The Prep Baseball Report Future Games is one of the top underclass events in the country. Each summer the PBR hosts the event at Grand Park and is attended by over 180 colleges. This year Top Tier had 7 players selected to a team. Tyler Acosta, Sammy Butera, Dakota Kotowski, Grant Leader, and Sean Sinisko were all selected to represent Team Illinois. Noah Berghammer represented Team Wisconsin and Clay Thompson was chosen to play with Team Indiana. Write ups from the PBR scouts are included for each player below.
Sammy Butera, RHP, Niles West, 2018
6-foot, 175-pound, right-handed pitcher, average build. High ¾ slot, long firm arm action, one piece delivery, can add separation, uses slide step from the stretch. Works to force the fastball downhill, sat 82-85 mph. Curveball ranged 69-72 mphp. Struck out three in two innings of work.
Grant Leader, RHP, Lyons Township, 2019
5-foot-9, 145-pound right-handed pitcher, smaller frame, quick arm. Fastball topped at 87 mph, sat 84-87 mph. One of the better fastball velocities from a 2019 at the Future Games. Breaking ball played 71-76 mph, showed some feel and ability to control the zone with it. Struck out three in two innings of work.
Sean Sinisko, LHP, Geneva, 2018
6-foot-5, 230-pound left-handed pitcher; big, durable frame, wide shoulders with solid lower half. Works slightly across his body, arm slot ranges somewhere between 3/4 to a few ticks below, depending on the inning. Although inconsistent with the slot, the net result is he can create an uncomfortable at-bat. Fastball ranged between 82-85 mph with some arm-side sink when not underneath the baseball. Breaking ball sat 66-68 mph, inconsistent shape, more sweeping action, tendency to get underneath. Worked two effective innings at the Future Games.
Tyler Acosta, OF, Barrington, 2018
6-foot-1, 155-pound, wiry athlete, right-handed hitting outfielder. Offensively, top of the order potential at the next level. Ran a 6.93 laser-timed 60. At the plate, flashed quick twitch and a gap-to-gap approach. Takes competitive at-bats, understands the strike zone with good pitch recognition and rarely chases pitches out of the strike zone; worked multiple deep counts in game and drew a number of walks. Turned on an 88 mph fastball in game one of the Future Games and doubled down the left-field line. Balanced setup, smooth load and good balance through contact. Registered an 88 mph exit velocity. Defensively, profiles as a centerfielder who can play all three outfield spots. Quick feet with aggressiveness in the outfield, gets good reads, takes the proper angles and covers a lot of ground. Athletic arm action, works long and loose from an over-the-top slot; clocked at 83 mph from the outfield.
Dakota Kotowski, OF, Providence Catholic, 2018
6-foot-3, 200-pound right-handed hitting outfielder, physical build with proportional strength. Possesses big right-handed power at the plate. Strong hands, generates advanced bat speed with lift in swing. Aggressive approach, swings with intent to do damage yet maintains balance; recorded one of the top exit velocities at the Future Games at 100 mph. Has potential to develop into high-level power hitter at the next level. Defensively, corner type, likely left fielder or first baseman; shows arm strength, clocked at 89 mph. Also ran a 7.30 laser-timed 60.
Noah Berghammer, SS, Janesville Craig, 2018
6-foot, 178-pound shortstop, live loose body, premium athlete, flashy quick twitch actions. Ran a 6.69 laser timed 60. Defensively showed quick feet and well above average range, soft hands and excellent body control, plays well on the move. Arm has enough to play the left side (86 mph) showed it off on a backhand play in game to take away a base hit in the 6-hole. Offensively grinds out at bats, took several quality at bats, seeing and fouling off pitches, leadoff type at-bats. Showed quick hands at the plate with a fast bat, can let the ball travel and plate disciplined. Went 2-for-7 in game play with a triple and three RBI.
Clay Thompson, OF, Andrean HS, 2018
Athletic 5-foot-10, 165 pounder possesses athletic twitch. Athletic, fluid actions in the outfield with soft hands. Good routes to the baseball and plays through. Possesses an accurate arm with average carry at 83. The LHH hits from an athletic, balanced type setup displaying a smooth load and short stride. Good use of his lower half and balance. Has quick hand speed with a level swing plane. Line drive hitter.
