Personnel

  • Todd Fine - Founder/CEO

    Top Tier Baseball was founded in 2004 in Suburban Chicago as one high-end 18U team by CEO, Todd Fine and has steadily grown to over 70 teams in 2017. Fine's decorated career in amateur baseball includes being named Amateur Coach of the Year in 2014 by Baseball America, coaching at the USA Baseball Tournament of Stars, the 18U National Team Trials and pitching coach for the 12U National Team in 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017. In 2018 and 2019 Todd was named Manager of the USA Baseball 12U National Team, where they took home the gold medal at the COPABE PanAm Championships. Additionally, Fine also served as an area scout with the Houston Astros for three years and was named All-America Game coach for 8 years at Wrigley Field. Over the past 19 years Top Tier has placed 700+ players in college programs, produced 75 MLB draft picks, 11 Major Leaguers, Gatorade Players of the Year, multiple All-Americans as well as USA Baseball National Team players at multiple age levels.


    Seth Kenny- Director of Teams

    Kenny is currently in his 12th year with Top Tier Baseball where he is the director of teams and started his 20-year coaching career as a pitching coach for the Danville Dans, Austin Peay State University, and Illinois State University from 2000-2008. Following his time at Illinois State, he returned to his role as pitching coach at Austin Peay, while also serving as the program as recruiting coordinator until joining Top Tier Baseball in 2010.

    Coach Kenny will also be serving as the USA baseball 12U national team pitching coach for the second year in a row. He oversaw a Team USA pitching staff last year that held opponents to a .162 batting average against and struck out 33 batters in 21.0 innings pitched. In addition to his first stint as a national team coach in 2021, Kenny has coached at the 12U National Open, was a member of the 11U NTIS task force in 2017 and 2019, and was a 12U National Team Trials coach in 2018 and 2019.

    As well as above responsibilities, Kenny gives private pitching, hitting and infield instruction.

    Matt Plante - Vice President

    Matt Plante is the Vice President of Top Tier Baseball and has been part of the organization since its inception in 2004. Since 2004, Plante has served in different capacities, coaching several age groups spanning mostly across high school age groups.

    Plante has coached in many high-level tournaments as part of the Top Tier staff. Most recently, his teams have seen the final four at the PBR National Championships in 2023. His squad was among the final eight at the PBR National Program Invitational in 2023, as well. His team also saw the Sweet 16 of the PG National Elite Championship in 2023. One of his most memorable coaching experiences was helping Top Tier win the CABA National Championships in 2009 and 2010.

    Throughout his time at Top Tier, Plante has coached a high number of elite players who then went on to pursue professional careers. Some even made their way to the Major Leagues, such as Tanner Roark, Paul DeJong and Joe Benson. Roark played for several Major League clubs from 2013-2021, and DeJong is currently set to begin his first season as a member of the Chicago White Sox. Other players that Plante had the chance to coach include Sean Hjelle (Giants), Michael Bowden (Red Sox, Cubs), Tyler Ladendorf (Cubs, A's), Bobby Seymour (2019 ACC Player of the Year, All-American, NCAA-best 92 RBI in 2019).

    Plante began his collegiate coaching career at the DIII level and proceeded to coach at two Division I institutions.

    As a member of the Oakland University staff, Plante served as the recruiting coordinator and hitting coach. In his two-year tenure, Plante helped lead the Golden Grizzlies to the best conference record in school history at 15-6, ranking them second in the Summit League. In 2012, Plante helped Oakland to its best finish in school history and helped Oakland's head coach win Coach of the Year in the Summit League - a first at the university.

    At Kansas State, Plante served as the volunteer assistant and graduate manager. With the Wildcats, he led video operations and assisted with infield and hitting instruction. In that 2010 season, Kansas State finished 37-22 and took third in the Big 12. The Wildcats earned a trip to the NCAA Regionals and were ranked in the Top 25 by the end of the season. Plante received a graduation certificate in conflict resolution from the university.

    Prior to his Division I coaching experience, Plante received a Master's Degree in Athletic Administration from Springfield College, where he also coached.

    Plante played soccer and baseball in college, first at Southern Maine, then transferring to Endicott College (DIII) to finish his career. At Endicott, Plante helped his Gulls squad to a CCC championship in 2003, earning a bid to the NCAA Division III Regionals. That year, Plante was third in the league in batting average. He graduated with a B.A. in Sports Management from Endicott and later pursued a Master's.

    Originally from the southwest corner of Vermont, Plante grew up playing basketball, soccer and baseball. He played varsity baseball as a sophomore and helped Mount Anthony Union to a state championship appearance. He was an All-League honoree and was awarded an opportunity to participate in the Vermont vs. New Hampshire Twin-State Classic. Plante also helped his American Legion team to a New England regional in 1998.


    Dylan Rajkovich- Director of Player performance


    Dylan Rajkovich heads player performance, our strength and conditioning program and coaches the 15U Americans. Rajkovich is a Top Tier alum, having played for our program from 2010-2012. Being a Tier alum, Rajkovich brings knowledge on the foundation Top Tier was built upon along with years of college coaching experience.

    Rajkovich returned to Top Tier in 2021 and took on a more prominent role in February of 2022, taking the lead on strength and conditioning. He currently specializes in preventative care and recovery for pitchers. He is Baseball Flows certified which delves into the science of how the body moves.

    Webster propelled his coaching career, which would continue at Transylvania University. Rajkovich held the title of head assistant and recruiting coordinator for the Pioneers. While at Transy (2018-2021), he instructed a crop of talent which included Trent Youngblood, Riley Wilbur, Hudson Chastain and more.

    With two years of collegiate experience, Rajkovich signed to play for Webster University to finish his career. In 2015, he hit a notable three-run homer to send the Gorlocks to the Division III World Series. He would go on to earn SCIAC All-Conference First Team honors and was named to the All-Conference Academic First Team. He is currently listed Top-5 in the hit-by-pitch category at Webster. Following the 2016 season, Rajkovich graduated with a degree in Marketing and Advertising Communications with an emphasis in behavioral psychology. He would remain with Webster after graduation and was placed on staff as a volunteer assistant. Here, he coached Josh Fleming (Rays) who pitched in the World Series in 2020. Rajkovich was invited to play for the national Serbian baseball team in WBC qualifying. He would decline the invitation due to injury.

    After his high school career, Rajkovich played at Saint Joseph's College in Indiana for two seasons. He played under Rick O'Dette and Ryan Wheat at SJC in 2013 and 2014 - Wheat now heads Top Tier Kentucky. Following the 2014 season, Rajkovich would transfer to Webster.

    Rajkovich is an Orland Park, Ill. native and attended Sandburg High School. He played multiple sports in high school - baseball being his primary focus. He helped the Eagles to a SWSC championship during his tenure and achieved All-Conference honors his senior year.


    Dillon Forestell - youth director


    Dillon Forestell currently serves as the Youth Director at Top Tier Baseball, entering his third year full-time within the organization. Besides coaching, main responsibilities include staffing and quality control of practices, player development camps and rostering.

    Before joining the staff full-time, Forestell joined our part-time coaching staff in the mid-2010's, assisting with youth teams.

    By 2014, Forestell had amassed two college degrees, one from Prairie State College and another from Governors State University - a business administration degree with a marketing concentration.

    Forestell is a Homewood, Ill. native and a Homewood-Flossmoor graduate. He played for the Vikings, and after a 2010 graduation, went on to pursue further academic endeavors.

    jonathan brandt - 13U director

    Jonathan Brandt currently serves as the 13U director in Top Tier's youth division. He's spent several years as a part-time staffer, dating back to the fall of 2020. Now, Brandt is a full-time staff member and coach and will head the 13U Americans in the summer of 2024.

    Before joining the Top Tier staff as a full-time coach, Brandt coached collegiately at Southwestern Illinois College in Belleville, Ill. Along with his responsibilities with the Blue Storm, Brandt coached for the Ground Sloths in the Kernels Collegiate League, a summer league based in central Illinois. Here, Brandt led the Ground Sloths to a first-place finish in 2022, and Brandt was named the Coach of the Year. He was also the youngest coach in the league and ran the entire organization himself without a staff or an assistant.

    Brandt's playing career consisted of a couple collegiate stops and one season professionally. He began his career at Parkland College and finished at Auburn University at Montgomery, a Division II program. At Parkland, Brandt was part of back-to-back NJCAA World Series appearances. After graduation, Brandt played a season in the USPBL during its covid season.

    Brandt is from Homewood, Ill. and attended Homewood-Flossmoor High School.


  • brian duffy

    Brian Duffy played baseball at Archbishop Molloy HS in Queens, NY where he was named First Team All-City during his senior season. After graduation, he went on to pitch at the Division I collegiate level for the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) from 2004-2008. While at UMBC, Duffy interned for the The Baseball Factory, and a minor league affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles, the Bowie Baysox. After college, Brian coached at the United States Naval Academy, assisting in on campus recruiting, on-field coaching, and working camps across the country to promote Navy baseball. He then went on to become the Prep Baseball Report Illinois State Director in 2010 and the High School Director for Top Tier Baseball from 2011-2014. At Top Tier, he connected with college coaches across the Midwest and built relationships with other travel and high school programs, helping over 100 student-athletes across the country play at the collegiate level. Brian understands the concept of a "student-athlete" better than most. He holds an MBA with a concentration in Sports Management from the Loyola University Chicago Quinlan School of Business and a Juris Doctorate from the John Marshall Law School. He currently serves as a director for the Top Tier North program.

  • Josh Weeks - Central Illinois DIRECTOR

    Josh was a Michigan All-state selection at pitcher and shortstop for Lansing Eastern High School where he earned an invite to the Michigan High School Coaches all star game at Tiger Stadium. Josh went on to play for Michigan State University where he was a 4 year starting pitcher and was recognized as All Big Ten Honorable Mention his senior season. Josh was later inducted into the Lansing Eastern Athletics Hall of Fame in 2019.

    JOSH HALEY - COACH

    Josh is the head baseball coach at St Joseph - Ogden High School where he has posted a career record of 292-70 including 9 regional titles, 5 sectional titles, and 2 state runner ups. Josh has coached over 40 collegiate baseball players and 1 MLB draft pick. Josh is an alumnus of Millikin University where he was a 4 year baseball letter winner.

    MITCH ROSENTHAL - COACH

    Mitch was the head baseball coach at Parkland CC from 2005-2008 compiling a record of 171-60 including 3 MWAC championships and a NJCAA runner up. Mitch sent 57 players to 4 year schools, coached 9 NJCAA All Americans and 2 MLB draft picks. Mitch served as a scout for the Miami Marlins and scouting director for Prep Baseball Report Indiana. Mitch is an alumnus of Eastern Illinois University where he was a 4 year letter winner.

  • Lou Simios - Top Tier South Director

  • Kris Jenkins

    Kris Jenkins attended West Aurora High School where he was a three sport athlete in baseball, basketball, and football, earning All-Conference and All-Area honors in each sport. After his senior year, Kris was awarded Athlete of the Year for his contributions to West Aurora High School. After finishing high school, he continued his playing career at Triton College before transferring to Illinois State where he earned All-Conference honors as a senior. Kris also played collegiate summer ball in the Texas Collegiate Summer League helping lead his team to a TCL championship. As a coach, Kris Jenkins has over 13 years of experience with multiple travel travel programs as well as coaching at the sophomore and varsity levels with Plainfield South High School. Most recently, coach Jenkins led Team Illinois to a Prep Baseball Report Junior Futures Game Championship.

    Mitch Elliott

    Mitch Elliott attended Pine Richland High School in Pittsburgh, PA where he starred as a two sport athlete in football and baseball. He earned All-Conference in the WPIAL, All-State in Pennsylvania and Under Armour All-American in 2008. After high school, Mitch continued his playing career at Xavier University. As a Musketeer, Mitch earned the Big East tournament's Most Outstanding Player as a well as All-Tournament Team. Off the field, Mitch also was recognized with a Big East All-Academic Team award. Mitch has four years of professional experience playing in Puerto Rico and independent leagues. He specializes in teaching outfield and hitting.

    CARTER TURNQUIST

    In high school, Carter Turnquist was a two sport athlete excelling at baseball and football for the Oswego High School Panthers. Carter was named team MVP and earned All-Conference honors. Carter then continued his playing career at Aurora University as their number three starter with multiple appearances out of the bullpen. Carter will continue to compete with the Aurora University Spartans this upcoming season. With two years of coaching experience, Carter looks to help players refine their skills and further their playing careers.

  • Matt Heubner - Top Tier Springfield Director

  • Kyle Stewart - California Director




  • JASON MILLER - Florida director

    Miller, an upstate NY native, was a decorated three sport athlete in high school and received many honors, which culminated with the NYHS State Baseball Championship title his senior year. Later that June, Miller was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays as a 3rd baseman.

    Miller chose college over pro ball and attended The College of Saint Rose in Albany, NY, where he garnered several accolades along the way, including All Conference, All Region, and NCAA All American honors. Miller still holds several all time records, including a single season batting average of .460, 50+ RBI's and 60+ runs and is still among the college's top-10 all-time NCAA era leaders in batting, runs scored, hits, doubles, home runs, RBI, slugging percentage, walks and fielding percentage. Miller was again drafted, this time out of college, by the Texas Rangers as a left-handed hitting catcher and went on to play professional after graduation. Miller has since been voted into the College of Saint Rose Hall of Fame.

    Miller founded the Kangaroo Court Baseball Club in 2015. The organization has experienced tremendous growth, as well as success on the national stage garnering several championship titles and team rankings in multiple age groups. The organization now has it's own state-of-the-art training facility, serving as the indoor home to it's players and teams. Looking to solidify it's place in the high school showcase space, Miller partnered with Top Tier Baseball for it's high school aged players in the fall of 2016.

    The partnership has exploded onto the national scene with positive results both on and off the field. The Top Tier Roos summer teams collected several titles and assumed a place in the national rankings after their first season of play. The program has helped assist players commit to their dreams of playing at the collegiate level with programs like Florida, Wake Forest and FAU, to name a few. These players join the long heritage of Top Tier Baseball commits who's helped place over 250 players at the collegiate level and 85 into the MLB draft.

    Miller also works within the USA Baseball evaluation process in their NTIS program, which helps evaluate and identify players that have aspirations of representing their country on the US National Teams. Miller has helped assist hundreds of players get an opportunity in front of the USA Baseball Task Force in Cary, NC, home of USA Baseball, and a select few reach their dreams of making US national teams.

  • Jay Whannel - Iowa DIRECTOR