Week 6 Games
May 30, 2021
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 …
HOMEWOOD-FLOSSMOOR
By Kevin Coe
Illinois Scout
Tommy Haggerty, RHP, Homewood-Flossmoor, 2023
Uncommitted, currently ranked No. 61 in Illinois. 6-foot-1, 187-pound, athletically-built, right-handed pitcher. Very competitive demeanor on the mound, refuses to give in to hitters; challenges with the fastball, not afraid to pitch inside and get them off the plate. Athletic, bounces off the mound and fields his position well. Balanced delivery and releases from a high ¾ arm slot; quick, strong arm. Features a four-seam fastball that tops out at 86mph; when down in the zone, late life and plays faster than the velocity. Best secondary pitch is a curveball that works with 10/4 shape, sweeping action at times. Follow upside 2023 right-handed pitcher.
Chad Readey, RHP, Homewood-Flossmooor, 2021
Northwestern commit, currently ranked 118 in Illinois, 6-foot-8, 207-pound, athletically-built, right-handed pitcher. Multi-sport athlete, started on the school basketball team. Ace of the staff has pitched in all of the big games this season. Balanced drop and drive delivery; releases from a high ¾ arm slot. He features a 2 seam fastball that has been up to 88mph. His best secondary pitch is a sharp breaking ball with a 10/4 shape. Has a chance to develop into a professional prospect in college.
Vince Waterman, LHP, Homewood-Flossmoor, 2023
Uncommitted, currently ranked 32 in Illinois, 6-foot, 180-pound, athletically built, left handed pitcher. Very competitive demeanor on the mound, will challenge hitters with his fastball. Balanced delivery; arm action is quick and loose; delivers from a high ¾; ball jumps out of his hand with late-life down in the zone. He features a fastball with arm-side-sink and tops out at 87 mph. Secondary pitches include above-average changeup that tops out at 79mph and sinks when it’s down in the zone.Developing curveball sits 71-73mph. High Follow 2023 Left-handed pitcher.
Waylon Deck, RHP, Homewood-Flossmoor, 2022
Uncommitted, currently ranked 107 in Illinois. 6-foot-1, 185-pound, athletically-built, slender, long-limbed right-handed pitcher. Mainstay in the Viking starting pitching rotation the entire season because he competes on the mound and keeps the team in the game. Delivery works in line with the target, high ¾ slot, quick, loose arm action. Ball jumps out of hand; features a 2-seam fastball with arm-side movement that tops out at 87mph. Commands three quality offerings, curve 71-74mph, changeup 76-77mph, cutter 78-80mph. Follow upside 2022 right-handed pitcher.
Charlie Faoro, SS, Homewood-Flossmoor, 2022
Uncommitted, currently ranked 184 in Illinois, 6-foot-2, 175-pound, slender, long limbed, wide shoulder, athletic build. Faoro has been a super utility player for the Vikings. Offensively stands tall the box with his hands held high; short stride, short swing, very direct with barrel; unfazed by velocity. Line drive, gap to gap approach; flashed power to the pull side. Defensively has soft hands; quick feet; above average arm. Throws from multiple slots; very accurate with carry and plenty of strength for the left-side of the diamond. Instincts allow him to be an above average defender anywhere in the infield. High-follow uncommitted 2022.
Shai Robinson, SS, Homewood-Flossmoor, 2022
Illinois State, currently ranked 24 in Illinois, 6-foot-1, 175-pound, slender athletic build. Very athletic, competitive, and confident ballplayer. At the plate, ultra-competitive at-bats, never takes an at-bat off. Tall setup in the box; wide base, short stride; loose uphill swing with bat speed that produces line drives with backspin. Handles velocity; not fooled or off balance versus most offspeed. Advanced understanding of the strike zone, rarely swings at pitches out of the zone. Defensively his actions, instincts, footwork, and soft hands make him one of the best shortstops in the state of Illinois regardless of class. Robinson’s reads off the bat allow him to take efficient angles and field cleanly. Quick exchange, arm strength is above average; throws from multiple angles. Shortstop profile at the next level.
Josh McAlister, SS, Homewood-Flossmoor, 2021
Ohio State commit, currently ranked 43 in Illinois, 6-foot-2, 175-pound, athletic build; will continue to fill out. Leader, highly athletic, competitive, and confident. McAlister leads with his play. Offensively he stands tall in the box, short stride, has short direct swing which allows him to get the barrel to the ball. Line drive, gap-to-gap approach with power to the gaps. Plays the game fast and aggressively, has turned several singles into doubles with his aggressiveness out of the box. Defensively, smooth fielding shortstop attacks the ball aggressively and fires accurate throws to the target. Loose, quick arm, quick feet, soft hands, throws from multiple angles. His athleticism allows him to move quickly and fluidly from left to right. Making plays on the move is when McAlister is in his comfort zone.
Gallien Coupet, INF, Homewood-Flossmoor, 2021
Creighton commit, currently ranked 37 in Illinois, 5-foot-10, 180-pounds, thick athletic build. Very athletic, confident and competitive. Has arguably been Homewood-Flossmoor’s most consistent player this season. Offensively crouched stance, wide base, hand held high. Small leg kick. Level swing, gap to gap approach. Gallien plays fast, takes extra bases, and steals bases. Defensively he’s been a super utility guy playing outfield and infield. Has quick feet, soft hands, loose quick arm. Takes precise angles and routes to the ball.
Dillon Head, CF, Homewood-Flossmoor, 2023
Michigan commit, currently ranked No. 182 in the national 2023 rankings. 5-foot-11 175-pound, athletic build. Highly athletic, confident and competitive. Athleticism is at the top of the charts, above-average runner, plays fast on both sides of ball. Offensively he stands tall in the box, wide base, he has a slight leg kick trigger. Swing is loose, short, compact, and strong; bat path is direct to contact, flicks line drive to all fields; flashed power to the pull side. Defensively gets great reads and efficient angles in center field. Has an above-average arm that has continued to ascend. High-level, left/left prospect with pro potential down the road.
Lincoln-Way East vs Lincoln-Way Central - 5/17/21
By Drew Locascio
Illinois Scouting Director
Maxton Polad, 3B, Lincoln-Way East, 2021
Southeastern CC commit. 6-foot-2, 195-pound, physical, strong, right-handed hitting third baseman. Has emerged as one of the top third base prospects in the state with his strong senior season. Started at third base and hit in the three-hole. Showed present pull-side power and a feel to hit. Launched two home runs to deep left field. The first one a deep, high, no-doubt solo home run to deep left field to lead off the fourth inning. He led off the fifth by taking a hanging breaking ball and lining it over the wall in left field. Compact swing, quick, strong hands, creates leverage and lift to the pull-side. Bat works short and direct to the ball, stays within himself and creates bat speed. Finished 2-for-3 with two home runs, two RBIs, two runs scored. Defensively, natural infield actions, sure-handed and short, clean arm action, average arm strength across the diamond. High-level right-handed bat in the 2021 class.
Maxton Polad
Landen Looper, RHP, Lincoln-Way East, 2021
Louisville commit, currently ranked No. 66 in the Illinois’ 2021 class. 6-foot-3, 205-pound, broad-shouldered, well-proportioned right-handed pitcher. Got the start for Lincoln-Way East and was in cruise control for much of the game. Attacked the strike zone throughout his outing at an above-average clip, landing 68% of his 93 pitches for strikes. He worked behind a fastball that topped at 86 mph, routinely going to a swing-and-miss curveball to keep hitters off balance. One of the more impressive things that stood out about Looper was the way he attacked hitters and the plan he seems to have on the mound. Routinely sinks his fastball when trying to go down in the zone, will work it to both sides of the plate (not afraid to go in on RHH’s) and has the ability to throw a true four-seamer at the top of the zone that plays straight with ride and jump at times. He also showed advanced feel for his curveball that he has the ability to manipulate depending on the hitter and the count. Looper would routinely land a 72-74 mph curveball in the zone for strikes and then would tighten it up with two strikes. His putaway pitch starts in the zone as a strike and ends up off the plate, inducing a number of swings and misses while sitting 75-78 mph. Looper, who got the win, ended up going 6.1 innings pitched, scattering five hits, two runs, one earned, striking out 11 and walking two. Polished, high-pitchability right-hander.
Landen Looper
Randy Seymour, SS, Lincoln-Way East, 2022
Uncommitted, currently ranked No. 108 in the Illinois’ 2022 class. 6-foot-3, 175-pound, long-levered, projectable, right-handed hitting infielder. Hit in the five-hole and played shortstop.