Ilitch D-I Baseball Dream Realized At Valpo
November 2, 2020
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Ilitch D-I Baseball Dream Realized At Valpo
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Patrick Ilitch
Class of 2021 / C
Player Information
-
Graduating Class: 2021
-
Primary Position: CSecondary Position: OF
-
High School: University LiggettState: MI
- Summer Team: Little Caesars Baseball Club
-
Height: 6-1Weight: 190lbs
- Bat/Throw: R/R
Statistics
Position
6.87
60-yard
(07/07/20)
1.94 - 1.96
Pop Time
(01/26/19)
76
INF Velo
85
OF Velo
(07/07/20)
78
C Velo
(01/26/19)
94
Exit Velo
(07/07/20)
4.31
H-1st
Trackman - Hitting
93.9
Exit Velocity (max)
(07/07/20)
87.0
Exit Velocity (avg)
(07/07/20)
155
Distance (avg)
(07/07/20)
290
Distance (max)
(07/07/20)
Hard Hit %
(07/07/20)
Sweet Spot %
(07/07/20)
Line Drive %
(07/07/20)
Fly Ball %
(07/07/20)
Ground Ball %
(07/07/20)
2020 Eastern Michigan Prospect Games (Invite Only)
Jul 7, 2020
Trackman - Hitting
Exit Velocity (max)
93.9
Exit Velocity (avg)
87
Distance (avg)
155
Distance (max)
290
Hard Hit %
Sweet Spot %
Line Drive %
Fly Ball %
Ground Ball %
Blast - Hitting
23.9
Hand Speed (max)
(07/07/20)
23.1
Hand Speed (avg)
(07/07/20)
75.7
Bat Speed (max)
(07/07/20)
71.8
Bat Speed (avg)
(07/07/20)
Rot. Acc (max)
(07/07/20)
Rot. Acc (avg)
(07/07/20)
On Plane Eff (avg)
(07/07/20)
2020 Eastern Michigan Prospect Games (Invite Only)
Jul 7, 2020
Blast - Hitting
Hand Speed (max)
23.9
Hand Speed (avg)
23.1
Bat Speed (max)
75.7
Bat Speed (avg)
71.8
Rot. Acc (max)
Rot. Acc (avg)
On Plane Eff (avg)
Videos
(Spring 2019)
Player News
- Ilitch D-I Baseball Dream Realized At Valpo - Nov 2, 2020
- 2020 Eastern Michigan Prospect Games - Advanced Metrics w/Trackman and Blast Tech - Jul 10, 2020
- 2020 Eastern Michigan Prospect Games - Quick Hits - Jul 10, 2020
- Results From 2020 Eastern Michigan Prospect Games - Jul 9, 2020
- 'High-Level Talent' Shines At Preseason All-State Event - Mar 17, 2020
- 2020 Preseason All-State - Blast Metrics - Mar 16, 2020
- 2020 Preseason All-State - Quick Hits - Mar 10, 2020
- Results from 2020 Preseason All-State - Mar 8, 2020
- 2019 Michigan Unsigned Senior Showcase - Complete Evaluations - Dec 20, 2019
- 2019 Michigan Unsigned Senior Showcase - Sneak Peek - Dec 17, 2019
- 2019 Michigan Unsigned Senior Showcase - Top Performers - Dec 13, 2019
- Results from 2019 Michigan Unsigned Senior Showcase - Dec 12, 2019
- 2019 Michigan Top Prospect Games - Complete Evaluations - Jul 15, 2019
- 2019 Michigan Top Prospect Games - Top Performers - Jun 28, 2019
- Results from 2019 Michigan Top Prospect Games - Jun 27, 2019
- Michigan Monthly Scout Blog - April - Apr 30, 2019
- 2019 Preseason All-State Showcase - Complete Evaluations - Apr 3, 2019
- 2019 Scout Day: Little Caesar's Baseball - Complete Evaluations - Mar 9, 2019
- Talent Galore At Preseason All-State - Mar 8, 2019
- 2019 Preseason All-State Showcase Sneak Peek - The Arms - Mar 7, 2019
- 2019 Preseason All-State Showcase - Top Performers - Mar 5, 2019
- Results from 2019 Preseason All-State Showcase - Mar 3, 2019
- 2019 Top Uncommitted Upperclass Showcase - Complete Evaluations - Feb 26, 2019
- Results from 2019 Scout Day: Little Caesar's Baseball - Feb 11, 2019
- 2019 Scout Day: Little Caesar's Baseball - Top Performers - Feb 11, 2019
- 2019 Top Uncommitted Upperclass Showcase - Top Performers - Jan 28, 2019
- 2019 Top Uncommitted Upperclass Showcase - Sneak Peek - Jan 28, 2019
- Results from 2019 Top Uncommitted Upperclass Showcase - Jan 27, 2019
- Western Michigan College Prospect/Freshman Free Showcase: Complete Evaluations - Sep 25, 2017
- The 2017 Michigan Underclass Games: Complete Evaluations - Sep 25, 2017
- Results from Michigan's 2017 Underclass Games - Aug 14, 2017
- The 2017 Michigan Future Games Trials - Complete Evaluations - Aug 14, 2017
- Michigan Insider: 2017 Western Michigan College Prospect/Freshman Free Showcase - Top Performers - Jul 31, 2017
- Michigan Insider: 2017 Western Michigan College Prospect/Freshman Free Showcase - Sneak Peek - Jul 31, 2017
- Results from Michigan's 2017 Western Michigan College Prospect/Freshman Free Showcase - Jul 28, 2017
Ilitch D-I Baseball Dream Realized At Valpo
HARPER WOODS - The post-grad decision worked out well in the Division I baseball quest for Patrick Ilitch.
The 2020 University Liggett graduate, who now attends IMG Academy, has found a college home in Indiana on the ball diamond at Valparaiso.
“The end goal was to play at the Division I level,” Ilitch explained about his post-grad reasoning. “I was getting better before Covid, my 60 time had dropped almost a second, so I thought I needed to redo things. I thought one extra year of recruiting would help me obtain my goal of playing at the Division I level.”
That thinking proved correct for the 18-year-old from Harper Woods.
“With Covid, it was tough for schools to see me, so I sent Valpo a lot of video in late summer and early fall,” Ilitch explained. “They said they were looking for a defensive catcher that hits a little and can play a little outfield and I’m not slow.”
Georgetown, Wofford and Lafayette were other schools in the picture during a recruiting process that “definitely had its ups and downs” according to Ilitch.
“I was blessed to get an offer from Valparaiso, so after that I flew home to Michigan and went to the school and walked around the campus,” Ilitch reflected. “They’re renovating the field, it has a strong academic curriculum, the coaches have a lot of experience and they play in one of the top six conferences in the country.
“I really like the coaching staff and the competition they play,” Ilitch continued. “It’s been a goal since I was young to play Division I baseball and the campus is beautiful. I’ve always wanted to go to a smaller school. … so, I couldn’t help but take it.”
The 6-1 190-pounder has the tools that Valpo was in search of on the recruiting trail.
“They like my versatility, I can play anywhere in the outfield, I can catch and I can hit,” Ilitch noted. “Most catchers are slow of foot, but I’m 6.7 (in the 60) and they like that. They can see me playing outfield and catch.”
An improved game proved vital in helping Ilitch reach the D-I college baseball goal.
“At IMG I have a rigorous academic and athletic schedule,” Ilitch related. “We have practice every day and fall ball on the weekends. The coaches have a lot of experience. I see myself vastly improving and I’ve only been here two months.The catching coaches really help.”
Ilitch understands the need to continue getting better.
“With hitting, there is a lot of failure in it, so there’s a lot of room to improve there,” Ilitch explained. “I’ve been blessed with a very strong arm, but at the college level I’ll still need to increase my arm strength.”
Growing up in a sports family - his grandfather Mike Ilitch was owner of the Tigers and Red Wings - Ilitch had aspirations of playing athletics in college.
“My family’s a big hockey family but I’m not very good at that,” Ilitch admitted. “My dad (Thomas) played baseball in high school and my grandfather played in the minor leagues, so I took a crack at baseball, I worked hard and I’m happy where I am today.”
In addition to his father, Ilitch pointed to trainer Joe Neal at 2SP Sports in Madison Heights; Dominic Jarrett, catching coach who played at the University of Michigan; and Santiago Nessi, a former pro player who is the catching coach at IMG Academy, as being influential in his baseball journey that has Ilitch happy to have found a future home.
“It was very stressful but my family, friends and coaches helped me through it,” Ilitch said. “It was tough with (rosters of) schools full with all the seniors coming back (due to the virus), but I’m happy the way it ended up.
“It’s definitely a weight off my shoulders. I no longer have to figure out where I’m playing. Now I can focus on improving my game and not have to worry about schools. I think that will help me.”
Ilitch sees a lot to look forward to playing at the Missouri Valley Conference school.
“I think I’ll bring a solid bat to the lineup and have good chemistry with the pitchers,” Ilitch said. “I’m a defensive catcher that will play outfield when needed. I’m going to mold in well there and be the best teammate I can be.
“I can’t wait to experience being a good teammate and making all those memories,” Ilitch concluded. “I’m happy to fulfill that dream of playing at the highest level against the best opponents I can and I’m looking forward to fitting right in.”