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.

Mark DiLuia, RHP, Marian Catholic, 2017
University of Maryland

Future Games 2015 - Long, lean, extremely projectable 6-foot-3, 175-pound right-handed pitcher has just as much upside on the mound as anyone on Team Illinois at the Future Games. The right hander possesses a plus pitchers frame to go along with a long, loose, whippy arm action from a ¾ arm slot. Diluia throws three pitches for a strike with his slider being a plus offering with tight sweeping action, sitting 76-77 mph. Consistently showed advanced feel for the slider and got a number of swings and misses in game play. Slight hesitation in his delivery which seems to cause a bit of deception for hitters. Fastball sat an easy 86-88 with some arm-side-run, challenged hitters and seemed to get on them in a hurry. Change-up was 81 mph with slight fade and arm-side-run. Diluia only allowed one hit and struck out one in his two innings of work at the Future Games.

Jacob Geiger, RHP, Plainfield East, 2016
Illinois Institute of Technology

10.11.15 - 5-foot-11, 195-pound right-handed pitcher. Uptempo delivery, works with quick pace, showed and ability to repeat and throw strikes. High ¾ slot, short arm action. Fastball has slight gradual sink, 68-71 mph. 11/5 curveball, 54-58 mph, off axis. Showed slider with minimal action, 63-66 mph. Changeup fades, 59-60 mph, ability to find the strike zone.

Bryce Gray, C, Homewood-Flossmoor, 2016
University of Notre Dame

8.7.15 - 5-foot-11, 200-pound catcher, solid strong build. Right-handed hitter, balanced wide stance, short stride, good balance. Showed bat speed, level path, line drive type hitter, gap to gap type, athletic loose hands. 84 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm plays from a short over the top slot, 76 mph from the crouch, carried well and on target, easy arm. Defensively gets clean exchange out of the chute, posted pop times at 2.05-2.09. 7.48 runner in the 60. One of the top prospects in attendance.

Angelo Smith, LHP, Richards, 2017
University of Michigan

9.19.14 - 5-foot-9, 150-pound left-handed pitcher/left-handed hitting outfielder impresses with legitimate two-way ability. Worked at 79-81 mph off the mound from quick, loose, high ¾ arm slot. Flashes 67 mph slurvy breaking ball, and 70-73 mph change. Repeats delivery well, athleticism evident throughout.  Hits from a tall, narrow setup, slightly open, pull tendencies, above average bat speed.

 

Matthew McCumber, RHP, Cary-Grove, 2017
Northern Illinois University

9.5.15 - long and lean right-handed pitcher. Came in out of the pen and threw five innings allowing only one run. Really good overall feel for pitching. Everything he threw was around the zone and rarely caught too much of the plate. Slow paced delivery with rhythm. High front-side and creates tilt at times on his fastball. Fastball sat 80-83 mph, touching 84 a few times. Mixed in his off-speed offerings at any time and any count. Feel for a 12/6 curveball, sat 65-77 mph. Also, featured a change-up with slightly slower than fastball arm speed, ranging between 63-66 mph.

Bobby Pennington, RHP, Maine South, 2014
John A. Logan/Murray State

Went the Juco route out of high school in 2014 and after two years at John A. Logan College will be attending Murray State. 

10/113/13 - 6-foot-4, 195-pounder features an athletic frame with extremely wide shoulders and long arms – a prototypical pitcher’s frame with plenty more room for physical development. Pennington profiled as the best arm at the event. His fastball sat 86-87 mph, touching 88 twice. He works from a high-3/4 slot with an athletic arm action. His curveball showed significant improvement since the last time we saw him at the Preseason All-State Showcase last February. His 71-72 mph curveball flashed tight, late 12/6 break at times, while his changeup consistently registered at 76-77 mph with above-average arm action.

Jack Wolfe, RHP, Sandburg, 2016
Rend Lake College

10.11.15 - 5-foot-10, 155-pound right-handed pitcher average frame. Max effort delivery, recoil finish. Arm plays from a ¾ slot, occasionally gets low 3/4, arm plays underneath the baseball. Fastball is lively, 84-85 mph, touched 86 mph, typically up. Slider has 10/4 action, 78-80 mph. Changeup has advanced fading action, arm side run, 78-80 mph.

Darius Hill, 2B, Morgan Park, 2016
John A. Logan

6.18.15 - 5-foot-8, 155-pound, small frame, athletic build, right-handed hitter. Hits from a slightly open stance, loads back, short stride, good balance. Above average bat speed, level path, 86 mph exit velocity. In the IF showed soft hands, fluid footwork, quick exchange.  Short arm action, over-the-top arm slot, 72 mph across the infield. In the OF showed long arm action, some accuracy, 80 mph from the OF. Ran a 6.61 60-time.

Tyler Gordon, C, Simeon, 2016
Prairie View A&M

2.15.15 - 5-foot-7, 175-pound right-handed hitting catcher with a strong lower half, hits from a balanced setup, hands load back smoothly, simple and balanced approach, fluid throughout, short stride, short, level bat path gets extension, pull tendencies during batting practice, cuts off finish at times. Defensively, pop times ranged from 2.01-2.12 to second, 69 mph out of the crouch from long, over-the-top arm slot. Quick feet, quick exchanges, impressed with soft hands receiving during bullpens. Ran a 7.26 60 yard dash.

Tyler Laux, RHP, Lincoln-Way North, 2016
Prairie View A&M

8.23.15 - Large typical pitchers frame, 6-foot-5, 195-pound right-handed pitcher, solid lower half. Delivery works slightly open to glove side, some effort, can repeat and control the zone. Arm action is quick and loose, high ¾ slot. At times fastball showed good command of the bottom of the zone, hard late finish when down, sat 83-85 mph. Curveball flashed sharp action, thrown hard with fastball arm speed, 72-75 mph. Straight changeup has some feel, fastball arm speed, 79-80 mph.

Andrew Garcia, SS, Lincoln-Way East, 2016
Prairie View A&M

8.7.15 - 6-foot-1, 160-pound left-handed hitting shortstop carries an athletic quick twitch frame. Projects well as a middle infielder at the next level. Defensively consistently showed solid fluid actions during the workout which translated well into game play. Threw 81 mph across the diamond with a short quick arm action. Flashed well above average range at SS and had solid over the shoulder catch down left field line during game play. Hits from the left side of the plate, slightly open stance, loose in the box with rhythm and a whippy bat. Exit velocity was clocked at 78mph with a wood bat. Showed good feel at the plate and barrel awareness going 1-2 with a double and two walks in game play. Ran a 4.44 from home to first and 7.23 in the 60.

Jimmy Cook, OF, Lincoln-Way North, 2016
Kalamazoo Valley CC

10.11.15 - 5-foot-9, 175-pound, left-handed hitting OF/LHP. Offensively hits from a balanced slightly crouched setup. Short stride with good balance throughout. Line drive pull hitter with a short uphill swing path. Showed strength thru contact with 87 mph exit velocity from a tee. Ran the 60 at 7.08. Defensively has a short arm action from a ¾ arm slot. Athletic actions with some aggressiveness and fluid footwork. Showed soft hands with a clean exchange. Threw 79 mph from the outfield. On the mound works from a high ¾ arm angle with a short arm action. Tilt, topple delivery with a high front side at balance point. Some rhythm with an open landing and athletic finish. Fastball was mostly straight at 77-79 mph. Curveball showed 12-6 shape with early action and some depth at 64-68 mph.

Tyler Strzelczyk, 3B, Lincoln-Way North, 2016
Madison College

6/18/15 - Long lanky frame, slender build, 6-foot-4, 170-pound two-way player. Athletic and showed feel around the bag, easy athleticism, hands played soft, showed infield actions. Arm action is short and loose across, high ¾ slot, 83 mph. Right-handed hitter, open stance, short stride back to even, good balance. Loose hands at the plate, creates some whip, showed bat speed. Level path with gap to gap approach. 86 mph exit velocity from the tee. On the mound works with little effort. Fastball showed slight arm side run, 83-85 mph. Changeup thrown with feel, 74-76 mph, control of the zone.

Anthony Cocco, 2B, Lockport, 2016
Kaskaskia College

10.11.15 -  Well-proportioned, solidly built 6-foot, 180-pound left-handed hitting infielder. Offensively, flashed solid hitting tools. Aggressive, short and compact swing. Present bat speed with strength through contact and good balance. Made a lot of hard contact during his round of batting practice. Gap-to-gap type hitter. Starts from a crouched setup, smooth pre-pitch load and heel-lift stride. Registered an exit velocity of 87 mph. Defensively, reliable hands and solid actions on the infield. Fields the ball out front and looked good on the play to his glove side. Short arm action, high ¾ slot, accurate and clocked at 79 mph across the diamond. Also, ran a 7.37 60.

 Zachary Zarifian, SS, Zion Benton, 2016
Rend Lake College

10.11.15 - Athletic and solid build 6-foot, 190-pound right-handed hitting toolsy infielder. Ran a 6.98 60. Offensively, registered an 87 mph exit velocity. Quick twitch swing and flashed bat speed. Balanced setup, pre-pitch load, short stride and uphill bat path through the hitting zone. Defensively, quick arm, short high ¾ slot and some carry on his throws across the infield. Clocked at 81 mph across the diamond.

Christian Barczi, C, Naperville North, 2016
Valparaiso University

6.18.15 - Projectable frame, 6-foot-1, 185-pound catcher, lean athletic shape, proportioned well. Athletic defender behind the dish, quick release, short over the top arm action, arm carries well. 77 mph out of the crouch, showed flashes of accuracy. Exchange is high efficient, short and quick, athletic feet. Ability to block, agile. Pop times ranged 1.97-2.04. Ran a 7.22 in the 60. Right-handed hitter, balanced setup, leg kick stride, good balance through contact. Loose athletic hands, path is short to the baseball, advanced bat speed. 93 mph exit velocity from the tee.

Christian Camacho, RHP, Elk Grove, 2016
Auburn University

Davin Marcomb, RHP, Rockford East, 2016
John A. Logan

Zach Sefcik, OF, Marist, 2016
North Central College

Eli Sanchez, C, Rockford Christian, 2016
Cedarville University

Chris Zeschke, SS, Richards, 2016
Lewis University

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