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| Wednesday, February 10, 2010 | |
Prospects shine brighter than ever at Super 60
By Rosenthal @ 3:24 PM :: 1462 Views |  |
From top to bottom, the Prep Baseball Report’s Super 60 Showcase on February 7 was the best assemblage of talent since the event’s inception in 2003. Performing in front of a packed house of pro scouts, most of the top players from Illinois and Indiana convened at the Max-McCook Athletic & Exposition Center’s pristine 125,000 square-foot open-turf facility, home of the Prep Baseball Report Academy, to show what they can do. And what the assorted talent did was mighty impressive. Exactly how impressive? Nineteen of the 25 pitchers dialed it up 86 mph or better, 10 of which were 88-plus. Fifteen players were 85-plus from their defensive positions, while four of the eight catchers had a top pop time of 1.9 or better. The event also featured impressive speed: 11 players ran sub-7 60s, five of which ran sub-6.8s. Offensively, many players put on eye-opening hitting performances. All in all, the eighth-annual event highlighted once again exactly how talented the Illinois and Indiana prospects are.
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Conrad Gregor
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Indiana prospects Conrad Gregor and Nolan Sanburn established themselves as top position players in the Midwest. Carmel 1B-OF Conrad Gregor, powerfully built 6-foot-3, 220-pound Vanderbilt recruit, showcased big-time power from the left side of the plate, threw 86 mph from the outfield and ran a 6.7 60. Kokomo OF Nolan Sanburn, a rock solid 6-foot, 185-pound Arkansas recruit posted the top outfield arm (92 mph), ran a 6.95 60 and swung a quick bat with power. The pitching was particularly strong. Mike Foltynewicz, a 6-foot-5, 200-pound RHP from Minooka HS, showed why he may be a top-round draft pick come June. The Texas recruit sat at 92-93 with his fastball to go along with a 77 mph curveball.
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Max Kuhns
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The biggest riser at the entire event was D.J. Snelton, a long and loose 6-foot-6, 205-pound left-hander from Lakes HS. Snelton established himself as one of the top prospects in the senior class after the Minnessota recruit sat at 89-90 with his fastball and displayed arguably the event’s best curveball, a sharp, late-breaking hammer. With as easy as his arm works, it seems Snelton still has more in the tank, too.Among the seniors, Ryan Hartman, a RHP from Mt. Zion HS, impressed with his 88-89 mph fastball, as did Naperville North RHP Kyle Klosak (88-89), Barrington LHP Rob McDonnell (85-88), Rockton Hononegah RHP Ryan Scarpetta (86-88), Illinois Valley Central RHP Drasen Johnson (85-87) and York RHP Steve Adkins (86), who, at 6-5, has as much upside as anyone in the class.
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A.J. Reed
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The junior arms were just as impressive. Nick Burdi, a 6-foot-5, 205-pound RHP from Downers Grove South, elevated his status as arguably the top prospect in the loaded Class of 2011. The Louisville recruit pitched at 90-91 mph with his fastball, and showed solid offspeed stuff. Other top junior pitchers included St. Rita LHP Joey Filomeno (87-88), Stevenson LHP Jeremy Scheck (86 mph), York LHP Ryan Hinchley (87 mph), Harlan RHP/OF Dontrell Rush (88), Mount Carmel RHP John Kravetz (87), Stevenson RHP Tyler Radtke (86) and Terre Haute South LHP AJ Reed (86). Sophomore LHP/OF Brett Lilek topped at 87.
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Nolan Sanburn
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Defensively, the outfield arms were stellar. Nolan Sanburn (Kokomo HS, IN) had the best arm strength, as the Arkansas recruit topped at 92 mph. Morgan Park’s Kendall Ratcliffe (91), Harlan junior Dontrell Rush (89), Willowbrook’s Brian Monette (89), Galesburg junior Nick Milligan (88), Marian Catholic sophomore Brett Lilek , New Trier junior Charlie Tilson (86), Carmel (IN) Conrad Gregor (86) and St. Rita’s Mark Payton (85) all showed tremendous arm strength. Payton, an Arizona State recruit, was clearly the most accurate.Among the infielders, Stevenson SS Kyle Ruchim put on a defensive show. Not only did Northwestern recruit display top-level feet and hands, he fired 85 mph strikes across the infield. Normal West SS Brock Stewart and Lake Park SS/RHP Peter Spear had the top infield
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Phil Mosey
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arms at 87 mph, followed by Cary-Grove’s Chris Waylock (86), Ruchim, St. Ignatius SS Jack Fischer (85), St. Rita junior 1B/LHP Joey Filomeno (85) and Brother Rice sophomore SS Ryan Koziol (84). Indiana’s Class of 2011 Phil Mosey and Max Kuhns showcased plus infield actions with strong arms. Hamilton Southeastern (IN) Jake Straub was the top defensive catcher at the event, as the Northwestern recruit consistently fired 1.8 pop times to second base. Chatham Glenwood’s Jacob Reese, Joliet Township’s Mike Hollenbeck and Warren’s Scott Heelan also stood out among the strong group of catchers.
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Jake Straub
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Athletically, the Super 60 featured several impressive 60 times. Naperville North OF Charlie White, New Trier junior OF Charlie Tilson and Carmel (IN) OF/1B Conrad Gregor all ran an event-best 6.7 60s. Not far behind were Sandwich SS Matt Morse (6.78), Harlan junior OF/RHP Dontrell Rush (6.79), Stevenson SS Kyle Ruchim (6.84), Lake Park SS/RHP Peter Spear (6.85), St. Rita OF Mark Payton (6.88) and Morgan Park OF Kendall Ratcliffe (6.89).At the plate, several players put on aerial shows, but Conrad Gregor from Carmel HS in Indiana stood out among the best. The powerfully built 6-foot-3, 220-pound Vanderbilt recruit displayed big-time power from the left side of the plate. With his
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Ken Mahala
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size, power and speed, Gregor should be a top-round draft come June. St. Rita OF Mark Payton also had an eye-opening performance at the plate, as did Glenwood C Jacob Reese, Brother Rice 3B/RHP Kevin Koziol, Stevenson SS Kyle Ruchim, Morgan Park OF Kendall Ratcliffe, Naperville Central 1B/LHP Shane Conlon, Normal West SS Brock Stewart, Andrean (IN) 3B Ken Mahala (pictured right) and Kokomo OF Nolan Sanburn, to name a few. Videos from the event will be posted throughout the weeks at the Player Video Center (Indiana prospects will be posted on PBR Indiana’s web site). For additional Super 60 coverage, check back to Duncan’s Diamond Notes (PBR Illinois) later this week. |
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