By Ethan Silverman

We are a few weeks away from the Prep Baseball Report Midwest Futures Games for the Class of 2014. The second-annual event will feature the best incoming juniors from six states on August 4-5 at the University of Illinois.

Last year’s Midwest Future Games set the bar high, as the 2013 prospects put on an impressive show.  Reflecting back on last year’s event, more than 70 D1 schools and 22 MLB scouts were in attendance to see the best of the Midwest face off against each other. With the crop of players, they made a big splash entering their junior year and left a very big impression on us.

Players who participated last year and have already committed include:

Team Illinois

OF Corey Ray-Louisville

OF Colin Lyman-Louisville

SS/RHP Ryne Roper-Illinois

C Brent Gibbs-Indiana

RHP/SS Matthew James-Illinois

3B Bryce Only-Nebraska

INF Spencer Gaa-Bradley

RHP Kyle Pruemer-Southern Illinois

Team Missouri

Lex Kaplan-University of Miami

Brian Howard-TCU

Matt Brown-University of Arkansas

Danny Mannion-St. Louis University

Drew Bridges-Missouri State

Tanner Murphy-Southern Illinois

JC Demuri-Southern Illinois

Drew Harper-Southern Illinois

Joe Schrimph-Arkansas State

Jack Klages-University of Missouri

Team Indiana

Zach Brown-Kentucky

Daniel Ayers-Western Michigan

Alex Krupa-Indiana

Team Ohio

Tanner Norton-Western Kentucky

From the buzz going around, commitments from other Class of 2013 participants to schools around the country are not far off, and well deserved.

This year’s event features the Who’s Who of the Class of 2014 in the PBR coverage area. Most of the top-ranked prospects from Missouri, Illinois, Ohio, Indiana, Michigan and Pennsylvania will be there.

Players who will be there this year who are generating some big time buzz include:
RHP Alex Lange- Lee’s Summit West (MO)

RHP Matt Ruppenthal Brother Rice (MI)
INF/RHP Eli Dilday-Christian O’Fallon (MO)

INF Shane Benes-Westminster (MO)

C Brett Bond-Westminster (MO)

OF/LHP Darius Day-Simeon (IL)

C/3B Mitch Trees-Sacred Heart-Griffin (IL)

MIF/RHP Michael Kornacker-St. Laurrence (IL)

LHP Jake Latz-Lemont (IL)

OF/1B/LHP Brian Richard-Oak Forest (IL)

LHP/OF Brendan McKay- Blackhawk (PA)

SS/RHP Dominic Cuoci- Lasalle College HS (PA)

RHP Jonah Patton- Norwell (IN)

RHP/3B Chandler Sanburn-Avon (IN)

For a complete list of roster and schedule for the Midwest Futures Games, click here.