On Tuesday, September 27th, the PBR Illinois and PBR Missouri staffs converged at GCS Ballpark in Sauget, Illinois, to host the second annual Battle for The Arch event. This invite-only showcase featured prospects from Illinois and Missouri split into their respective teams, starting with a workout portion that was followed by gameplay.

To see which prospects attended this event, click HERE. For all the statistics collected at the event, click HERE. 

You can read up on all the position players that attended the event, below. 

TEAM ILLINOIS

Jayden Diaz, Alton (IL), 2023 Wabash Valley JC
Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 5-9, 188-pounds.
Hit: LHH. Quiet, relaxed setup, minimal wasted movement. Strong hands, easy effort, heavy barrel, natural uphill stroke and easy jump off the barrel. Power potential with gap-to-gap approach.
Power: 97 mph max exit velocity, averaged 90.2 mph. 381’ max distance.
Game Stats: 1-for-3, 2B, RBI.
Arm: RH. C - 69 mph.  Short arm action, over-the-top slot, consistently on the bag.
Defense: 2.07-2.13 pop times. Soft hands, gets underneath the pitch at the bottom of the zone. Easy effort, athletic and directional out of the crouch.
Run: 7.04 runner in the 60. 

Reed Drabant, Columbia (IL), 2023
Positional Profile: OF/SS
Body: 5-11, 175-pounds.
Hit: LHH. Balanced slightly open setup, rhythmic load and leg-lift trigger. Strong hands, short direct path and stays through the zone.
Power: 92 mph max exit velocity, averaged 81 mph. 298’ max distance.
Game Stats: 2-for-3, 2B, BB.
Arm: RH.  OF - 87 mph. Clean arm, over-the-top slot and throws carry.
Defense: Steady hands, plays through the baseball, clean actions.
Run: 7.12 runner in the 60. 

Trevor Geis, Mascoutah (IL), 2024
Positional Profile: OF/RHP
Body: 6-2, 170-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Wide, quiet setup, minimal pre-pitch movement. Athletic, quick hands, creates leverage and jump off the barrel, uphill path and works gap-to-gap.
Power: 92 mph max exit velocity, averaged 83.2 mph. 347’ max distance.
Game Stats: 0-for-2
Arm: RH.  OF - 88 mph. Long arm action, plays strong out of a high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Attacks the baseball, sure-hands, plays through in rhythm and proper routes.
Run: 7.20 runner in the 60. 

Griffin Graue, Glenwood (IL), 2023
Positional Profile: C/OF
Body: 6-2, 175-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Wide setup, short stride and minimal wasted movement. Long swing, on time, uses the middle of the field and stays balanced through contact.
Power: 87 mph max exit velocity, averaged 80.2 mph. 314’ max distance.
Game Stats: 1-for-2, 2B, BB.
Arm: RH. C - 74 mph.  Short, quick arm action, over-the-top slot.
Defense: 2.08-2.14 pop times. Strong wrists, quiet actions, presents pitches in and around the zone. Directional and clean out of the crouch.
Run: 7.23 runner in the 60. 

Seth Impson, Springfield (IL), 2024
Positional Profile: C/SS
Body: 6-0, 165-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Athletic setup, pre-pitch rhythm and load. Fluid swing, length through the zone, line-drive approach and uses the middle of the field.
Power: 91 mph max exit velocity, averaged 84.2 mph. 356’ max distance.
Game Stats: 2-for-2, HBP, 2B.
Arm: RH. C - 73 mph.  Short, loose, clean arm, plays with life and carry; on the bag.
Defense: 2.02-2.09 pop times. Flexible hips, quiet actions, soft hands, clean and athletic out of the chute.
Run: 7.09 runner in the 60. 

Alec Marchetto, Edwardsville (IL), 2024
Positional Profile: RHP/3B
Body: 6-2, 210-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, short leg-lift trigger. Strong hands, long path, creates whip, works gap-to-gap with strength off the barrel.
Power: 93 mph max exit velocity, averaged 84.1 mph. 347’ max distance.
Arm: RH. INF - 83 mph. Long arm action, 3/4 to low 3/4 slot.
Defense: Gets around the baseball, steady hands and clean with length through release.
Run: 7.62 runner in the 60. 

Alex Schreckenberg, Columbia (IL), 2023
Positional Profile: 2B/OF
Body: 6-2, 195-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Wide setup, minimal load, short stride and pre-pitch bat tip. Strong hands, long path, consistently on time and on the barrel. Sneaky strength and jump off the barrel at times.
Power: 92 mph max exit velocity, averaged 83.5 mph. 315’ max distance.
Game Stats: 1-for-2
Arm: RH. INF - 78 mph. Ability to throw from multiple slots; arm plays long.
Defense: Secures the baseball out front, funnels through release.
Run: 6.94 runner in the 60. 

Easton Steck, Galesburg (IL), 2023 Illinois-Springfield
Positional Profile: SS/OF
Body: 6-2, 185-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Upright, balanced setup, short toe-tap stride. Long path, creates leverage and easy jump off the barrel. Gap-to-gap approach with pull-side strength.
Power: 97 mph max exit velocity, averaged 84.5 mph. 336’ max distance.
Game Stats: 0-for-2.
Arm: RH. INF - 80 mph. Short arm action, high 3/4 slot and arm plays accurate.
Defense: Clean, steady defender, sure-handed plays low and out front, clean release.
Run: 6.91 runner in the 60. 

Jake Stedman, Belleville West (IL), 2024
Positional Profile: SS/OF
Body: 5-10, 170-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Balanced, slightly open setup, pre-pitch load and leg-lift trigger. Simple swing, stays inside the baseball, whole field approach and feel for the barrel.
Power: 91 mph max exit velocity, averaged 79.8 mph. 312’ max distance.
Game Stats: 0-for-3, SB.
Arm: RH. INF - 86 mph. Ability to throw from multiple angles, natural high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Charges the baseball, plays low to the ground, steady hands and clean release.
Run: 7.32 runner in the 60. 

Aaron Stuart, St Ignatius (IL), 2023
Positional Profile: SS/OF
Body: 6-1, 175-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Wide, square setup, short stride.  Direct swing, uphill tendencies and creates leverage.
Power: 95 mph max exit velocity, averaged 82 mph. 340’ max distance.
Game Stats: 0-for-2.
Arm: RH. INF - 82 mph. OF - 81 mph. Short, clean arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Easy, fluid outfield actions, plays through in rhythm, soft hands. Clean, athletic infield actions, comes and gets the baseball, plays through in rhythm, trusts hands and clean release.
Run: 6.88 runner in the 60. 

Nolan Turner, Routt Catholic (IL), 2024
Positional Profile: SS/2B
Body: 5-11, 165-pounds.
Hit: LHH. Balanced setup, fluid load and stride. Loose hands, natural uphill stroke and easy effort. Balanced finish, gap-to-gap approach and feel for the barrel.
Power: 90 mph max exit velocity, averaged 79.7 mph. 304’ max distance.
Game Stats: 0-for-3, HBP.
Arm: RH. INF - 84 mph. Long arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Active feet, gets around the baseball, plays out front at times.
Run: 7.12 runner in the 60. 

Jordan Vazquez, Fenwick (IL), 2023
Positional Profile: SS/3B
Body: 6-0, 170-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, fluid pre-pitch rhythm, short stride. Long, level swing, loose hands, middle of the field approach and stays within himself.
Power: 90 mph max exit velocity, averaged 78.8 mph. 314’ max distance.
Game Stats: 1-for-2, 2B.
Arm: RH. INF - 86 mph. Loose arm, plays from multiple slots, flashed carry.
Defense: Athletic actions, soft hands, plays with body control.
Run: 7.28 runner in the 60. 

TEAM MISSOURI

Hayden Boyd, Seckman (MO), 2024
Positional Profile: SS/RHP
Body: 6-2, 180-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Wide setup, slightly crouched, minimal load and stride. Athletic, strong hands, long path, consistently on time and on the barrel; pull-side tendencies.
Power: 92 mph max exit velocity, averaged 84.2 mph. 341’ max distance.
Arm: RH. INF - 83 mph. Clean arm, plays from multiple slots.
Defense: Athletic actions, body control on the move, soft hands.
Run: 7.62 runner in the 60. 

Kody Brown, Seckman (MO), 2024
Positional Profile: C/OF
Body: 5-9, 170-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, smooth load and short stride. Athletic, loose hands, bat stays on plane, slight uphill tendencies through the zone and uses the whole field.
Power: 97 mph max exit velocity, averaged 89 mph. 367’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 75 mph.  OF - 83 mph. Short arm, over-the-top slot.
Defense: 1.98-2.03 pop times. Easy actions, plays light on his feet, steady hands. Behind the plate, quiet, easy actions, simple and repeatable out of the crouch.
Run: 6.83 runner in the 60. 

Luke Burns, Desmet (MO), 2023
Positional Profile: OF/1B
Body: 6-1, 195-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Crouched setup, pre-pitch load and short stride. Strong hands, direct uphill path, above-average bat strength and the ball jumps off the bat.
Power: 95 mph max exit velocity, averaged 86.1 mph. 350’ max distance.
Arm: RH.  OF - 82 mph. Long arm action, over-the-top slot.
Defense: Active feet, gets around the baseball, plays through, sure-handed.
Run: 7.06 runner in the 60. 

Cayden Gibson, Fort Zumwalt West (MO), 2024
Positional Profile: OF/SS
Body: 5-9, 155-pounds.
Hit: LHH. Wide setup, pre-pitch load and short stride. Direct path, level through the zone and looks to control the barrel. Pull-side tendencies.
Power: 89 mph max exit velocity, averaged 81.5 mph. 324’ max distance.
Arm: RH.  OF - 78 mph. Short arm action, 3/4 slot
Defense: Charges the baseball, clean and quick release, steady hands.
Run: 6.93 runner in the 60. 

Tyler Laskowski, Christian Brothers College (MO), 2024
Positional Profile: 1B/OF
Body: 6-0, 185-pounds.
Hit: LHH. Balanced setup, present rhythm, simple stride. Quiet, strong swing, above-average bat strength, looks to lift the baseball with authority.
Power: 92 mph max exit velocity, averaged 81.8 mph. 320’ max distance.
Arm: RH. INF - 77 mph. Long arm action, 3/4 slot.
Defense: Clean actions, feel around the bag, smooth release.
Run: 7.84 runner in the 60. 

Charles McCaleb, Timberland (MO), 2023
Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 5-9, 195-pounds.
Hit: SH. Open, relaxed setup, leg-kick trigger. Above-average bat speed, twitchy through the zone, lets the ball travel and uphill through the zone. Polished, impressive round of BP.
Power: 99 mph max exit velocity, averaged 87.4 mph. 369’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 74 mph. INF - 79 mph. Over-the-top slot and short draw out of the glove.
Defense: 1.94-2.03 pop times. Quiet, steady actions, presents pitches. Athletic and quick out of the crouch. Easy actions on the infield, secures into body, clean release.
Run: 7.13 runner in the 60. 

Wyatt Miller, Francis Howell Central (MO), 2023
Positional Profile: SS/3B
Body: 5-10, 182-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Balanced, slightly crouched setup, leg-kick trigger. Strong hands, uphill path, creates bat speed and works to the pull-side of the diamond.
Power: 92 mph max exit velocity, averaged 87 mph. 249’ max distance.
Arm: RH. INF - 80 mph. Short arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Quick, bouncy feet, gets around the baseball, plays with body control on the move, quick release.
Run: 7.41 runner in the 60. 

Ayden Rogers, Francis Howell (MO), 2023
Positional Profile: C/C
Body: 5-11, 200-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Relaxed setup, calm load and stride. Loose hands, works flat and on top of the baseball, ability to create backspin at times. Works the middle of the field consistently.
Power: 91 mph max exit velocity, averaged 76.4 mph. 302’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 80 mph.  Long arm action, over-the-top slot.
Defense: 2.00-2.08 pop times. Easy. soft hands, athletic out of the crouch, effort at times.
Run: 7.83 runner in the 60. 

Jake Schulte, Russellville (MO), 2023
Positional Profile: C/1B
Body: 6-0, 175-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Wide, slightly closed setup, short stride. Simple, balanced swing, loose hands and easy effort.
Power: 91 mph max exit velocity, averaged 76.9 mph. 264’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 76 mph.  Clean arm, over-the-top slot and consistently around the second base bag.
Defense: 2.02-2.06 pop times. Flexible hips, quiet hands. Easy and repeatable out of the crouch.
Run: 6.94 runner in the 60. 

Edward Uschold, Parkway South (MO), 2023
Positional Profile: SS/3B
Body: 6-1, 192-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Tall, relaxed setup, leg-kick timing trigger. Loose, athletic hands, whippy through the zone and ball jumps off the bat.
Power: 99 mph max exit velocity, averaged 86.2 mph. 366’ max distance.
Arm: RH. INF - 81 mph. Long arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Steady hands, funnels through release, ability to play on the move.
Run: 7.11 runner in the 60. 

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