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.

Nathaniel Rodriguez, LHP, Warren, 2016
Concordia (WI)

8.7.15 - 5-foot-7, 162-pound left-handed pitcher. Tall and fall delivery, stays online, shows effort. Arm action has length, draws low with a cupped wrist, high ¾ arm slot. Fastball sat 79-81 mph, touched 82 mph. Slider has short lateral action, appears cutter at times, 74-75 mph. Changeup sat 75-76 mph.

 

Joe Swanson, C, Maine West, 2016
Webster University

2.15.15 - 5-foot-9, 160-pound right-handed hitting C hits from an open setup, short stride, short, level bat path, gap-to-gap approach during batting practice, 81 mph exit velocity off the tee. Defensively, pop times ranged from 2.00 to 2.17, 77 mph out of the crouch from short, over-the-top arm slot with carry down to second base, high setup, good feet blocking during bullpens. Ran a 7.63 60.

Thalame (TJ) Byrd, OF, Morgan Park, 2016
Rend Lake College

10.11.15 - Lanky, athletic frame at 6-foot, 165-pounds with room to fill. 6.67 runner in the 60. Offensively hits from an open stance with a high hand set. Rhythm heavy swing with loose hands creating whip with the barrel. Line drive gap to gap hitter with good balance and a fast bat. Showed strength thru contact with 83 mph exit velocity from a tee. Defensively has a short arm action from a high ¾ arm slot. Throws flashed carry. Athletic actions with fluid footwork and soft hands.

John Plattner, 1B, Sacred-Heart Griffin, 2016
Kaskaskia CC

9.13.14 - 6-foot, 180-pound two-way player, athletic build. Right-handed hitter, tall open stance, short stride, high loading action, good balance through contact. Produced pull side line drives, some bat speed present, 81 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively played through the baseball athletically, short loose athletic arm action, 73 mph across the diamond, softer hands. 7.74 runner in the 60. Delivery has regular effort, tall and fall approach, stays closed. Arm works from high ¾ slot. Fastball ranged 73-76 mph. Curveball has 12/6 action, 63-66 mph, flashed sharp tighter break. Changeup thrown with near fastball arm speed, 67-68 mph.

Noah Thaggard, RHP, Waterloo, 2016
Kaskaskia CC

9.5.15 - third baseman and right-handed pitcher. Will be starting the second game of the day for Team Southern Illinois at 6 pm tonight. Thaggard is a physical, bigger-body right-handed hitter. Went 2-for-2 on the day with a walk, a run scored and an RBI. Starts from an open, athletic stance with some pre-pitch rhythm. Average solid build, right-handed pitcher. Repeatable delivery that showed the ability to stay in the strikezone. ¾ arm slot, average arm speed. Fastball showed heavy sink, 81-83 mph, touched 84 mph, held velocity for most of the game, including in the stretch. Slider has 10/4 action, 74-76 mph, showed good feel. Changeup has good arm side action, ranged 73-77 mph. Thaggard went the distance keeping hitters off balance by changing speeds and location within the strikezone. High pitchability guy.

Matthew Rosko, OF, Kaneland, 2016
Quincy University

9.29.13 6-foot-2, 170-pound, athletic, left-hand hitting two way player. Offensively, he has a tall setup and short stride. Swing is short and level, maintains balance throughout. Showed solid bat speed and had an exit velocity of 78 mph off a tee. From the outfield, showed sound outfield actions and footwork. Throws with a long arm from a high ¾ slot with average carry at 70 mph. He ran a 7.93 60. On the mound he throws from the same high ¾ slot, with a short arm action on the backside. The delivery is quiet and compact, with choppy rhythm. His fastball was straight and sat 69-73 mph from the wind and stretch. Changeup was straight and sitting 65-67 mph. Curveball was 63-64 mph with rolling break.

Reese Dolan, RHP, Mundelein, 2016
Southern Illinois

6.18.15 - Lean projectable frame, 6-foot-4, 180-pound two-way player. Left-handed hitter, balanced stance, short stride that slightly dives, good balance. 90 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm carries well from the outfield, stays on line and accurate, 85 mph. Plays through the baseball, corner outfield type. 7.43 runner. On the mound works from a tall and fall delivery, high ¾ slot. Fastball sat 83-84 mph. Curveball has worked at 72-73 mph, 11/5 plane. Changeup was mostly down, 79-80 mph.

Matthew Meier, RHP, Joliet West, 2016
Judson University

8.7.15 - Athletic build 6-foot, 170-pound well-proportioned right-handed pitcher. One of the top pitchers at the Unsigned Senior Games. Long, quick arm and high ¾ slot. Some rhythm, on-line finish, slightly closed foot at landing and athletic finish.  Fastball looked to be his go-to pitch. At times was able to get tilt, run and sink with some late life, sitting 83-85 mph. Change-up continually got better and developed feel as his outing went on, sitting 73-75 mph. When it is good, flashes sink and fade. Also, throws a slider for a strike, near fastball arm speed. Flashed late, sharp action in warmups. Stayed more on the same plane in the game, 10/4 action, clocked at 73-75 mph.

Christos Tountas, SS, Niles West, 2016
Chandler Gilbert CC  

Eric Outlaw, 3B, Maine West, 2016
Webster University

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