On Saturday, March 20, the PBR Illinois team is hosting the perennial Preseason All-State showcase, bringing together the state’s best juniors in one place. This year’s Preseason All-State event will be held at the Bo Jackson’s Elite Sports Dome in Lockport, Ill. There’s currently 130 top-ranked members of Illinois’ 2022 class set to join us on Saturday, and we’ll spend some time today highlighting the best committed and uncommitted talent headed to Lockport within this preview story.

For a closer look at the showcase details and the technologies we'll have on-site to assist our in-person evaluation for all in attendance, click here. For a complete look at those registered to attend this event, view the most up-to-date version of the roster by clicking here.

EVENT HISTORY

Historically, this showcase has helped some of the state’s best juniors elevate themselves from the Midwest to a national level. In 2019, RHP Ben Hernandez (De La Salle, 2020; MLB Draft, Royals, Round 2) propelled himself onto an even bigger stage following a tremendous performance at Preseason All-State. Last year, left-handers Drew Gray (IMG Academy, FL, 2021; Arkansas commit) and Eric Orloff (Glenbrook North, 2021; Arizona) launched themselves up the state and national rankings following outstanding bullpens here. Gray, especially, became one of the top left-handed pitchers in the country, and he’s since transferred to IMG Academy in Florida where he’s continued to project as a potential day-one type of talent.

THIS SATURDAY

COMMITTED PLAYERS

Several of Illinois’ best 2022s are on Saturday’s roster, and the top-ranked among them headed to Preseason All-State is RHP Owen Murphy (Riverside-Brookfield; Notre Dame). Ranked inside the top-75 nationally, Murphy is highly athletic and pitches in the upper-80s, low-90s with the utmost ease. In live looks, he’s shown that he can sit in that 88-91 mph range and hold it, attacking the strike zone, complementing the fastball with a sharp breaking ball and a deceptive changeup. The feel for three, combined with the athleticism and 6-foot-1, 190-pound stature, mold Murphy into one of the most exciting juniors in Illinois.

Owen Murphy (7/25/20)

Louisville recruit INF Logan Wagner (Home School) has spent much of the duration of his high school career as one of the state’s best players. This showcase will actually mark his PBR event debut, ranked inside the top-175 nationally. He is a physical, switch-hitting infielder with high-end bat speed and the ability to stick on the left-side of the diamond.

A fellow Louisville commit, RHP Ethan Patera (Downers Grove South) has been a top-10-ranked member of each edition of the state’s 2022 rankings since they were launched. Listed at a powerful 6-foot-4, 220-pounds, Patera’s live arm contains some of the biggest velocity in the class.

Ethan Patera (6/14/20)

Estevan Moreno (Montini Catholic; Notre Dame) is another one of the state's top-ranked infielders headed to Preseason All-State. Moreno should also be among the top bat strength prospects headed at Lockport, as we’ve seen him – both in live action and in the showcase environment – connect for some loud and far contact on repeat, including at last summer's PBR Future Games where he represented Team Illinois and committed to Notre Dame shortly after.

Estevan Moreno (8/2/20)

UNCOMMITTED PLAYERS

As always, the Preseason All-State roster remains dominated by follow uncommitted players to monitor as college recruiters continue to fill out their incoming 2022-23 class. Saturday’s showcase will host several of the state’s top-ranked uncommitted arms in Illinois’ junior class, like RHP Elias Hachem (Mount Carmel), RHP Alex Alberico (Providence Catholic), and RHP Hunter Pudlo (Lakes Community). Hachem’s a power-armed prospect who also spent the end of last summer representing Team Illinois at the Future Games. He got even better between then and the fall, where he was up to 88.5 mph and an improved breaking ball. Listed at an imposing 6-foot-7, 230 pounds, he has one of the highest ceilings in the class.

Elias Hachem (10/18/20)

Alberico was actually a member of Team Illinois a year ahead of schedule, back in 2019. He sat 86-88 mph back then, and his live arm remains his best asset. We’re eager to see what an offseason of work did for the Chicago-area righty. And as for Pudlo, he’s another big-framed righty with arm strength to know ahead of time. Pudlo, listed at 6-foot-6, 250 pounds, has shown upper-80s velocity early on in his high school career.

On the infield, Easton Harris (Washington Community) has showed on several occasions his smooth, natural instincts on defense – and his loose/live arm has reached a 91 mph high across the diamond at a previous event. This skillset, in addition to his fluid, quick right-handed bat and 6.84 speed in the 60, have him ranked as one of the top uncommitted position players headed to this event.

Easton Harris (2/27/21)

C Will Plattner (Glenwood) is another former PBR Future Games member on this Saturday’s roster. His best tool is his loose and strong right-handed swing, and his on-time barrel feel has helped him spread hard line-drives to all fields, all while continuing to make strides behind the plate. Plattner should be one of the top right-handed bats to watch at the event.

Finally, RHP Max Hansmann (York) has earned a shout-out ahead of time, as one of the winners of this year's winter event circuit. At this same facility back in mid-February, Hansmann broke out as the top-ranked junior at the Lockport Preseason I.D., where he was up to 86 mph, flashing one of the best curveballs we’ve seen along an already busy 2021.

NEW CHECK-IN PROCESS

Because of the high number of prospects set to attend this event, it is imperative that you read our adjusted showcase itinerary below, which will allow our staff to swiftly and efficiently educate and evaluate the players set to attend.

Additionally, in an effort to continue and develop contactless check-in strategies, upon arrival, players will scan a QR Code with their smartphone camera that will lead them to a Google Form. On that Form, players will enter their name (matching the spelling on their PBR profile) and hit submit. Upon submission, players will be prompted to click a link that will direct them to their jersey color and number, located next to their registered name.

ITINERARY

Due to state guidelines, and the facility's requirements, there will be a limit to the number of people inside the facility at one time. Because of this, parents will NOT be allowed within the facility. This showcase will operate in groups, by position, under the format as follows:

POSITION GROUPS

CHECK-IN TIMES:

+ All Catchers and Registered Pitchers: 2 p.m.

+ All Infielders and Outfielders: 6 p.m.

MORE EVENT DETAILS

Click here to learn more about our tech partners that have enhanced our players showcase experience. Partners like TrackMan and Blast Motion have helped both our in-event evaluation process, as well the compilation of our post-event scouting reports – and they're also a tool for our players to learn more about their measured and collected data, that can be applied to improve upon their game.

Finally, masks are mandatory during non-baseball activity. We will facilitate a contact-less check-in. Staff will wear masks throughout the event. Hand sanitizer stations will be accessible. Wear baseball clothes; assigned and numbered PBR jerseys will be provided.

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