Brandon Shannon didn’t just add velocity this spring — he etched his name into program history.
The Illinois right-hander has emerged as a serious MLB draft riser, lighting up radar guns with a fastball that now touches 97 mph and sits comfortably in the 91–95 range. Along the way, he broke McHenry’s all-time wins record, surpassing a mark previously held by Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Bobby Miller, McHenry pitching coach Zach Badgley and Badgley’s older brother, Mark.
With his size, improved stuff and rising draft stock, Shannon has become one of the Midwest’s most compelling arms ahead of July’s MLB draft.
“It’s been crazy to see my development,” Shannon said. “Looking back on my high school years, how did I go from 84 mph as a sophomore to 97 mph this season? It’s just crazy to me. I just know I have so much more left in the tank. It’s fun to see the fast growth over this short time.”
Shannon credits a dedicated offseason in the weight room for his uptick in velocity. The 6-foot-4 right-hander added about 10 pounds of strength, now weighing 180 pounds, and believes the added muscle has boosted his fastball and improved his recovery between starts.
He also points to the influence of his older brother, Nolan, a former Division III pitcher, who’s pushed him to maximize his potential and embrace the work required to reach it.
“It’s helped me a lot,” said Shannon on his added strength. “The velo comes a lot more easily. I still have a lot of room to grow, but I’m already seeing the impact on me. It allows me to pitch faster and easier and be less sore. It’s been great.”
Shannon throws a four-seam fastball, curveball, slider, splitter and changeup from an athletic and repeatable delivery that features some deception.
His fastball is his go-to pitch. It’s an above-average offering with late movement, solid command and the ability to generate swings and misses. He mixes in a slider and curveball, which he’s refined to serve as distinct secondary offerings. His splitter is particularly intriguing, featuring sharp break and the ability to miss bats. He’s also been developing a changeup this spring to round out his arsenal.
Shannon features a dynamic pitch mix and consistently attacks the strike zone, using his stuff to overpower hitters.
“As a pitcher, I think I have a high ceiling, and there is still so much more I can grow because I can throw decently fast now,” Shannon said. “Imagine if I put on 30-40 pounds of muscle. That is what I want to do so bad is to put on weight and see my potential rise. I can still throw it hard for my size, but if I add strength, I could see that increase.”
Shannon is an exciting prospect with a bright future. While he remains somewhat under the radar in draft circles, he’s a well-regarded Louisville commit who could make an immediate impact if he reaches campus this fall.
He committed to the Cardinals last year, drawn by the program’s strong track record of developing pitchers and a solid relationship with the coaching staff. It’s an opportunity he’s genuinely eager about.
“Mostly the coaches, the environment, the campus and really everything about it,” said Shannon on Louisville. “I enjoyed all the coaches on the visit. They treated us so well. The players were awesome, and the facilities are absolutely great. It really took my heart when I went on my first visit.”
Read more in-depth stories on top 2025 MLB draft prospects at Baseball Prospect Journal.
Dan Zielinski III has covered the MLB draft for 10 years. He has interviewed 580 of the top draft prospects in that period, including four No. 1 overall picks. Multiple publications, including Baseball America, USA Today, MLB.com, The Arizona Republic and The Dallas Morning News, have quoted his work, while he has appeared on radio stations as a “MLB draft expert.” Follow him on Twitter @DanZielinski3.
