played around 75-77 mph with over 2,700 RPM and sharp action, while his slider showed more horizontal break at 77-79 mph (T2622 RPM). Bullpen profile arm at the next level. 

RHP Colt Armbrust (St. Francis) was another one of the day’s biggest winners. He has a stronger lower-half and durable frame at 6-foot, 192-pounds, and there’s likely still more strength to come in the future. He has a powerful delivery, working with some pace into a medium balance point and coil, he works in-line down the mound with force and an athletic finish. His arm plays with a medium circle out of the glove, transitioning into a high ¾ window. His fastball played with life through the zone at 85-86 mph, T87 mph, keeping it mostly arm-side but also showing the ability to get it glove-side as well. His slider has out-pitch potential with sharp 10/4 bite and over 2,600 RPM, landing it for some strikes as well as out of the zone. His changeup is a quality third offering, thrown with fastball intent and slight arm-side fade. 

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