By Matt Huck          
Area Scout

Every Friday National Scouting Supervisor Nathan Rode provides a roundup of insider recruiting information and commitments throughout the PBR coverage area: The Buzz. CLICK HERE to take a look at this week’s National Buzz. With that in mind, let’s take an in depth look at the Illinois prospects who have committed to colleges, with detailed scouting information.

Austin Marozas, RHP, Plainfield South, 2017
Mississippi State

10.18.15 - Extra-large frame, prototypical pitchers body, 6-foot-7, 211-pound right-handed pitcher. Smooth delivery with rhythm, cross body with open toe landing, shoulders stay level as eyes move towards target. Arm action is loose, ¾ slot, free and easy, projectable arm speed. Fastball shows hard late running action to arm side, heavy feel, plus action in hitting zone, showed feel for the zone at 87-89 mph. Hard slider at 77-79 mph, fastball arm speed, 10/4 plane, occasionally got on side but showed swing and miss action. Changeup fades, flat running action to arm side, left up on this occasion, 78-80 mph. Marozas is one of the top pitching prospects in the state, still uncommitted and will be a 2017 draft follow.

Anthony Calarco, RHP, New Trier, 2018
Northwestern

7/15/15 - 6-foot-3, 190-pound, strong build, very projectable pitchers body, right-hander. On the mound showed long, loose arm action, worked from a high ¾ arm slot, landing on line. Fastball showed good sink, easy effort, sat 81-83 mph, touched 85 on his last pitch of his outing. Curveball showed 10/4 shape, sweeping action, sat 71-73 mph. Threw two innings, induced 5 ground balls (two reached safely on errors), 2 strikeouts, and no hits. Offensively is a switch-hitter, hitting from the left-side, hade a reverse toe-tap stride, gap-to-gap approach, went 1-for-3 two RBI, on a deep double to right-center field.

Joe Laudont, C, Kaneland, 2016
Elgin Community College

7.23.14 5-foot-11, 170-pound right-handed hitting catcher impressed with pop times ranging between 2.00-2.07 at 74 mph from the crouch.  Throws from a short, over the top arm slot with accuracy and a quick exchange. Hits from an open setup with a short stride, hands load smoothly producing above average bat speed with 84 mph exit velocity.  Showed fluid rhythm at the plate with a tendency to pull with several line drives.  Ran a 6.96 60, very good for a catcher.

Justin Diaz, SS, Lake View, 2017
Illinois State

10.26.14 - 5-foot-11, 150-pound lanky and athletic right-handed hitting middle infielder/right-handed pitcher hits from a balanced setup, hands load back smoothly, short stride, above average bat speed, short, level bat path produced line drives from gap-to-gap with fluid rhythm throughout. 78 mph exit velocity off the tee. Defensively, showcased plus hands fielding the baseball, fluid footwork, plays through the baseball. Arm works athletically, short, loose, high ¾ slot with carry and accuracy at 82 mph across the diamond. Ran a 7.49 60. On the mound, fastball sat 81-84 mph with sink from short, quick, and loose high ¾ slot. 66-68 mph curveball showed 12/6 shape, 70-71 mph slider had sweeping action, gets on the side of it at times. Tall and fall type delivery, smooth rhythm, level shoulders throughout delivery, lands square but slightly across his body. Diaz has legitimate two-way potential at the next level and is a high follow prospect over the next three years.

Jose Venegas, RHP, Lyons Township, 2016
Elgin Community College

9.5.15 - 5-foot-10, 185-pound right-handed pitcher. On the mound works from an over the top arm angle with a short arm action. Online delivery with a short leg lift. Used a four pitch mix in his outing today. Fastball sat 82-84 mph. Uses both a curveball and a slider with two different shapes. Curveball showed 12-6 shape with depth at 70-71 mph. Slider showed sweeping action at 75-76 mph. Slider showed more swing and miss potential then curveball. Changeup sat 76-78 mph with downer action and occasional sink.

Colin Rivard, SS, Naperville North, 2016
Aurora University

10.11.15 - Wiry 5-foot-10, 150-pound quick twitch right-handed hitting infielder. Impressed with a multitude of tools. Started off by running a 6.84 60 yard dash. Offensively, registered an above average exit velocity, 90 mph. Flashed a loose fast bat, fluid rhythm and a level path through the hitting zone. Open, balanced setup, pre-pitch load, long stride and good balance. Defensively, Rivard showed quick, fluid footwork and a quick exchange on the infield. Short, quick arm action, from an over-the-top slot, accurate and clocked at 79 mph.

Paul Dobravec, 1B, Naperville North, 2016
Aurora University

6/16/15 - 6-foot-4, 205-pound, athletic build, right-handed hitter. Hits from a upright stance, loads hands back, average balance. Slightly above-average bat speed, uphill bat path, gap-to-gap approach, 89 mph exit velocity. Defensively showed average hands, ¾  arm slot, 68 mph from 1B. Ran a 7.4 60-time. On the mound showed short arm action, high ¾ arm slot, landing closed. Fastball showed some arm-side-run, sat 78-81 mph, touched 82 mph. Curveball had 12/6 shape, 67-69 mph. Straight changeup was 67-70 mph.

Joey Strem, RHP, Willowbrook, 2016
McHenry County College

10.11.15 - 6-foot-2, 205-pound right-handed pitcher, large build. Full overhead windup, tall and fall, coiled/compact balanced position. Full arm swing, high ¾ slot. Fastball touched 85 mph, sat 81-83 mph with heavy finish, feel for the zone. Changeup is mostly flat with occasional sink, 72-73 mph. Curveball varies between 11/5 and 12/6 shape, 67-69 mph.

Christian Hubbard, C, Wheeling, 2016
Benedictine

2.15.15 - 5-foot-10, 165-pound left-handed hitting C hits from closed, crouch setup, short stride, picks foot up puts it down, long, level bat path, produced line drives from gap-to-gap during batting practice, 80 mph exit velocity. Defensively, impressed with pop times ranging from 2.01-2.12 to second, 75 mph from the crouch from short, over-the-top arm slot with carry, quick exchange coming out of the chute. Ran a 7.72 60.

Brady West, C, Rockford Lutheran, 2016
Indiana Wesleyan

6.18.15 - 5-foot-11, 192-pound catcher, solid stocky shape. Well above average defender, soft hands, receives well. Arm action is short and over the top, accurate to second base, showed some carry, 76 mph out of the chute. 2.00-2.12 pop times, clean exchange. Left-handed hitter, balanced stance, loads hands back and down, slight arm bar. Bat speed present, long path, pull side approach. 88 mph exit velocity from the tee. 7.64 runner in the 60.

Nolan Gazouski, RHP, Rockford Christian, 2016
Ranger College

6.5.15 - 6-foot-4, 190-pound lanky, long levers, projectable left-handed hitting SS/RHP. Gazsouski showed fluid infield actions during pregame, moving well for his size (4.33 to first on a groundout to first), soft hands, plays through the baseball, quick release, showed feel for accuracy from a couple different slots. Frame and added weight could see him move to an infield corner, but has above average athleticism to stay at short currently. Hits from a tall, open stance, didn’t do much offensively on this day, but is hitting .353 with 12 doubles, six triples, and four home runs on the year. Impressed in relief, throwing three hitless innings. Works from a short, high ¾ arm slot, separates hands high, short circle, works from the first base side of the rubber, loads knee over the rubber well, stride direction is in line with home plate, lands slightly closed. Fastball sat 85-87 mph with late life (sat in 86-89 range on day two of the tournament, closing out the State Championship game), gets good extension and gets on hitters quickly. Looked harder and likely has more in the tank with projectable frame. Slider thrown aggressively out of same window as fastball, 75-78 mph. When it stayed up it failed to break, but occasionally showed plus depth, 11/5 shape, has a change to be an above average offering at the college level. Gazsouski was unknown to the PBR Scouting staff, and will likely be making an appearance at the high end of the updated Illinois class of 2016 rankings. High end prospect who could make a splash on the summer circuit.

Colin Airola, 1B, Providence Catholic, 2016
St. Francis

6/12/14 - 6-foot, 165-pound corner infielder impressed with bat speed producing exit velocity up to 83 mph from athletic projectable frame.  Hits from a balanced athletic setup, hands move down and back to load, with noticeable stop before he starts swing.  Short, level bat path produced line drives during batting practice from gap-to-gap with power potential down the road.  Defensively at 1B showed accurate arm from short high ¾ slot throwing 73 mph across the diamond.  Also ran a 7.47 60-yard dash.

Jose Perez, 2B, Morgan Park, 2016
Aurora University

10.11.15 - Undersized 5-foot-5, 147-pound right-handed hitting middle infielder. Offensively, above-average path to the baseball. Short and level bat path. Big deliberate leg-lift trigger, fluid rhythm and balance through contact. Balanced, athletic and open setup. Registered an exit velocity of 73 mph. Defensively, fluid footwork and played with some bounce on the infield. Athletic fielding position and soft hands. Short arm action, over-the-top slot and some accuracy across the diamond. Also, ran a 7.20 60.

Scott Cappis, 3B, St. Ignatius, 2016
Concordia (Chicago)

10.11.15 - Bigger bodied 6-foot-2, 190-pound right-handed hitting infielder. Offensively, seemingly barreled everything thrown his way during his round of batting practice. Fluid rhythm and loose, strong swing. Registered an exit velocity of 95 mph. Balanced, open setup, smooth pre-pitch load and present bat speed. Defensively, soft, reliable hands on the infield. Athletic fielding position, good body control and clean transfer. Short arm action, high ¾ slot and clocked at 75 mph across the diamond. Also, ran a 7.85 60.

Ty Dill, 3B, Freeburg, 2016
Lindenwood

7/9/14 - 5-foot-8, 165-pound right-handed hitting middle infielder/third basemen hit from an open stance with a short stride producing a fast, uphill bat path, with opposite field tendencies and 75 mph exit velocity.  Defensively, throws from a short, over the top arm action with accuracy 74 mph across the diamond.  Showcased average hands fielding and also ran a 7.55 60.

Mark Smith, RHP, Edwardsville, 2017
Missouri

10.2.15 - Strong lower half 6-foot-4, 220-pound right-handed pitcher. Started on the mound for the Pirates. Extremely quick arm from an over-the-top slot and on-line direction in his delivery. Finishes slightly upright. Fastball has a lot of life, sat 85-89 mph. Flashed a potential wipe-out breaking ball at times, with feel, 11/5 shape and ranged between 73-77 mph.

Sam Ballard, LHP, Alton, 2016
Illinois-Chicago

Related Content

• PBRPlus - Dec 10, 2015
  Breaking Down Top 100 High School Picks
• PBRPlus - Dec 10, 2015
  Chain Baseball "Off the Chain" Camp Scouting Notes
• IL - Dec 10, 2015
  PBR Draft 100: An Inside Look at Cooper Johnson
• PBRPlus - Dec 10, 2015
  Updated 2018 Overall Rankings Released
• PBRPlus - Dec 9, 2015
  Illinois Insider: Top Unsigned Right-Handed Pitchers