Prep Baseball Report

Become a Member

More +

Super 60 Preview: Jace Ziola, RHP, Omaha Skutt

January 31, 2025
Parker Hageman
Prep Baseball Upper Midwest

There's no denying it—Omaha Skutt's Jace Ziola feels on the verge of something special. 

Already ranked No. 2 in Nebraska and No. 299 nationally by Prep Baseball, the 2025 right-hander has seen his stock soar thanks to a fastball in the mid-90s, topping out at 96 MPH this offseason. With his combination of raw power, athleticism, and an unrelenting work ethic, Ziola is shaping to be one of Nebraska's most exciting arms in recent years.

"He dominated Class B baseball last year with a fastball that was 90-92 MPH," Prep Baseball Nebraska's state director Pascal Paul noted. "They knew it was coming. They couldn't hit it." That dominance has only continued, with Ziola refining every aspect of his game this offseason.

After a visit to Tread Athletics in North Carolina this winter, Ziola's fastball is now in the 94-96 MPH range, and Pascal Paul believes he has the potential to push triple digits down the line. His tall, long frame and natural strength give him the foundation to continue adding velocity as he matures. "I think his arm, his body, his length, and his strength—he's got a chance to throw 100 MPH," Pascal said. "I wouldn't be surprised if we see some high 90s from him at this event."

If Ziola can reach 96, he will overtake Nebraska's all-time Super 60 leader, Trey Frahm, who was 95.1 at the 2020 event, according to his Trackman profile (although he hit 96 on the Stalker). Heck, if Ziola can reach back for 97.7, he will be at the top of the national leaderboard, set by Blake Wolters in 2023 and hit again by Chris Levonas last year. Both pitchers were drafted the next summer. The Royals selected Wolters in the 2nd round of the 2023 draft, while Levonas was picked by the Brewers in the 2nd last year but ultimately chose to attend Wake Forest rather than sign. 

Ziola's overall pitchability has improved as well. His breaking ball has also taken a step forward, with tighter spin and better command in the zone, making it a legitimate secondary weapon. Pascal observed that his changeup remains a work in progress, but he rarely needs to go beyond his two elite pitches at the high school level. 

Coming from a family of elite athletes—his two brothers are wrestling commits to Nebraska, and his cousin is heading there for baseball—his natural gifts are evident. "Talk about a workout warrior," Pascal remarked. "Jace is, I think, ready to explode." 

"There's a little bit of funk to his arm action and delivery, creating some deception," Prep Baseball Upper Midwest Supervisor Rob Allison noted. "MLB teams love different guys. They don't want carbon copies—they want outliers. And Jace is an outlier in a lot of different ways, which makes him even that much more interesting."

Ziola quickly becomes a high-level draft prospect as his velocity climbs and overall arsenal sharpens. Rob Allison summarized his thoughts on whether Ziola would be a draft prospect this summer. "That's one thing MLB scout told me one time. The first box that he always needed to check was, 'If I sign this player, is he going to walk into a professional clubhouse and at least look the part?' Bring the athleticism. Bring the physicality." The answer for Ziola is a resounding yes. 

"This Nebraska guy is doing Nebraska things," Pascal joked in reference to a line of top-tier talent from the state at recent Super 60s. "We own this event."

With his relentless drive, big-game mentality, and high-velocity arsenal, Jace Ziola isn't just Nebraska's next big arm—he's a name that MLB organizations won't be ignoring for long.

Nebraska prospects at the Super 60 event

60 Times 

Player Class Pos High School 60-Time
Tyson Lewis 2024 SS Millard West 6.40
Cole Eaton 2023 OF Elkhorn South 6.56
Kale Fountain 2024 3B Norris 6.79
Eli Small 2023 C Elkhorn South 6.82
Max Anderson 2020 2B Millard West 7.09
Trey Frahm 2020 RHP Elkhorn 7.10
Garrett Kocis 2017 SS Millard West 7.15
Noah Greise 2020 C Millard South 7.22
Max McGuire 2017 C Lincoln Southwest 7.54
Mitchell Hagan 2016 OF Omaha Westside 7.64

Infield Velocity

Player Class Pos High School MPH
Max Anderson 2020 2B Millard West 90
Garrett Kocis 2017 SS Millard West 89
Kale Fountain 2024 3B Norris 87
Tyson Lewis 2024 SS Millard West 81

Outfield Velocity

 

Player Class Pos High School MPH
Cole Eaton 2023 OF Elkhorn South 101
Kale Fountain 2024 3B Norris 92
Mitchell Hagan 2016 OF Omaha Westside 88

Catcher Velocity


Player Class Pos High School MPH
Eli Small 2023 C Elkhorn South 89
Noah Greise 2020 C Millard South 82
Max McGuire 2017 C Lincoln Southwest 77

Catcher Pop Time



Player Class Pos High School Pop Time
Noah Greise 2020 C Millard South 1.88
Eli Small 2023 C Elkhorn South 1.90
Max McGuire 2017 C Lincoln Southwest 1.98

Exit Velocity

 
Player Class Pos High School MPH
Kale Fountain 2024 3B Norris 108.2
Tyson Lewis 2024 SS Millard West 108.0
Eli Small 2023 C Elkhorn South 102.3
Max Anderson 2020 2B Millard West 100.2
Cole Eaton 2023 OF Elkhorn South 98.5
Trey Frahm 2020 RHP Elkhorn 97
Max McGuire 2017 C Lincoln Southwest 95
Noah Greise 2020 C Millard South 94.3
Garrett Kocis 2017 SS Millard West 92
Mitchell Hagan 2016 OF Omaha Westside L: 90 R: 89

Fastball Velocity

 
Player Class Pos High School MPH
Trey Frahm 2020 RHP Elkhorn 96
Shea Wendt 2023 RHP Blair 94.2
Garrett Kocis 2018 SS/RHP Millard West 93
Tyler Ruhl 2020 RHP Millard West 91
CJ Hood 2021 RHP Norris 91
Jamie Young 2017 LHP Norris 89
Sayer Diederich 2019 LHP Elkhorn South 88