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Illinois Mailbag: Top Questions of the Week

December 28, 2013

By Steve Nielsen
Scouting Director – Wisconsin/Illinois

The Mailbag is a feature which allows readers to ask our scouting directors any questions they wish about high school baseball in their state. Whether it’s about possible state title contenders, top prospects, recruiting, etc. your questions will get put into our “Mailbag” via the ask.fm app and our scouts will answer your questions through Twitter (@PBRIllinois) and Facebook.

This week’s top questions include several team previews and conference predictions along with recruiting insight and the impact of BBCOR bats.

To submit a question about Illinois high school baseball to the PBR scouting staff simply follow the link HERE. Also if you have a burning question about the national landscape of high school baseball or draft specific questions you can send them to National Supervisor Nathan Rode HERE.

Top Questions of the Week

When do most colleges start recruiting/scout players? Also what is the difference between recruiting and scouting?

The recruiting process has sped up exponentially in recent years. Depends on what level college you're asking about. D1 programs are offering sophomores (and sometimes freshmen) scholarships already. ...

I guess the easiest way to explain the difference between recruiting and scouting is: college coaches are recruiting players to go to their school. Pro scouts are scouting/evaluating players. However, in order to recruit a player, first you have to scout the player. There really isn't a significant difference between the two. College coaches have to scout and recruit.

How do you think the North Surburban Conference will play out this year?

Should be a very competitive conference, especially in the Lake Division. You have to say that Libertyville, the 4A state runner-up, is the preseason favorite. Mundelein and Stevenson should be right there in the hunt as well. 

Is there any chance St. Charles East makes another big run this season?

The Saints graduated a lot, including All-State RHP Matt Starai, so on paper I'd say it is a longshot. However, last year they weren't a strong contender to make a deep postseason run and they did.

Nazareth was a game away from going back to Joliet last year. You think they can bounce back this year with the young talent from a year ago? 

Nazareth always has a chance to make a run to state because they are usually slotted in one of the weaker 3A sectionals, and often times doesn't run into a major roadblock until supersectionals. The Roadrunners should have a solid staff with Minella, Bartels and Kogut.

Thoughts on Lake Park this year?

Lake Park is perennially strong, so the Lancers will certainly be solid in the DVC this year. Of course life without Christian Taugner, a first-team PBR All-Stater, will make their plight significantly more difficult next season. 

What do you think about Benet's pitching staff this year?

Patrick Peterson emerged over the summer as a frontline shutdown guy, which will be much needed in the ESCC. Look for Jon Kruppe to also make an impact on the mound.

With the BBCOR impact now being seen in HS ball, is there more of an emphasis on speed when evaluating talent? Maybe an obvious question. What specifically do you look at with the 60 time? Is it more of a stat with outfielders than anything else?

Good question. Certainly there is more of a premium placed on speed since the move to BBCOR. Speed is great, no doubt. But after a few years of BBCOR under the belts, I think a larger premium is being on placed on guys who can flat out swing it, speed or no speed, even with guys who may not have a discernible position. If a guy can really really hit, I think it trumps speed nowadays. While speed is certainly important, I think the pure hit tool is the hardest to find in the BBCOR age. Because of the lack of pure hitters with BBCOR, speed is the next-best thing.

In regards to your question about 60 times, they are just a benchmark for players' athleticism, but certainly the statistic doesn't paint a complete picture of his athletic abilities. I've seen plenty of prospects play a lot faster than their 60 time would indicate. You ask about outfielders, I actually think the 60 times are more applicable with middle infielders. Not saying athleticism isn't important with outfielders, but I think the greater premium is placed on the foot speed of middle infielders. ... Like academics, it is all a sliding scale. The better the hit tool, the less relevant the run tool (to a certain extent, of course). If a player has both, well, he is in very good shape.

How do you think Minooka will do this year?

Minooka is coming off a strong summer season, and should once again be primed for another stellar campaign. RHP Mitch Vogrin can be a shut-down No. 1 on mound, and they have several other highly capable arms. SS Neal Tyrell is another impact-type player. Between Minooka, Plainfield North, Plainfield South, it should be an extremely competitive year in the Southwest Prairie. 

Any quality underclass prospects from Providence Catholic?

From what I hear and see, Providence's 2016 class is very strong, and may have several sophomores starting in the infield next spring. 

Best middle infielders in 2016?

The 2016 group is a rare class that has considerable middle infield depth. Tyler Fitzgerald, Nick Derr and Mike Massey are already verbally committed, and Matt Burch is another LHH middle with arm strength. There's actually a bunch of very good middle infield prospects we've seen already in the 2016 class

St. Laurence's chance at a state title this year?

With the overall talent and pitching depth the Vikings have, I'd say very good. Coming out of the CCL Blue and usually one of the toughest sectionals in the state will make their plight a little more difficult, though. 

Any good young prospects from Lemont?

Lemont is a senior-laden team, but look for 2016 RHP Garret Acton to be an impact player at some point.

What do you think about Aurora Central Catholic this year?

Should be in for another solid year. Andrew Bruss, Michael Fidler and Hunter Fiorito are good starting points for ACC. 

How do you think a young Galesburg team will fair this year?

The Western Big 6 has quietly become one of the state's most competitive conferences. 2015 C/RHP Peyton Isaacson should be one of the top players in the league, but not sure just yet what else Galesburg has coming back.

What do you think of Olympia with return of Ron Smith as head coach?

Wow, didn't know the legend Ron Smith is getting back in the dugout. That should definitely help, no doubt! If I recall correctly, he retired after winning two straight 2A championships.

Thoughts on Fremd this year?

Fremd has an exciting nucleus of players. 2015 RHP Mack Rosman should win a lot of games for the Vikings this season. 2014 1B Austin Jetel, a Butler recruit, can drive in runs, and look for 2016 OF Jack Molnar to make some noise this season. 

Thoughts on Lake Zurich this year and their future?

Former Carmel coach Chuck Gandolfi has taken over the program, so I'm sure the Bears will be back to their winning ways in fairly short order.

What do you think about Will Kincanon from Riverside Brookfield ? I think the kid has high potential still filling out. Maybe doesn't get as much respect because he doesn't play in the Catholic League.‎

Kincanon earned PBR second-team All-State last year after going 11-1 with 118 Ks as a junior, so obviously he's a force on the mound. I don't agree that he doesn't get respect because he doesn't play in the Catholic League. He's ranked in the top 25 in his class and is signed at Middle Tennessee State. Extremely athletic right-hander who can pitch. Nothing not to like about him. 

What are your thoughts on Plainfield South this upcoming season ?

This should be a breakout year for Plainfield South, as it has an extremely tough 1-2 pitching duo in 2014 LHP Trevor Henderson and 2015 RHP Shane Ritter, both highly ranked prospects.

Will Simeon have a 3-peat?

Simeon graduated a lot, but the Wolverines always have good young talent coming up the ranks. Simeon should once again be right there vying for another city title. They should be challenged by the likes of Clemente and Morgan Park. 

Thoughts on Joliet West?

Joliet West made a huge leap forward last year - and was a fixture in the Top 25 for much of the season last year. However, it graduated its two workhorses on the mound. I don't know what its pitching situation looks like right now, but 2015 SS Cody Grosse is an impact player on both sides of the ball.

Who do you like in the Interstate 8 conference?

Herscher is always solid. Lisle is the defending Class 2A champs, so they can never be overlooked, though they did graduate a lot. Manteno, with Drew Nichols, should be solid as well. Don't know what else Westmont has besides Charlie Donovan, but that's a good starting point for success. 

Where do you see Brad Bass getting drafted?

Depends on how he does in the spring, really. But if he comes out like he finished the summer/fall circuit, Bass should shoot up many draft boards. In my opinion, there isn't a more projectable right-hander in the Midwest than Brad Bass.

Who are some of the 2014 players and teams in southern Illinois to keep an eye on?

Harrisburg and Teuotopolis are perennially strong, and they should again be very good this year. Zeigler-Royalton will be led by Gabe Jelley, who should be one of, if not the top arm in Southern Illinois (note: I'm talking deep southern Illinois and not Central Illinois, which many people up north consider southern Illinois as well). 

Is Oak Park’s pitching staff considered to be at the top this year with two D1 commits in Rogalla and Cottingham-Beard? Definitely the best pitching staff in the west suburban.

Without question, Oak Park has one of the deepest and most talented staffs in the state - and certainly the best in the western suburbs. In addition to the two D1 signees you mentioned, the Huskies have at least five other arms who should make significant contributions.

How strong is the DVC?

Traditionally, the DVC is one of the stronger conferences in the state, but it may be a tick down this year; certainly not at where it was in 2010 when Naperville Central won it all. With that said, there is a lot of parity in the DVC - and that showed in the standings last year. 

Thoughts on De La Salle this year?

Should be the favorite in the CCL White, I'd imagine. The loss of Ricardo Ramirez will hurt, but still have the likes of Rodriguez, Kubek, Duddleston, McMillan hitting in the middle of the lineup.

Who will win the Southwest Suburban blue conference this year?

One of the best conferences in the state. I would think Sandburg and Lockport will be right there at the top. Joliet West is coming off a great season, but lost its two top pitchers. Lincoln-Way Central can't be overlooked, especially when the big man, Mr. Brad Bass, is pitching.

Where would you rank Lockport’s pitching staff among others including Noah Masa, Cole Bellair, Jordan Johnston, Mike Formella, and Austin Morales.

That's a very good staff. I don't think I can put it into a larger context, but for sure the Porters' pitching will have them in every game. Someone mentioned earlier that they graduated all their starting position players, so run support will be the biggest question surrounding the success of the team. 

Thoughts on Mundelein this year?

We've learned long ago never to underestimate Mundelein. Coach Parola always gets the maximum out of his teams and talent, and regularly wins 30-plus games with not always the most talented of teams. His teams are always hard-nosed, disciplined, and seldom beat themselves. They also take one of the best pregames in the state. Every year they're in the Top 25, so I would think they will be right there again.

Any sleepers in the Catholic League Blue? Maybe Loyola or PC sneak up on some teams. What's your insight?

Providence can never be considered a "sleeper." Loyola would be the only team that can be termed a sleeper, but with two D1 pitchers - Owen and Bordignon - along with several good junior arms, no team should take the Ramblers lightly. The Blue is truly a league in which any team can win. 

What round do you see Godfrey going in the draft?

It depends on how he does in the spring. However, he looked very good on the national circuit this summer and fall, and from what I hear, he has made serious upward traction.

In your opinion, is the 2014 class an abnormally large group of arms? Seems like there is A LOT of strength at the pitching position 

For sure. The 2014 class is extremely top heavy with hard-throwing right-handers. This group of seniors also has a much larger contingent of catching prospects than past years.

How do you think the ESCC will shape up next year? JCA Carmel and Nazareth the early favorites again? 

The East Suburban Catholic is one of the toughest leagues in the state. Defending champ JCA has to be the preseason favorite to win conference. Carmel, Benet, Nazareth should be right there, and St. Viator , Marist, Marian Catholic and Notre Dame should also be solid.

For Sandburg, all we hear about is their pitching, any offense?

Not sure, but if they do, they will be one of the best teams in the state. They graduated some offense from last year; 2015 INF Alec Martinez should put up good numbers. ... Not sure about the outfielders (it's been a recurring question). You have any names for us? 

Could Sacred Heart Griggin win a state championship in the next three years?

SHG certainly has the individual talent to do so. Its roster is loaded with high-level talent in the 2014, 2015 and 2016 classes.

Thoughts on Jacobs High School this year after making a deep run in the playoffs last year?

Jacobs should be solid this year. The Golden Eagles have some talented young talent with Ryan Sargent (2015) and Brenden Heiss (2016), to go along with solid pitching staff, led by Reilly Peltier. 

What do you think about the level of HS baseball in the western suburbs? Looks like a lot of big time recruits have committed out there recently (Derr, Wright, Holubecki, Coffey, etc) but we don't see a lot of news about those teams unless they make a surprise run in the playoffs.

Agree that there's a lot of talent in the western burbs, but disagree that there isn't a lot of coverage from the area. Over the last 10 years, St. Charles North and East have been mainstays. The talent seems to be cyclical. Batavia has been stronger in recent years, and Geneva has emerged as a school with higher-end talent in recent years. Should be an exciting year in the region.

What are your thoughts on Downers Grove South this year?‎ 

Year in, year out, DGS has one of the top pitching staffs in the state. Mustangs graduated a lot of high-level arms last year, and to be honest, not sure what they have coming back on the mound. I know they have a lot of good athletic position players, led by Becht, Taylor, Engel, and Oriente. 

Thoughts on Glenbrook North? Coach Savino always seems to have good teams over there. The Spartans have dominated the CSL North since that 2011 run with Hermeling and Synek leading the way.

Agree. GBN is a squad that flies under the radar, and usually ends up as one of the top teams in the Chicagoland area. Spartans had another good run in the summer, so it looks like another strong season coming for Coach Savino and Co.

What do you think about Lincoln-Way Central next year?

When you have RHP Brad Bass, who's one of the top pitchers in the Midwest, as your No. 1, it's always a good starting point. Also have some depth behind Bass, like Kevin Mampe and a few others. Should be some very healthy competition in the Lincoln-Way school district.

Top uncommitted RHPs in the class of 2015?

There are a lot of excellent uncommitted RHPs in the 2015 class. Shane Ritter (Plainfield South) is probably the top guy right now. Others of note include Mitchell Janssen, Cole Bellair, and Tyler Lass to name a few.

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