This past weekend, July 31st through August 2nd, the ScoutConnect staff traveled to Normal, Illinois, on the campus of Illinois State University, to host our Main Event. This event featured eight teams from across the Midwest that were set to play, prior to weather inconveniences, four games in one centralized location against each other.
Despite the rain putting a dampener on the event, we still saw plenty of high-end players throughout the weekend’s action. Broken down into uncommitted and committed follows, continue reading below to learn more about 40 names that stood out to our staff this past weekend.
UNCOMMITTED
+ Unquestionably one of the top uncommitted prospects we’ve seen all summer was RHP Graydon Leonard (Gibson City-Melvin Sibley, 2027). The proportionally strong, yet still projectable, 6-foot-2, 185-pound right-hander toed the rubber on Friday night and showed the makings of a dynamic arsenal. Working across his body with a long, loose arm swing, Leonard’s fastball played clean and true out the hand from a ¾ slot. His firmest bullet peaked at 93 mph in the first inning, pitching at 87-91 mph as he went on, while flashing power horizontal traits at times. The potential separator at the next level is his ability to spin the baseball, most notably a slider, that flashed swing-and-miss traits throughout his outing. Playing in the upper-70s, Leonard averaged 2700-2900+ RPM on the pitch with late, sharp sweep. As Leonard continues to clean up his delivery, his consistency on the slider will improve, and he’ll be able to continue to mold it into a true wipeout weapon. It was a highly impressive look at one of the top uncommitted arms in the Illinois’ incoming senior class.
Graydon Leonard
+ C/OF Rocco Triolo (Lincoln Way East, 2027) was a standout backstop from the previous weekend’s event. Triolo showed a physical, 6-foot, 190-pound frame that generated a strong swing with the feel to lift the ball. This was on display in a double to the back side at 98 MPH off the bat. He was consistently on the barrel for Chicago Elite and produced from the top of the order all weekend. Triolo is an uncommitted bat to keep an eye on as the fall approaches.
Rocco Triolo
+ Another high impact prospect to take the mound this weekend was LHP Landon Ludwig (Ridgeview, 2028), a popular name post August 1st. Packed with size and strength with more to come in a 6-foot-5, 180-pound frame, Ludwig fired three strong innings in his start, punching out four. It’s an aggressive, downhill fastball from a higher slot that plays with some steepness to it, sitting at 85-87, touching 88 mph a few times early on. Ludwig threw his breaking ball at 75-77 mph, and while the consistency in shape is still developing, he threw a handful that flashed real potential – tight, downer spin with depth, strikes. A physical, small town kid from central Illinois, Ludwig’s ceiling on the mound is among the highest we’ve seen this summer, and he should only continue to take steps forward in his development over the next few years.
Landon Ludwig
+ MIF Nolan Julseth (New Glarus, 2027) is a scrappy, uncommitted left-handed hitting middle infielder from Wisconsin that took quality swings, in our eyes, throughout the weekend. It’s as close to a top of the order profile as you’ll find – short, simple, and controlled with above-average barrel accuracy, understands the zone, doesn’t whiff much, and has an advanced run tool.
Nolan Julseth
+ Playing up two age levels, RHP Ben Bartlett (U-High, 2029) made an appearance out of the ‘pen on Sunday afternoon and came away as a follow arm to our staff. Long and lanky with levers to project on, Bartlett’s arm played short on the backside, working out of a high ¾ slot. There’s tempo, pace, and rhythm to the delivery, and the finish through footstrike matches the intensity he worked with on the mound. Bartlett’s heater touched 87 once, pitching at 83-86 mph, and he consistently flipped in a 73-75 mph breaking ball with depth for strikes.
Ben Bartlett
+ RHP Aden Brummel (Pontiac, 2028) was an arm that looked the part of a high-follow in the ‘28 class. The physical, 6-foot-3 right hander works with a less than full circle in the back while getting to a 3/4 slot. Through one inning of work where he only allowed one hit, his fastball sat 83-84 MPH and paired with a tight slider that he was able to throw for strikes at 71-73 MPH. Brummel also utilized a change up against left-handed hitters at 75-77 MPH with arm side action. There is a chance for more to come with Brummel as he continues to add strength in the coming year.
Aden Brummel
+ RHP Connor Kelch (Lincoln Way Central, 2027) & RHP Zach Westerberg (Lincoln Way East, 2027) were both uncommitted right-handed pitchers that worked scoreless innings for Chicago Elite this past Sunday. Kelch featured a fastball sitting 85-87 MPH paired with a shorter slider in the mid-70s that he was able to throw for strikes. With a lean, athletic frame, there’s room for more in the coming year. Westerberg recorded three outs on eight pitches in his outing, attacking the zone with a fastball at 86-87 MPH, and a tight slider in the upper-70s. More up-tempo delivery that showed arm speed out front.
Connor Kelch
+ LHP Anthony Farina (Lockport, 2027) is an uncommitted southpaw that can flat-out pitch with a track record of in-game performance, earning all-conference honors twice at one of the biggest high schools in Illinois. He worked out of the ‘pen on Friday night and showed almost exclusively secondaries, spinning a big 12/6 breaking ball for strikes, pairing it with a fading changeup in the low-70s.
Anthony Farina
+ RHP/OF Easton DeBernardi (Marquette, 2027) looked the part of an uncommitted arm to follow in the ‘27 class. The right-hander featured a lean, athletic frame while working from a less-than-full circle and showing arm speed out front. The fastball played up in the zone at 86-89 mph, averaging 2600+ RPM. The go-to offspeed for DeBernardi was a sharp breaking ball with 11/5 shape in the mid-70s, spinning at 2700+ RPM.
Easton DeBarnardi
+ There’s a lot to like in the upside on RHP Kaeson Ernst (Warrensburg-Latham, 2028). Ernst features a long, lanky frame that stands at 6-foot-6, 195-pounds with plenty of room to add on. His long levers worked longer in the back and got to a low-3/4 slot. Ernst’s fastball played in the zone with arm side action at 81-84 MPH. From an offspeed standpoint, Ernst went to a sharp 11/5 breaking ball for strikes at 72-74 MPH, and showed feel for a change up in the upper-70s. Will be an arm to follow for the incoming junior class.
Kaeson Ernst
+ OF Owen Knox (Normal Community, 2027) is an uncommitted incoming senior with an above-average run tool and the ability to stick in center field at the next level. At the plate, it’s a short, compact right-handed swing that doesn’t try to do too much and showed the ability to use the whole field.
Owen Knox
+ A strong 6-foot, 185-pound uncommitted senior, C Sam McCully (Normal West, 2027) went 3-for-3 on Sunday with two singles and a double deep to the center field wall, plating two. There’s hand and bat strength from the right side with the potential to continue growing into more in-game power as he learns to leverage the baseball more consistently.
Sam McCully
+ Throughout the weekend, OF Collin Kearfott (Normal Community, 2027) took some of the best at-bats of the event, despite only playing in two games. Leading off for his Rhino K’s club, Kearfott rarely expanded out of the strike zone with notable plate discipline that will translate immediately to the next level. It’s a short, direct, and on-top left-handed swing with hand strength and a quick toe-tap trigger, allowing him to keep his rhythm while covering the whole plate. The uncommitted incoming senior outfielder checks a lot of boxes for a winning player at the next level.
Collin Kearfott
+ RHP/INF Brody Simily (West County, 2027) gave us an intriguing look on both sides of the ball this weekend for GBA. At the plate, the right-handed hitter showed a strong, level swing with feel to lift the ball. Produced in a big spot delivering a walk off single on Sunday. On the mound, Simily looks the part of a ‘27 that won’t be uncommitted much longer. Works longer in the back while getting to a 3/4 slot and staying closed until foot strike. His fastball played in the zone at 86-87 MPH with arm side action. From an off speed standpoint, Simily showcased a three-pitch mix, working with two different breaking balls, and a change up. He utilized a tighter slider in the mid-upper-70s, and a bigger, sweeping breaking ball in the low-70s. The change up showed sink/dive action in the low-70s as well.
Brody Simily
+ RHP Cooper Pearson (Francis Howell Central, 2027) & RHP Landon Dippel (O’Fallon, 2027) were two uncommitted arms that came out of the bullpen for GBA. Pearson displayed a physical frame with a short arm look and arm speed out front. The fastball played in the low-80s with cutting action and paired with a tight slider in the low-70s. Dippel closed the game on Sunday for GBA showing a low-80s fastball with sink, and a low-70s slider. Repeated in-line with feel for strikes on both pitches in the arsenal.
+ One of our more intriguing uncommitted arms from this weekend was RHP Cy Craft (DuQuoin, 2027). Craft is a strong, durable athlete with a thick lower half and room to continue getting stronger. He started on Friday night, striking out six over four innings, allowing two runs. His fastball played in the zone at 85-89 MPH and paired with a slider/change up mix in the low-80s. Craft repeated an in-line delivery while firing from a more over-the-top look and working downhill.
Cy Craft
+ MIF Jack Bogard (Francis Howell, 2028) was unquestionably the top defensive shortstop from the weekend and checks every box of a true impact defender on the left side at the next level. Aside from making the routine plays look easy, Bogard’s ability to play in rhythm and on time on the move are clear separators from his peers.
+ INF Henry Ladenberger (Chaminade, 2027) continues to impress more and more in each of our looks this spring and summer. The uncommitted, middle-of-the-order bat has shown very easy present power to both sides of the field, and feel to lift the ball to deeper parts of the field. The sheer raw in-game strength was shown in one of his singles to CF this weekend where he recorded a 103 MPH exit velocity. It’s a strong, right-handed swing with consistent feel for the barrel and won’t be left on the board for much longer.
Henry Ladenberger
+ RHP Alex Athmer (Breese Central, 2027) gave us arguably the best look we’ve gotten at him since he first popped onto our radar a few years ago. The 6-foot-4, 190-pound uncommitted senior from Illinois threw two perfect innings, throwing 17-of-20 pitches for strikes with a pair of punchouts. His fastball sat 86-87, touching 88 mph, while averaging 2400-2500+ RPM. Athmer threw two distinct breaking balls – a bullet cutter at 79-80 mph (2400+) and a bigger sweeper at 71-73 mph (2300-2400+ RPM).
Alex Athmer
+ All INF/C Nolan Vojak (Edwardsville, 2027) did this weekend was hit, producing from the middle of the Gateway Bruins’ lineup throughout, and recording at least one hit in all three of the event’s days. It’s a more simple, controlled operation without much length to the swing that showed the ability to use the entire field. Vojak’s catch-and-throw from behind the plate in his last two games stood out as well. It’s a quick, clean release, and he works in line with the bag from the chute, while continuing to develop arm strength that will come as he gets stronger.
Nolan Vojak
+ OF Parker Wells (Belleville West, 2027) continues to grab our staff’s attention when we watch him play. The uncommitted incoming senior from the Metro East has the potential to continue to grow into impact tools across the board. There’s present bat speed and strength at the plate from a short, uphill right-handed swing that juiced a triple to left-center field to kick off his weekend. On field, Wells’ run tool certainly stands out – he gets to peak acceleration quickly, floating around the bases, and tracked a ball down into the left-center gap when he was playing center field that almost all high school outfielders don’t get to.
Parker Wells
+ RHP Anthony Sirocchi (Westosha Central, 2027) punched out six over four innings in a start at Friday’s nightcap. The uncommitted senior right-hander showed a long arm swing that finished straight over the top, creating a steep angle down in the zone with his fastball in the low-to-mid-80s, touching 86 mph in the first. Off that, Sirocchi spun his breaking ball at 72-73 mph with slurvy shape.
Anthony Sirocchi
+ MIF Luke Bryant (Hall, 2027) was productive at the plate throughout the event. The lean, wiry right-handed hitting infielder showed a short, simple right-handed swing that worked on top of the baseball and didn’t try to do too much. Bryant covered the plate well and was able to use the whole field.
Luke Bryant
+ RHP/CIF Weston Ensign (Fisher, 2028) had one of the weekend’s top performances on Friday in the first game of the day. The 6-foot-5, 230-pound incoming junior got the nod on the mound, pounding the strike zone throughout his three innings of work. Ensign controls his frame and physicality well down the mound for his age, and his ability to finish with intent through the ground, while maintaining his direction, stood out. He pitched downhill with his fastball at 84-86, touching 87 mph early, creating some steepness to it from a higher slot. His breaking ball has the raw traits to be an effective pitch at the next level – plays out of a similar angle to his fastball at 76-78 mph, throws it with conviction, 2300-2500+ RPM. In the same game, Ensign crushed a two-run home run over the left field wall (102 mph EV, 377 feet) late to give his team the lead late in an eventual win.
Weston Ensign
+ RHP/UTL Ty Bachman (Normal West, 2028) showed well in his outing this weekend for Rhino Ks Academy. Bachman is a highly intriguing 6-foot-4, 195-pound athlete with long, loose levers that are only going to continue to get more physical over the next few years. The fastball played downhill in the zone at 83-86 mph, with his quickest bullet at 87 mph. Went to a tight slider/change up mix in the upper-70s for strikes to keep hitters off balance. Bachman fires from across the body at a low 3/4 slot making for a very tough look on hitters. There’s no doubt in our minds that Bachman will continue to tick up as he fills out his frame. Will surely be an arm to follow through the fall, and into the spring.
Ty Bachman
+ RHP Connor Fox (Mt. Zion, 2027) gave us a quick look on the mound on Friday before a rain delay cut his day short. One of the top uncommitted incoming senior arms in Illinois, Fox was in the zone with his fastball at 85-87 mph from a short, compact arm path. He can backspin the pitch up in the zone, or create heavy run on it down in the zone, and is able to throw it to all quadrants as well. The separator for Fox is his aptitude to spin a short, tight slider at 76-78 mph for strikes early in counts, and for whiffs as the at-bat progresses.
Connor Fox
+ Plenty bullish on the upside with LHP Colton Carpenter (U-High, 2028), who closed out a win for Rhino Ks on Friday morning with three strikeouts over two innings, 72% strikes. The lean, lanky left-hander worked with pace, rhythm, and tempo throughout his outing. It’s a longer arm swing that played out of a ¾ slot, pitching in the low-80s with his fastball, and will climb quickly as he continues to get more physical. He spun a big, bendy breaking ball in the mid-60s for strikes and turned over a changeup at 71-73 mph that paired well with his heater.
Colton Carpenter
+ LHP Caden Castleman (El Paso-Gridley, 2028) was another left-handed arm for this Rhino Ks club to show well out of the ‘pen on Friday morning. Strong and compact in stature with square shoulders, Castleman makes for a tough look from the left side. He tilts back at footstrike with a high glove side and longer arm swing, though makes it work because of his ability to stay closed off until front footstrike. His fastball played heavy at 82-85 mph and he spun a big sweeper off it at 73-74 mph (2400+, 0-1 VB, 13-15 HB).
Caden Castleman
+ RHP Hunter Long (Limestone, 2027) takes the rubber at 6-foot-8, 190-pounds with long, lanky, and upside levers. Long drew the start on Friday morning, pitching in the low-80s, touching 84 mph, with a sinker that showed heavy horizontal at times. He also spun a slider with short shape at 73-75 mph for strikes.
Hunter Long
+ CIF Aidan Gusta (Carterville, 2027) is a 6-foot-5, 230-pound uncommitted right-handed hitting corner infielder that’s potential at the next level intrigues our staff. Gusta drove in a pair of runs on day one of the event and has the raw power, and physicality, to translate at the next level.
Aidan Gusta
COMMITTED
+ It was pretty clear that OF Ira Hilbelink (Cedar Grove Belgium, 2027; Minnesota commit) was the best player at this event throughout the weekend. Packed with strength, twitch, and athleticism, nobody blended the ability to hit with the impact rate that Hilbelink had throughout the weekend. On Friday, he torched a ball to left-center field at 95 mph that traveled 353 feet, and was robbed of extra bases by an excellent catch at the wall. He picked right up where he left off on Sunday, though, hammering a ball to the right-center field gap at 98 mph in game one of the day for his Hitters team. In game two, he clobbered a home run to dead center field at 102 mph, 430 feet, and followed that up with a walk-off backside two-run home run at 91 mph. His offensive impact is impressive, and it’s enhanced even more so when it’s factored in that he will have the chance to stick in center field at the next level. Hilbelink has the tools to be a star for the Golden Gophers down the road, and he’ll almost certainly garner some pro buzz from now until next July.
Ira Hilbelink
+ The weekend’s most dominant pitching performance came from LHP Cal Schneider (New Berlin Eisenhower, 2027). The Louisville commit was perfect in his three innings, punching out five, 25-of-37 pitches for strikes. Schneider is the textbook definition of a pitchability left-hander, and he’ll throw any three of his pitches for strikes to any hitter in any count. It’s a lanky, long-levered frame with a long arm swing on the backside that fires from a ¾ slot. His fastball played with some late run at 84-86 mph and he’s not afraid to throw it to either side of the plate, or up in the zone. The changeup is amongst the best left-handed changeups our staff has seen; premium feel with real dive and depth at 72-74 mph, plays identical to his fastball, true swing-and-miss pitch. He rounded out his arsenal with a big sweeping breaking ball in the low-70s that, in this look, was primarily thrown to left-handed hitters, and will play well off an arm-side fastball. What amplifies his entire arsenal is Schneider’s presence on the mound. It’s a true bulldog mentality that’s not afraid to attack any hitter at any point in time, regardless of who’s in the box, and carries himself like he’s been pitching at the collegiate level for years, despite being a high schooler. Schneider’s going to get next level hitters out because of his stuff and compete factor, but if he ever takes a jump up from a velocity standpoint, there’s a chance he’s one of the more popular left-handed arms in college baseball.
Cal Schneider
+ There’s a lot to like in what was on display from INF/RHP Cooper Johnson (Lincoln Way East, 2027). Standing at 6-foot-4, 210-pounds, there’s clear physicality throughout a strong and athletic frame. The Purdue commit showcased a more compact swing with feel for the barrel to both sides of the field. Johnson delivered a multi-hit performance on Sunday for Chicago Elite where he singled on a line to left field, and sent another single through the right side. Looks the part of a middle-of-the-order bat at the next level.
Cooper Johnson
+ Valparaiso commit Evan Riif (Lincoln Way East, 2027) had a highly productive weekend from the top half of the order for Chicago Elite. Riif showed a more physical frame that produced a strong, level swing and recorded four hits in as many at bats this weekend. Without a doubt, was consistently on the barrel and displaying an ability to reach larger parts of the field, as shown in a double to the warning track on Friday. Up the middle, Riif showed clean, athletic actions along with arm strength that has a chance to stick on the left side.
Evan Riif
+ RHP/C Dominic Pandolfo (Fort Zumwalt East, 2027) was another performer from both sides of the baseball this weekend for GBA. At the plate, Pandolfo showed a strong, right-handed swing with an ability to hit to both sides of the field. On the bump, Pandolfo came out of the bullpen recording two strikeouts over one inning of work. He works from a less-than-full circle while firing from a low 3/4 slot and a repeated in-line delivery. The fastball played in the zone at 85-89 MPH and paired with a tight slider in the upper-70s, creeping into the low-80s.
Dominic Pandolfo
+ 1B Keegan Seipp (Triad, 2027) continued to show why he is a top power threat in the area when he began his weekend with a towering, two-run shot to right field, leaving the bat at 103 MPH and traveling 367 feet. It’s immense raw power in a 6-foot-4, 220-pound frame that has been on a tear throughout this year – homered 16 times this spring, helping lead Triad to a 3A runner-up finish at state, and has flashed power surges throughout the summer as well.
Keegan Seipp
+ UTL Beau Breyman (Freeburg, 2027) is a SWIC commit that looks the part of a backstop with an ability to produce from day one. At the plate, Breyman swung a strong, compact bat with present speed. He was on the barrel over the course of the weekend and displayed an ability to use both sides of the field. On the other side of the ball, Breyman showed highly advanced catch and throw abilities from behind the dish that we have seen in each of our looks this year.
Beau Breyman
+ C/1B Jack Speilmann (Milton, 2027) really looks the part from the left-handed batter’s box. The West Virginia commit holds muscle mass throughout a strong, athletic, and physically advanced frame with room to continue tacking on more. At the plate, it’s a quiet, short, and controlled left-handed swing with balance through contact. His ability to produce triple-digit impact without much effort was one thing that stood out – on Friday night, he flicked a ball back up the middle for a single at 100 mph.
Jack Speilmann
+ INF Kash VanHouten (Canton, 2027; Illinois commit) has gotten way more physical than when we saw him this past spring, adding on notable strength and muscle mass throughout his frame. VanHouten was on the barrel a few times in day one of the event from a strong, connected right-handed swing with leverage through contact.
Kash VanHouten
