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Updated Illinois Class of 2017 Rankings: Prospects New to the Rankings - Part 2

December 3, 2014

By Ryan Quigley
Illinois Scouting Director

Back in August we released our inaugural 2017 class rankings, which included twenty of the top sophomores in Illinois. Yesterday, we extended that list to fifty prospects, as the fall season allowed the Prep Baseball Report scouting staff to track down emerging talent at tournaments and showcases.

Today we’ll take a look at new prospects to the rankings in the 30-40 range, providing a short scouting report on them. We have a considerable amount of scouting information (video and verified statistics) on prospects who have attended a PBR event, but it is not a prerequisite to enter the rankings as any worthy prospect we come across on the scouting trail merits consideration.

Newly Ranked 2017 Prospects

29. Ryan Eiermann, LHP, Naperville Central
6-foot, 175-pound left-handed pitcher impressed with 80-82 mph fastball from low ¾ arm slot. Arm angle, and across his body delivery creates hard, late cutting action on fastball. Also throws 61-64 mph slurve, and 66-68 mph changeup. Beat the number one 15U team in the nation, the Georgia Jackets, this summer while pitching for Elite Baseball Training.

30. Sonny Mentone, LHP, Antioch
6-foot, 145-pound left-handed pitcher impressed this fall with 79-81 mph fastball from high ¾ arm slot. Works significantly across his body, but does not impact his ability to throw strikes, creating a tough angle for hitters. 65-67 mph curveball with 11/5 shape was thrown for strikes, also flashes 72-74 mph changeup.

33. Austin Chapman, RHP, Sacred Heart-Griffin
Big bodied right handed pitcher, 6-foot-2, 225-pounds, large build. Tall and fall delivery, with rhythm and tempo, excellent balance, with athletic finish. Easy effort, high ¾ slot, quick arm speed, loose clean arm action, able to carry more velocity. Fastball sat 82-83 mph, advanced arm side run for his age, with command. Curveball has 11/5 shape, featured sharp action, feel for the pitch, 65-70 mph. Changeup has advanced action, fastball arm speed, excellent feel and command of the pitch, arm side action, 74-77 mph. Flashed a knuckleball at 65-68 mph. Chapman has a clean and easy arm action that bodes well for added velocity in the future, high follow prospect in the 2017 class.

34. Tommie Washington, C/INF, Harlan
5-foot-9, 155-pound infielder/catcher, athletic frame. Offensively hits from a tall open stance, smooth loading action, short stride. Showed bat speed, has a presence/approach in the box. Short path to the baseball, line drive hitter with gap to gap approach. 74 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively looks to be presently more advanced as a catcher, quick footwork out of the chute, exchange is quick and gets rid of it well, athletic receiver. Posted 2.09-2.18 pop times Arm action is short, high ¾ slot, accurate arm. 73 mph out of the crouch, 81 mph across the diamond. Infield actions will play, suited more for a corner spot, clean soft hands. 7.49 runner in the 60.

38. Matthew McCumber, RHP, Cary Grove
Highly projectable frame, 6-foot-3, 180-pound right-handed pitcher, thin build with long limbs, shows athleticism. Tall and fall style delivery, some effort, works online, shoulders closed, high front side, good direction, squared landing with balanced athletic finish. From the stretch uses an efficient slide step, knee to knee, good load and go. Arm action is loose, high ¾ slot, quick arm action. Fastball worked downhill, sat 80-82 mph, touched 83 mph. Threw two breaking balls, curveball and slider, curveball projects to be a better pitch with more feel for what it’s doing. Curveball pitched at 69-70 mph, 12/6 action, flashed tight spin with late break, potential swing and miss pitch, arm action and delivery bodes well for a good over the top curveball. Slider has backup action, 73-76 mph, tends to get around it. Changeup has feel, near fastball arm speed, flashed sinking action at 70-71 mph. High follow 2017 prospect.

39. Ashton Creal, OF, Metea Valley
6-foot, 175-pound athletic right-handed hitting outfielder hits from a wide, balanced setup, hands load smoothly, starts with high back elbow setup, short stride, fluid rhythm throughout swing; short, level bat path produced several line drives during batting practice from gap-to-gap, 75 mph exit velocity off the tee. Defensively, threw 81 mph in the outfield from long, high ¾ arm slot with carry. Soft hands fielding, plays through the baseball, aggressive with his crowhop. Ran a 7.05 60. Creal is a high follow 2017 outfield prospect with the potential for plus tools across the board.

40. Jake Ridgway, OF/C, Brother Rice
5-foot-11, 165-pound outfielder, lanky frame, has more growth ahead of him, athletic actions, highly projectable. Offensively hits from a balanced stance, slightly crouched setup, short stride. Fluid swing, good rhythm, athletic hands at the plate, shows bat speed with a solid approach. 79 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively plays through the baseball, athletic feet, has a bounce to his step, feet work well through his crow hop, shows some quick twitch actions. Arm works from a high ¾ slot, showed accuracy, stayed online to target. Ridgway is a high follow outfielder, with loose athletic actions that project well.

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