The Illinois Scout Blog provides insider information and scouting notes from the PBR Scouting Staff during the season. This running blog will feature information on underclass prospects, unsigned seniors, draft prospects, and anything else that is notable. We will provide a wide range of information, including player evaluations, velocities, pop times, home to first times, and more. Simply put, the Illinois Scout Blog is loaded with information …

NO. 2 BROTHER RICE VS SANDBURG 3/22/22

 By Kevin Cronin
Area Scout

Bryce Nevils C, Brother Rice, 2023
Uncommitted junior, ranked No. 30 in the state. 6-foot-1, 188-pound, athletic frame with advanced strength in his lower half. At the plate right-handed hitting catcher, setups in a slightly crouched stance with high active hands. Uses a toe tap load/stride to help stay on his back leg and adjust to pitches. Quick, athletic hands, compact swing with feel for the barrel. Showed the ability to hit for both contact and power while showing plate discipline and pitch recognition. Nevils finished 2-for-3 with a two-run home run, hustle double, three RBIs, stolen base and a run scored. 

Bryce Nevils

Christian Holmes, SS, Brother Rice, 2022
Kansas State commit, ranked No. 21 in the state. 6-foot-2, 190-pounds; athletic, strong frame. Defensively, Holmes works through the baseball with smooth, athletic footwork. Fields out in front with soft hands and a short, easy arm action. Right-handed hitter, hit in the four-hole, simple, balanced stance with a smooth, controlled load. Bat starts in an upright position, has strong, athletic hands, drives the ball to all fields. Displayed speed and athleticism turning a long single into a double and stealing three bags, including third base. Holmes went 2-for-2 on the day with two doubles, two runs scored, two RBIs and one walk. 

Christian Holmes

Zion Rose, Louisville, C, Brother Rice, 2022
Louisville commit, ranked No. 5 in the state. 5-foot-10, 175-pound frame, muscular, strong lower body. Rose has advanced skills behind the plate, athletic feet with a strong throwing arm. Actively looking to throw behind the runner with a quick, clean release. Deadend the ball near the plate on balls in the dirt. Offensively, hit out of the lead-off spot, athletic stance, slow, controlled load/stride and fluid rhythm. Quick, powerful swing working into both gaps. Rose had a 2-for-3 day at the plate with two runs scored, one RBI, one walk and stole a base.

NO. 4 HOMEWOOD-FLOSSMOOR VS NO. 5 NAZARETH - 3/21/22

By Diego Solares
Area Scout

Sebastian Gutierrez, RHP, Nazareth Academy, 2022 
Parkland JC commit. Lean, athletic 6-foot, 175-pound frame with room to add strength, wiry fibers. Currently ranked No. 89 in the Illinois senior class. Was the first arm out of the bullpen for Nazareth Academy in this look. Simple tall/fall type delivery, upper half tucks in before working downhill, maintains direction to target, finishes towards the first base side of the mound. Short, tight arm action on the backside, works from a high ¾ slot with above-average arm speed. Fastball sat 87-90 mph with life and heavy arm-side run at times, played around the zone and favored the arm-side corner of the plate. Supreme confidence in his curveball. Threw it in all types of counts; to both get ahead and put hitters away. Played at 73-75 mph with consistent sharp spin off an 11/5 plane. Also threw a 74-76 mph changeup at arm speed and slot that showed late arm-side action, albeit used sparingly. Struck out three batters in 1.2  innings pitched against a quality Homewood-Flossmoor lineup. Owns an explosive three-pitch mix conducive to missing bats at the next level. 

Sebastian Gutierrez

Sam Wampler, C, Nazareth Academy 2022
St. Ambrose commit. Well-proportioned 6-foot-1, 160-pound frame that projects. Started behind the plate and hit at the bottom of the Nazareth Academy lineup. Carrying tool appears to be his defensive abilities behind the plate. Handled three high-quality arms with ease and provided the Roadrunners’ a stable presence at arguably the diamond’s most important position in this game. Threw a runner out in the top of the sixth inning to escape a jam as well, popping a 2.00 flat in-game with a strong, accurate throw to the bag. Finished 2-for-4 at the plate. 

John Hughes, LHP, Nazareth Academy, 2024
North Carolina commit. Strong, sturdy 6-foot, 190-pound frame. Ranked eighth in the Illinois sophomore class and No. 378 nationally for his age. Was the final arm out of the bullpen for Nazareth Academy. Simple and repeatable delivery with slight drop/drive downhill patterns, front side stays closed, maintains direction to target and finishes square. Repeated at a high level, quick worker. Short clean arm action, high ¾ slot. Fastball played at 85-86 mph, touching 87 mph multiple times in his first inning of work. Threw both a curveball and slider; the former thrown at 71-72 mph with more gradual action off a 1/7 plane and a higher aptitude to land for strikes, while the latter played at 74-75 mph with more lateral tilt. Turned to a 76-77 mph changeup against left-handed hitters that was thrown at arm speed and slot that played in the lower half of the zone.