Since 2015, the PBR Illinois staff has hosted an unsigned senior event in the late summer to provide uncommitted prospects in the state a platform to play against one another. On Tuesday, Aug. 11, Senior Games returns to Crestwood at Ozinga Field where players will gather to perform in a showcase setting before gearing up to play simulated live game action in the afternoon.

Unique to this year’s event, the 2020 Illinois Senior Games will be live-streamed to better deliver the player’s performances at this event to the college recruiting community. For more information regarding Tuesday’s event, click here. For the most up-to-date roster, click here.

EVENT HISTORY

Looking back to previous years’ event rosters, there have already been 45 commitments made from the 2019 showcase, 47 in 2018, and 68 in 2017. Among the programs to have landed commitments from those in attendance, JUCOs like Lake Land, Heartland, Parkland, Triton, and McHenry County among many others, as well as talented Division-III programs like Wisconsin-La Crosse, North Central College, Millikin, and Benedictine. D-I programs also frequently check in on this event, and prospects have committed to the likes of Western Illinois, Valparaiso, Dayton, Saint Louis, Butler, Illinois-Chicago, and Wisconsin-Milwaukee over the showcase’s history.

Taking a quick look back to last year’s showcase, RHP Alex Rodriguez (Bradley-Bourbonnais, 2020) was one of the first prospects to commit following the showcase. He landed a spot within Valparaiso’s incoming ‘20 class with the help of his big size and mid-80s fastball. The top prospect at this event, SS Breck Nowik (Lake Forest, 2020), came away with a commitment to Illinois-Chicago around this time last year, too. The lean and athletic RHP Will Jaynes (Waubonsie Valley, 2020) is headed to Western Illinois this fall while in possession of one of this event’s top fastballs last year.

So, we’re looking forward to seeing who emerges from an exceptionally loaded roster this year.

ROSTER

Because this summer is not like the others, there are many more gifted players from Illinois who remain uncommitted than we’re accustomed to seeing. Each of the four teams is packed with 2021 prospects deserving of next-level opportunities, like 3B Andrew Jimenez (St. Charles North). Jimenez represented Team Illinois at the 2019 PBR Future Games as one of its most physical prospects. He’s only added defined strength since then and he remains a high-follow prospect for his impressive toolset. Jimenez has demonstrated plus speed in the past (6.62 in the 60-yard dash), as well as huge bat strength, combined with enough arm to stick to third base.

Andrew Jimenez (7/3/19)

From Mt. Pulaski and another former Future Gamer, RHP Drew Martin looks like one of the top uncommitted arms headed our way. Sitting 85-86 mph at an event in June, Martin has a projectable 6-foot-1 build with some big upside to be on the lookout for at this event. An under-the-radar name to keep an eye here is SS/2B Kyle Washington (Jacobs). He’s a sound up-the-middle defender with a level switch-hit bat who also offers some premium athleticism.

C Daniel Contreras (Rockford Boylan) is an advanced catcher who moves freely from behind the plate, suffocating balls in the dirt. He's also a right-handed hitter who strikes the ball hard on repeat and with consistency and barrel feel.

1B Bobby Atkinson (St. Rita) should be one of the top bats in attendance on Tuesday. He swings a loose lefty bat that he easily repeats off an uphill plane, and he knows how to get to his power to the pull side.

The twins from Lincoln-Way Central, SS/OF Michael Maloney and 3B/RHP Matthew, both swing quick and athletic right-handed bats and both are advanced defenders who can play multiple positions.

RHP Dylan Petrey (Hampshire) has pitched very well this summer, utilizing a pitchability four-pitch mix. With a low- to-mid-80s fastball that he can spot, he also frequently goes to the slider and changeup to do away with batters.

Hononegah’s Braden Sayles is another tooled-up outfielder to know on Tuesday. Sayles can do a little bit of everything. He can run, moves easy in the outfield, and gets to above-average bat strength from the left side, especially for his size.

C Sebastian Cabeza (Kaneland) is one of the top-ranked prospects headed to the event. He swings from a strong gap-to-gap approach from the right side and he’s also a natural backstop, fit with all of the necessary actions with average to a tick above arm strength that plays up with his consistent accuracy.

Sebastian Cabeza (2/9/20)

3B Giacomo Fanizza (Lake Park) starred at a couple preseason events for his power-speed combo. He takes aggressive right-handed hacks off an uphill path that help him produce some innate power potential. Fanizza also plays the left side of the infield with a high energy that allow him to play well while on the move.

Another high-follow arm to know is RHP Will Morris (Plainfield South). There’s athleticism in his 6-foot-5 build, with a long, loose, and clean arm action that helps him generate mid-80s stuff, up to 87 mph, with hard arm-side action.

Will Morris (6/16/20)

SS/RHP Michael Rivera (Warren Township) is among the more interesting two-way talents on Tuesday’s roster. Rivera is a natural on defense with shortstop actions, big arm strength, who swings a simple right-handed bat. He’s been up to 88 mph on the mound in front of our staff and he’s shown the ability to miss bats with a tight slider.

Few will be as physical as St. Rita’s Steve Sanderson come Tuesday. A 6-foot-1, 195-pound athlete with immense potential. The twitch and huge raw power in his right-handed bat is where his value lies.

ITINERARY

Again, for a look at the rosters of all four teams, click here. Position players from all teams will check-in at the same time in the schedule as follows:

• 8:20 - 8:40 a.m. – Position Players Check-in
  
• 8:40 - 9 a.m. – Stretch/Intro
  
• 9:00 -11:45 a.m. – Position Player Workout
  

As of now, we’re currently scheduled to play two simulated games, with the first beginning at 11:45 a.m. Players registered as pitchers-only will check in one hour before their team’s scheduled game time.

• 11:45 a.m. – Team 1 vs. Team 2
  
• 1:30 p.m. – Team 3 vs. Team 4
  

*NOTE: Games are simulated to regulate pitch counts and innings played.

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