By Ryan Quigley               
Illinois Scouting Director

Quality left-handed hitters are a premium on the recruiting trail, and several uncommitted prospects from the 2015 class that his from the left-side are still available.  In today’s Illinois Insider, we’ll focus on the top five left-handed sticks still available in the state of Illinois.  Leading off our list is Alton’s Matt Hopkins, who impressed the PBR scouting staff during the Labor Day Challenge, which you can read about HERE. At some point throughout the summer all five of the following prospects have impressed PBR. Today’s list focuses strictly on hitting ability.

Let’s take a look at the top left-handed hitting prospects still available in the 2015 class:

1. Matt Hopkins, OF/1B, Alton, 2015
6-foot-2, 190-pound muscular and athletic left-handed hitting outfielder currently ranked No. 59 in Illinois’ 2015 class, No. 233 overall impressed at the 2014 Labor Day Challenge.  Hopkins hits from an open setup, hands held high, tall confident approach.  Doubled deep to center in the first game of the day for Southern Illinois against the Rawlings Hitters.  Ran 4.54 from home to first on a 3-6-3 double play.  Singled to right field and lined out hard to center in final two at bats in game two versus Top Tier.  Hit .420 as a sophomore cleanup hitter for Alton, which earned him an invite to the 2013 Future Games.  Hopkins is going through the process of applying for the United States Air Force Academy to continue his academic and athletic career.