PBR Success Stories: 2020 SS/RHP Lucas Ismaili
May 12, 2020
Our goal at Prep Baseball Report is to provide athletes with a platform to showcase their talents and be able to play baseball at the next level. One of the biggest events for uncommitted players is the PBR Future Games. The Future Games is an event for uncommitted sophomores and juniors that allows them to represent their home state and showcase themselves in front of over 300 college coaches. Over the last three years, 45 players from the Future Games have gone on to commit to play college baseball.
We wanted to look back at the 2018 Future Games which featured 18 players committing to play college baseball. The players from the 2018 team will be heading into their freshman year of college next year and we wanted to ask them about their time with Prep Baseball Report. Today, we talked to 2020 SS/RHP Lucas Ismaili about his experience at PBR events and how it led him to be seen by the Universty of Pittsburgh.
Lucas Ismaili, SS/RHP, East Lake, 2020, Pittsburgh
2020 graduate from East Lake High School Lucas Ismaili was a 2018 Prep Baseball Report Future Games participant. Lucas is a SS/RHP and has committed to Pittsburgh. He ranks No. 115 in the PBR Florida Class of 2020 rankings.
Question:
While working with Prep Baseball Report, what did you gain from attending PBR showcases and how did it help you sign with Pittsburgh?
Answer:
Attending your showcases, I gained a lot of knowledge from where I’m at against all the other great players, and learning about how other great players went about their business. It helped me sign with Pittsburgh because it put my name out there. All it takes is one good showing and you guys put us out there!
Question:
What Prep Baseball Report event stood out to you most?
Answer:
The Future Games in Indianapolis was my favorite because I got to play with the best from my state and compete against the best from other states, with tons of scouts in attendance.
Question:
What was the experience like working with Prep Baseball Report trying to become recruited.
Answer:
My experience was great because I got to know what it’s like to be in a top level showcase and what it takes to compete at the next level.
If you are still looking for that college commitment, check out our summer showcase schedule and receive the exposure you need to have the opportunity play at the next level.
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Scouting Report
5/25/19- Has an athletic frame with room for growth standing at 6 foot and 160 pounds. Moves athletically with fluid actions in the infield and has a good first step. Fields out front, while staying through the ball with a clean exchange in the infield. Likes to use a leg kick to get the lower half involved, but stays balanced with his approach. Has a good bat speed with 90 mph exit velocity and gap to gap power. Has huge upside on the mound with his fastball sitting 87-88, 70-71 slider and 77-79 changeup. Clean arm action and stays low in the zone with command of all his pitches. Smooth delivery while staying line to home. Shows rhythm and repeats delivery easily.
09/15/18- 6-foot, 160-pound, two-way prospect, long, lanky frame, athleticism throughout. A member of Team Florida at the 2018 Future Games as a middle infielder, Ismaili stood out on the mound this day. Utilizes a long arm action, showing on the back-side, accelerates quickly out front, ball comes out clean from a ¾ slot. Repeats delivery, consistent. Fastball sat 82-85 with run. Slider at 73-74. Went 3 ⅓ innings in relief, allowing zero hits, zero runs, walking one and striking out five.
08/04/18- A lean, 6-foot, 160 pounds, he has a twitchy athletic and projectable frame. Defensively, he has functional athleticism and a quick first step. The hands work well and has a quick transfer and some carry on the throws. Overall, the actions work and has the potential to stick at short. Offensively, he has a level and compact swing. Overall, the swing is fundamentally sound and will continue to improve with strength. He has a feel for the barrel and translated to pair of doubles over three games. Also, showed ability to steal bases and an IQ on the basepath. Overall, there is a lot of upside with Ismaili.
1/27/18- Lean, athletic frame standing at 5-foot-11, 155 pounds with quick twitch. Offensively, he starts from a wide base with minimal movement before his load. Displayed a short swing through the zone with quick hands, good-hand eye coordination, and a feel for the barrel as he consistently drove the ball all over the field during batting practice. This translated during the game when he ripped a line drive single up the middle for an easy base hit. Registered a 90 mph exit velocity in the cage. As he continues to become more physical with his frame, look for Ismaili to see a jump in gap-to-gap power. In the field, he showed athletic actions, range, and sure hands with accurate throws across the diamond that topped out at 82 mph. Clocked in at 7.33 seconds for his 60 yard dash time. Athletic middle infielder who will be a good follow as he continues to mature.
09/17/16- The 5-foot-9, 135 pound middle infielder showed some potential to be a very solid right handed hitter. From a wide base with minimal movement in the load, he showed above average bat speed with quick hands through the zone resulting in line drive after line drive in batting practice. The path through the zone works and will be an above average hitter as he becomes stronger. Defensively, he showed above average actions for his class, With good footwork and rhythm to and through the baseball he showed the ability to play the shortstop position at the next level. The hands work really well and the arm needs to get stronger, but the tools all project to play at the next level as he gets bigger and stronger.