Recruiting Roundup: Who's Heading Where?

October 16, 2015

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.

Mitch Owens, 3B, Moline, 2016
Iowa Western

Mitch Owens 6/18/15 - Long athletic frame, sloped shoulders, 6-foot-4, 200-pound corner infielder. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, short stride, stays balanced. Strong hitter, showed easy bat speed, pull pop type approach. 89 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively hands played soft, feet move well and plays through the baseball. Arm plays from a high ¾ slot, 76 mph across the diamond. Attributes can play at either corner infield spot. 7.42 runner.

Nick Lahrman, OF, McHenry, 2016
UW-Oshkosh

Nick Lahrman 6.18.15 - 5-foot-11, 180-pound outfielder, carries some strength. Defensively attacks the baseball in the outfield, plays through aggressively with strong crowhop, feet work well. 7.05 runner in the 60. Long arm action, over the top slot, arm plays online with accuracy and carry, 83 mph from the outfield. Right-handed hitter, slightly open stance, short stride. Strong muscled swing, slightly rigid, good bat speed, pull side tendencies. 83 mph exit velocity from the tee.

Gerald Powell, RHP, Kenwood, 2016
Illinois-Springfield

Gerald Powell 2.15.15 - 5-foot-10, 170-pound lanky and athletic right-handed pitcher works from a short, quick, loose, high ¾ arm slot, regular effort, tall/fall delivery, some rhythm, lands in line with home plate. Fastball sat 83-85 mph thrown for strikes. 74-76 mph flashed 11/5 shape, 76-78 mph changeup displayed fading action. Powell has reportedly touched the upper 80’s as recently as this fall, and is a high follow prospect in the 2016 class who will enter the overall rankings shortly.

Kolton Rominski, RHP, Marian Central Catholic, 2016
Hillsdale College

Kolton Rominski 6/18/15 - 5-foot-10, 180-pound, average frame, two-way player, right-handed hitter. Hits from a balanced set up, loads hands back, short stride, good balance. Average bat speed, level bat path, 81 mph exit velocity. Defensively showed average hands, short arm action, high ¾ slot, with some carry, 83 mph across the infield. Ran a 7.47 60-time. On the mound displayed a drop-and-drive delivery, short arm action, landing square. Fastball sat 81-83 mph, touched 84 mph. Curveball had 11/5 shape, gradual break, ability to throw for strikes, 70-73 mph. Changeup sat 72-74 mph. Slider sat 72-74 mph.

Jake Diaz, OF, St. Laurence, 2016
College of Dupage

Jacob Diaz 1.19.14 - 5-foot-11, 180-pound physical, two-way player. Defensively, he plays through the ball athletically with soft hands. Arm works long, from a ¾ slot at 85 mph. Ran a 7.37 60. At the plate he hits from a balanced setup with a short stride. Has pull side tendencies and a flat path that flashes some pop at times. Exit velocity was 87 mph off a tee. On the mound he uses a drop and drive delivery with choppy rhythm and high effort. Arm works long and quick from a low ¾ slot. Fastball was 80-81 mph, flashing 82 mph, with late sink for strikes. Breaking ball shows solid action with inconsistent shape at 63-65 mph. With his arm slot the pitch projects as slider with solid bite in the future. His changeup was 67-70 mph with sinking action.

Michael Nielsen, C, Lake Park, 2016
Quincy University

Michael Nielsen 2.15.15 - 6-foot-4, 205-pound left-handed hitting C/3B hits from a tall, open setup, hands held high, long stride, utilizes a leg kick, hands raise up and back to load, long, uphill bat path produced line drives with power to his pull side, 87 mph exit velocity off the tee. Defensively, behind home plate, pop times ranged from 2.00-2.05, 75 mph out of the crouch form short, over-the-top arm slot. Longer arm action at third base, accurate throws, impresses more behind the plate with physical presence and soft hands receiving. Ran a 7.71 60 yard dash.

Collin Clayton, OF, Edwardsville, 2016
John A. Logan

4.14.15 - 6-foot, 165-pound right-handed hitting centerfielder, also took infield at shortstop. Longer over-the-top arm slot plays more in the outfield currently, but flashes middle infield actions, with soft hands. Impressed with arm strength, threw a strike to home plate late in the game stopping a runner at third. Aggressive instincts in the outfield, well above average defender, gets good jumps, caught sinking liner in left center earlier in the game. Goes after the baseball hard in batting practice as well. Offensively, hits third for the Tigers, balanced stance, athleticism in swing, above average bat speed. Plus lanky athlete with fast twitch wrists/hands. 0-for-4 on this day with a walk.

Drew Mullarkey, 1B, Hinsdale Central, 2016
DePauw

Drew Mullarkey 6/18/15 - 6-foot, 190-pound, switch-hitting first baseman. Offensively hits from a balanced setup. Long load to backside, short stride with average balance. Short level swing path. 78 mph exit velocity form a tee. Ran the 60 at 8.06. In the field has a short arm action with average hands and slower actions. Threw 69 mph across the infield.

Jack Staten, RHP, Sacred Heart-Griffin, 2016
Lincoln Land CC

Jack Staten 7/23/13 - Staten is very projectable with a high ceiling at 6-foot-4, 165 pounds. The lanky right-handed pitcher displayed some rhythm in his delivery working from a tall balance point, releasing from a high ¾ slot. Staten’s fastball showed life and sink at 77-79 mph with occasional cutting action. 12/6 curveball is thrown with some arm speed at 68-70 mph and his changeup was 72 mph. Staten is a pitching prospect to follow as he develops into his frame.

Dan Bolt, OF, Morton, 2016
Bradley

Dan Bolt 2nd Team All State: Bolt put together an impressive spring campaign for the Potters, setting single-season school records for RBI (48) and runs scored (40). He hit an impressive .510 while playing in one of Central Illinois’ toughest conferences, the Mid-Illini. The left-handed hitting middle of the order threat also posted 24 extra-base hits (13 doubles, six triples, and five home runs, good for a .600 OBP, .894 slugging percentage, and 1.479 OPS. He also added 10 stolen bases. Bolt impressed in the outfield as well, with one error in 60 total chances, good for a .983 fielding percentage. Bolt is currently uncommitted, and led Morton to a school record for wins going 31-5, dropping an extra-inning heart breaker to Washington 3-2 in the regional semi-final.

Korry Howell, SS, Homewood Flossmoor, 2016
Kirkwood CC

Joey Hanley, RHP, Prairie Ridge, 2016
North Central College

JT Moore, OF, Cobden, 2016
Rend Lake

Recruiting Roundup: Who's Heading Where?

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