PBR at The Rock Fall Championships: Upperclass Watchlist

Uncommitted “...is an uncommitted arm who flashed swing-and-miss stuff in his three innings of work, striking out four. Bormann has a quick arm, ran his fastball up to 87.1 mph (2344 average rpm) and showed a potential go-to secondary offering in his 72-75 mph curveball with an average of 2,452 rpm and late bite.”

Uncommitted  “...created some intrigue among our scouting staff with his ultra-projectable frame and eye-popping TrackMan metrics. Standing at 6-foot-2, 165 pounds, the right-hander moves down the mound with highly athletic movement patterns in his lower half, transitioning into a clean and loose arm that plays from a high ¾ slot. In addition to his fluid movements, Tarr boasted the top spin rate among the event’s curveballs, averaging over 2,700 rpm and reaching a max of 2,771. He throws his curve with confidence while consistently landing it for strikes, playing with sharp 11/5 shape and depth in the 72-73 mph range. Tarr also displayed one of the best sliders in the entire event, thrown with intent off a short 10/4 plane at 74-75 mph, averaging 2,555 rpm (2,642 max). The right-hander’s fastball impressed on its own, working up to 87.8 mph while spinning at an average of 2,365 rpm (2,416 max), jumping out of the hand and playing through the zone with natural running action to the arm-side.”

Southern Illinois - Edwardsville commit “...6-foot, 190-pounds; physical at the plate with advanced bat speed and consistently works on the barrel with little swing-and-miss. Launched a no-doubt home run on Field 4 that comfortably cleared the right field fence by 30 or so feet. Took a highly impressive BP round at the Illinois Preseason All-State this winter, 101.8 mph max EV, 94.4 mph average EV, and also ran a 7.02 60 with 90 mph arm strength across the infield. Profiles as a middle-of-the-order type bat at the next level with thump from the left side.”

Uncommitted “...physical frame, 6-foot-3, 195-pounds, broad shoulders with equally distributed strength. Started at third-base and hit out of the cleanup spot for Oswego East; barrelled up multiple balls throughout the day including a single, later coming around to score. The right-handed hitter uses a simple load, getting his foot down early to be on time; his hands work quickly to the ball with an uphill path, quick turn through the ball with some effort, easy bat-speed in-game. Physically right-handed bat to know in the 2023 class.”

Uncommitted “...has advanced infield actions and throughout the three games, solidified himself as one of the better defensive infielders in attendance. In gameplay, Thaxton made multiple above-average plays at shortstop, including going up and getting a line-drive at its highest point. He also was comfortable on the move making a number of plays to both sides look relatively easy. Thaxton also was on the barrel throughout the two days finishing 3-for-5 with a double, walk and a run scored.”

Uncommitted “...the 6-foot-4, 185-pound right-hander has projection in his lanky frame, showing plenty of room to add on strength in the coming years. Down the mound, Kennamann moves with a strong front hip, leading down the mound with a drop/drive lower-half and staying directional with the plate throughout. His fastball worked in the 80-83 mph range and set up two different breaking balls - first going to a slurvy slider with 10/4 shape, 71-73 mph. His second breaking ball was a curveball off an 11/5 plane at 62-63 mph.”

Illinois - Chicago commit “...Belbot is an athletic, 6-foot-1, 180 pound righty with an impressive 3-pitch mix. He showed advanced spin metrics on his FB & CB, sitting 87-89 mph on the FB with spin from 2350-2500 and 73-76 mph on the CB with 2500+ spin. His CH was the most impressive pitch to me with late fade at 81-82 mph. Belbot committed to UIC shortly after this event.”

Uncommitted “...continues to ascend up our board everytime we see him. Long known for his prowess with his bat, the left-handed hitting catcher has made big strides behind the plate, especially with his arm. There were a number of times where Malzone came out of the chute and showed off a well above-average arm that played accurate and with life. His bat continued to look like one of the better still on the market, playing with extreme ease and comfort in the box. Malzone is never in a rush, rarely chases and when he gets the pitch he is looking for, rarely misses. Malzone provided one of the hardest hit balls of the event, a no-doubt home run to deep right-field on the first evening.”

Uncommitted “...was a winner offensively, starting with a quality showing in BP. Malone, who averaged the highest hand speed of any prospect in attendance at 25.9 mph, worked direct to contact with a short, quick right-handed stroke that produced quality line drive contact to all fields. He showed that knack for contact in game, finding the barrel a few times in game one and working a deep count against high-end velocity on day two before lining out to second base.”

Uncommitted “...certainly left a positive impression on our scouts after a quality all-around showing on Sunday. The 5-foot-9, 155-pound sophomore showed a repeatable right-handed stroke in BP, staying short to the baseball with sneaky barrel strength and gap-to-gap feel. Murphy’s glove may be his biggest asset as he projects to stick somewhere on the infield in the long-term. He owns an innately advanced feel for himself on the dirt, moving with tempo and rhythm with comfortably nimble feet throughout. He also recorded the day’s hardest throw across the diamond, reaching an 87 mph high, and his arm is capable of accurately playing from multiple angles, too. Murphy joins a quality list of name-to-know prospects from the Fox Valley Conference.”

Illinois commit "...debuts at 16th overall after an eye-popping performance at The Rock earlier this summer, committing to Illinois shortly afterwards. Mazzacano offers intrigue on both sides of the ball, comfortably tracking down baseballs in center field with an athletic left-handed stroke at the plate, too. He generated the most buzz on the mound, pumping strikes from a loose, clean arm with athletic movement patterns downhill. His fastball played at 84-86 mph, and he spun a slurvey-type breaking ball at 72-76 mph around the zone, too.”

Uncommitted “...emerged a winner from this winter. A well-proportioned 6-foot-3, 185-pound southpaw with plenty of room for added mass, Meyer put together a polished ‘pen, showcasing a clean three-pitch mix. He worked with poise and fluidity downhill, controlling his lower half to front foot strike in a controlled manner. His fastball played at 80-81 mph from a loose, low-effort arm stroke and there’s certainly more untapped velocity in the tank. Meyer confidently threw his changeup at arm speed in the 74-76 mph range and it consistently played with late arm-side action. He threw a slider with lateral action off a 2/8 plane at 73-75 mph as well, landing it for strikes and making for an effective pairing with his fastball should he work the arm-side corner of the plate. Meyer’s present polish and future outlook on the mound are both standout attributes for his age.”

Pittsburgh commit "...arguably the top prospect in attendance, regardless of class, at the Illinois State Games. A high-waisted athlete that’s 6-foot-1, 170-pounds, the switch-hitting Bell displayed a silky-smooth swing from both sides of the plate throughout the event, hammering balls off the barrel with gap-to-gap feel. He’ll grow into more power as he fills out his frame, and Bell owns one of the highest offensive ceilings in his class. Defensively, Bell’s sure-handed actions and arm strength should keep him on the left side of the infield long term. Expect him to be a high-end name in the state’s 2024 class throughout his amateur career.”

Uncommitted "... Long, lean 5-foot-10, 145-pounds with some upside. Left-handed hitting outfielder played center field for his team. Simple, balanced stance, hands held low and close to his body, minimal load pre-pitch with a short stride. Athletic hands with direct swing, spray hitter to all fields with a line drive approach. Buckley had three hits in the game, going 3-for-4 with two singles shot right back up the middle of the field, a double to the pull side and drove in two RBIs.”

Uncommitted “...showed well as one of the younger prospects at this year’s Future Games and continued to back it up at the State Games. Infelise has a strong frame and his right-handed bat fits the mold of a middle-of-the-order bat moving forward. He is rarely off balance and off the barrel as he covers the whole plate and can drive the ball with authority to all fields. Defensively, he is developing behind the plate but has the tools to stick back there including a big arm that plays with life when it syncs up. High-follow 2025 in the state.”

Uncommitted “...offers a physically intriguing frame for his age, standing at a well-proportioned 6-foot-3, 175-pounds. King was amongst the day’s final arms and he looked the part on the mound, working in a clean drop-and-drive downhill pattern in his ‘pen. He ran his fastball up to 82 mph, sitting at 79-81 mph, and showed a feel for a low-70s changeup with slight arm-side action. King threw two breaking balls, the most presently effective one being a curveball with depth at 64-68 mph. We saw King perform at The Rock this summer and we’re looking forward to watching him continue to develop as his high school career progresses.”

Uncommitted “...featured some of the highest upside at the event. Tunink has a 5-foot-11, 165-pound, athletic, squared shouldered frame with plenty more strength to come down the road. He ran a 6.87 60 and showed a polished swing with present bat speed and power. Tunink registered the second highest average bat speed of the event at 73.9 mph. He also had the top average exit velocity at 90.2 mph and routinely squared up baseballs in the air to the pull-side of the diamond. It's an athletic, repeatable swing that works on balance and with minimal effort. Defensively, he moves with fluidity, getting around and playing through the baseball in rhythm and with ease to go along with an arm that topped at 85 mph.”

Uncommitted “...With one of the more impressive arms in attendance, especially for his age, the strong-bodied, 6-foot-3, 200-pound right-hander ran his fastball up to 84 mph on the mound, in a straight four-seam profile that explodes through the zone. Putty’s most intriguing change-of-pace offering was a diving changeup at 68-70 mph, which he was able to navigate around the zone with ease while also showing noteworthy sink. He rounded out his three-pitch mix with a short 11/5 breaking ball, thrown at 65-68 mph with developing feel. Offensively, Putty has advanced bat strength, with a long path, built to elevate the baseball. Putty registered a max exit velocity of 92.9 mph and a max batted-ball distance of 339 feet, both according to TrackMan. Defensively, he profiles at a corner infield spot, featuring plenty of arm strength for the left side."

Uncommitted “...came away as an intriguing two-way prospect to keep tabs on throughout the coming years. The projectable 6-foot-1, 160-pound infielder works from an open setup into a smooth load, utilizing a leg-kick timing trigger in the right-handed batter's box. Dabe worked gap-to-gap throughout his round of BP, using a quick, short uphill path to the ball.”

Uncommitted  “...Athletic, physically built 6-foot-2, 210-pound frame. Took the mound for GRB Rays - Green in the tournament’s opening slot and twirled a quality outing. Has cleaned up his operation and steadily sustained an uptick in velocity over the last six months. Fastball plays in the 85-88 mph range, peaking at 89 mph with feel for the zone. Spins a tight, firm mid-to-upper-70s slider and will sink a low-80s changeup, too. Also has intrigue as a position player; 6.82 60-yard dash, 97.5 mph max exit velocity, and topped at 93 mph from the outfield this winter. Former PBR Future Games prospect that’s a trending uncommitted follow in Wisconsin’s 2023 class.”

Uncommitted “...Alonso was an impressive junior outfielder who exited the event as one of its statistical winners. Standing in a developed, physical 6-foot-1, 190-pound frame, and running a 6.74 in the 60. From the right-handed box, Alonso worked from a stock setup with spaced elbows, and tipping his barrel vertically before triggering. Alonso worked the middle of the field with strong hands and mature actions throughout his round. He generated exits as high as 95.5 mph with barrel control, and hit line-drives and fly balls exclusively. Alonso also showed athletic feel in the outfield with above-average arm strength (86 mph high).”

Uncommitted “...Turner stands at 6-foot, 180 pounds, with a strong lower half that he used to record a 6.98 time in the 60. Standing crouched and narrow in the right-handed box, with his hands tight to his neck, with minimal load. Turner enters the zone short to the ball with grounded swings. He works from inside and stays through the middle of the field with his barrel release. Hard line-drives through the middle of the field while averaging 77.5 mph barrel speed and exits as high as 96.2 mph.”

Uncommitted “...Few players did more this summer to elevate his prospect stock more than Verona’s Jack DeTienne. DeTienne is a 6-foot-1, 160-pound is another prospect on this list who participated at the PBR Future Games as part of Team Wisconsin, and he created some of the team’s loudest buzz by living in the upper-80s, touching 90 mph multiple times. DeTienne also spins a biting curveball aggressively and mixes in a sinking changeup that complements the fastball very well. More importantly, he was lockdown at LakePoint, earning four outs on a breezy 11 pitches in his first outing and he authored another scoreless frame in his second. Per ProPlayAI technology, DeTienne generates tremendous force and velocity with his lead leg, signaling big velocity potential in his future – and the lean and wiry right-hander is already scraping the low-90s. He has the electric combination of a swing-and-miss mix at present, as well as some indicators that suggest he’s just beginning to break out.”

Uncommitted “…Hurd showed well on Wednesday at the Future Games as both a hitter and infielder. Standing at a 5-foot-10, 165-pound frame, Hurd features projectability and room to grow as a to-be junior. During his infield session, Hurd reached a max velocity of 83 mph from the shortstop position, displaying clean actions. Offensively, hands remain still during his load, bringing a slight leg kick, flat bat path, and a short swing. Found barrels on Wednesday, as Hurd had hard hits in 67% of his batted balls.” 

Uncommitted “...Casper is listed at 5-foot-8, 180 pounds, is a strong backstop with a gifted defensive skill set. Casper is one of the few catchers this winter who was able to record pop times below 2.00 (1.93 low), throwing a respectable 76 mph down to second from a quick release. At the plate, Casper worked out of a balanced, and crouched setup with 70 mph barrel speed, staying short to the ball with a pre-set barrel, and working from above with a tight swing arc. Casper notably had good feel for his barrel release, and marked a max exit around 91.4 mph."

Uncommitted “...Kabat is 5-foot-10, 175-pounds with a well-proportioned frame with a defined lower half. Shows a loose, easy delivery with clean arm action. Repeats mechanics well through all pitches in his repertoire. Works fast on the mound with a strong, commanding presence. FB sat 84-86mph, displayed cutting action at times. CB sat 72-74mph with a sharp 10/4 break. Created lots of swings-and-misses with the BB, showed confidence to throw in any count."

Uncommitted “…A strong summer circuit from the uncommitted Olson helped him leapfrog up our rankings, which landed him at No. 31 overall. Olson was another name in attendance at our Top Prospect Milwaukee event back in July where he strung together one of the best all-around days during our time at The Rock. He started off his day with a 6.87 in the 60-yard dash and followed it up with a loud round of BP where he registered a 98 mph max exit velocity with a max carry distance of 362 ft. Olson is a versatile defender whose ability to hit, something we have seen multiple times in person, will help him when he reaches the next level.” 

Uncommitted “... is a steady defender on the infield, likely profiling as a 2B/3B,  he showed the ability to athletically turn the double play, soft, reliant hands, and a carryable arm at times. Offensively, Davidson showed the same repeatable left-handed stroke we’ve seen from him in the past - one that’s consistently hit in-game and helped lead St. Joseph to the D3 state championship last summer. He worked line drives off the barrel throughout BP and efficiently stayed on-plane throughout. Davidson appears to have improved his athleticism throughout the off-season as well, dropping his 60-yard dash time nearly a full half-second since we saw him in the summer, running a 6.96 this past weekend."

Uncommitted “...Niemiec was one of the most effective pitchers across the WIAA this spring, and the data attached to his arsenal makes it easy to see why. Niemiec’s fastball sits 85-87 mph with rise and run through the strike zone, and he mixes in one of the state’s best breaking balls, too. Combine this mix with his sturdy 6-foot-5, 205-pound stature, and Niemiec looks like one of the top uncommitted arms in the state’s ‘23 class."

Uncommitted “...Bauer is a muscular, twitchy 5-foot-9, 165-pound prospect in the state that has caught the attention of our staff over the past year-plus. At this event, Bauer showed us more of the same impactful right-handed contact that results in low-lying liners that he connects primarily to his pull-side. He measured a max exit speed of 95.8 mph, which is significant for his stature, class, and position, and Bauer also showcased as a smooth, quick-footed defender during infield evals. His explosive athleticism – 19.8 mph top speed – finds ways to influence the game often, and he’s a ranked member within the state’s Class of 2024 as a result."

Team: GRB STiKS 2023/2024

Uncommitted “...Takahashi is a strong 5-foot-8, 172-pound athlete who had a quality showing on Tuesday. After being referenced as one of the top outfield prospects in the West Milwaukee Preseason ID earlier in the spring, Takahashi proved once again why his name was mentioned. From the left side of the batter’s box, Takahashi consistently drove the ball in his BP session, averaging 279 feet, one of the top distances for the 2024s. In gameplay, he got two hits in his three at-bats, including an RBI.”

Uncommitted “... At 5-foot-10, 170-pounds, Lueptow threw his fastball in the low-80s, reaching an 84 mph high, and also owned one of the highest in-zone rates for his fastball on the day, throwing it for strikes at a 66-percent clip. Lueptow’s curveball played at 73-76 mph with tight spin off an 11/5 axis, averaging 2,200+ RPM, while his changeup flashed late tumble off a similar plane to his fastball at 76-77 mph. Lueptow’s arm strength translated to the outfield as well, reaching an 87 mph max to home during his defensive workout, and was 87mph off the bat."

Uncommitted “...The 6-foot, 170-pound junior started his day with a 6.76 in the 60-yard dash out of an athletic gait with quick feet. In the box, Steuber sets up crouched, open, and striding square. From a 45 degree barrel set, he enters the zone with a more vertical orientation up to 71.6 mph barrel speed. Steuber works through the zone from high to low and has a quality knack for timing his impact window. In the outfield he works a longer loop action from a high slot, carry, accuracy, and showed advanced arm strength for his age, topping at 89 mph high on his hardest bullet. On the mound, Steuber works with an up-tempo delivery, dropping into a powerful lower-half and striding slightly across his body. His fastball worked its way up to 86 mph with noticeable life out of the hand and finish through the zone. He then went to a curveball, thrown off an 11/5 plane with acceleration through release, 74-76 mph. To round out his arsenal, Steuber went to an intriguing knuckleball, thrown at 75-76 mph that he kills the spin on effectively."

Uncommitted “...Flugaur is a compact 5-foot-9, 180-pounds and got the nod for Hitters on Friday. Flugaur excelled, twirling a complete game gem and allowing just one run which was just enough as the offense could only muster two runs respectively. During his seven innings Flugaur tallied 10 strikeouts in part to his fastball that sat 82-85 mph which earned him a lot of swings and misses in the zone. He also spun in two different types of breaking balls, one a more traditional curveball that flashed some late depth and the other being more of a slider which he showed a lot more feel for and got a lot of swings and misses on it as well.”

Uncommitted “...Thomae was another one of this event’s biggest winners. He brings to the ballpark some of the class’ best overall athleticism and he makes sure that it translates into gameplay, too. He’s a 6-foot, 175-pound prospect with a simple, repeatable right-handed swing that allows him to routinely and effortlessly land barrel after barrel. He peppered the left-center gap casually in batting practice, as he was one of just four players to earn a Sweet Spot rate of 90 percent, as measured by our TrackMan unit stationed behind home plate. Thomae ran a 6.95 in the 60-yard dash, measured by Swift tech, reaching a max run speed 19.8 mph, which was among the day’s fastest. That foot speed plays exceptionally well on defense, as well as the basepaths, too, making Thomae a well-rounded, must-see player in the state’s ‘24 class.”

Uncommitted “...Hoerner presents himself as a 5-foot-10, 170 pounds from his position behind the dish. Continued to keep consistent numbers from his Green Bay Preseason ID back in the spring, as his pop times and BP statistics were similar during the showcase day of the Future Games. Pop times ranged from 2.17-2.26 seconds, topping out at 73 mph. As a hitter, Hoerner brings a whippy barrel form the left side of the plate, and shows the ability to elevate the baseball. Exit velocity maxed out at 88 mph, his highest in his career. Tools translated to gameplay on Thursday, as Hoerner was named the MVP after going 2-for-3 with a double and an inside-the-park home run."

Uncommitted “...At 6-foot, 175 pounds, Buss brings the funk from a low release with a long loop, working from an average release height of 4.9 feet and considerable forward extension (6.5 feet). His fastball worked at 90 mph all day with 15 inches of vertical break, 20 inches of horizontal action, spinning at a 2,300 rpm peak, making for a unique profile that should garner plenty of swings and misses on its own. The slider he showed works in the upper-70s with shorter action, and the changeup comes out firm with large horizontal action (20 inches on average). Buss has a full arsenal of large spreads, with laddered velocity separation for timing disruption tactics. His ability to spin may be understated based on his grips and action when observing in close proximity.”

Uncommitted “...Brewer has legitimate two-way tools, and after he reached an easy 88.3 mph high in a winter ‘pen, it looked like his arm talent would be too good to consider him anything but a pitching prospect – but Brewer continues to hit, and for power. While the velocity ticked down on the mound at the end of two long spring and summer seasons, the arm talent remains intact, but his impressive left-handed bat strength and bat-to-ball skills have created a floor here for him to hit at any level, it appears. He averaged an exit speed of 89.8 mph at the PBR Future Games and reached a 96.6 max. Brewer leverages his long, strong 6-foot-3, 195-pound stature well in the batter’s box to spray line-drives to all fields. In game, we’ve seen Brewer launch home runs to his pull-side on several different occasions, including in the championship game of the PBR at The Rock 16U Championships. His swing is at the top of the charts measured by Blast Motion, with top-of-the-scale hand speed (23.7 mph average), bat speed (75.8 mph max), rotational acceleration (19.2 mph average), and he gets on-plane dynamically. He moves well for his size, too, having run a 7.05 in the 60-yard dash at the Future Games at a top speed of 20.1 mph, per Swift.”

Uncommitted “...Physically built at 6-foot-3, 190 pounds, Jibben’s sheer arm strength first caught our attention from the outfield, where he uncorked a 90 mph high with true backspin and carry through his target. He hopped on the mound shortly afterwards and pumped his heater in the mid-80s, topping at 87 mph with rise and run. Pairing off that fastball was a 68-70 mph curveball that Jibben showed feel to spin and locate, landing it in the zone at a 75 percent clip. He also threw one of the day’s best changeups, a 73-74 mph offering with deceptive fade at arm speed that he located. Jibben figures to play a factor in the Oak Creek rotation this spring and he’s trending positively from a prospect standpoint, too.”

Uncommitted “...Roloff has blossomed into a real prospect in the state, as an athletic and versatile player with two-way potential. While he just caught and played the outfield at this event, you’d never know that Roloff is somewhat new to both positions. Behind the plate, he’s quick-twitch both inside of his transfer as well as out of the crouch defending his position on the bunt attempt. That quickness resulted in a pop range of 1.94-2.00 with 76 mph arm strength, and as you might expect, his athleticism and arm strength worked in the outfield too. There, he topped 85 mph to home and roamed the outfield grass smoothly, with above-average foot speed, measured at 19.2 mph during his 60-yard dash (7.25). Roloff’s left-handed bat is equally athletic, and he’s gained significant strength since he appeared at a March event. Here, Roloff reached a max exit speed over 90 mph – and given his presently slight 5-foot-10, 155-pound build – signals a bright future at the plate as well.”

Uncommitted “...Ryback took some loud swings in BP earlier this week in front of our staff at Top Prospect Milwaukee, and he continues to swing a hot bat. Durable build at 5-foot-10, 165-pounds. Showcased the ability to adjust throughout his ABs. Compact swing with bat speed that is apparent in game. Knocked a pair of hits including a 2B in PTA’s first game, and consistently found himself collecting hits throughout the weekend. Defensively, his athleticism is apparent behind the plate.”