Illinois Recruiting Roundup
December 8, 2017
Every Friday National Scouting Supervisor Nathan Rode provides a roundup of insider recruiting information and commitments throughout the PBR coverage area: The Buzz. Click Here to take a look at this week’s National Buzz. With that in mind, let’s take an in depth look at the Illinois prospects who have committed to colleges, with detailed scouting information.
Luke Seidel, OF, Fremd, 2018
Trition JC
10.8.17 - 5-foot-10, 160-pound, lean, athletic, multi-positional prospect. Ran an event-best 6.56 laser-timed 60. At the plate, right-handed hitter, open tall setup, toe-tap stride, utilizes lower half and maintains balance through contact. Fluid rhythm, flashes loose, athletic hands, creates bat speed and gap-to-gap approach; 84 mph exit velocity from a tee. Defensively, profiles best in the outfield. Quick feet, plays through the baseball, clean transfer, short arm action from an over-the-top slot, effort in throws at times, clocked at 83 mph. On the infield, reliable hands and throws clocked at 76 mph.
Luke Seidel (10.8.17)
Ryan Cermak, RHP/SS, Riverside Brookfield, 2019
Illinois State
11.5.17 - 6-foot-1, 175-pound, two-way prospect with a strong, athletic build. Advanced arm strength for his age. On the mound, right-handed pitcher, coiled at balance point, long, quick arm action, from an over-the-top slot. Fastball, works straight, up in the zone, life at times, sat 84-87 mph. Curveball, 12/6 shape, occasional depth, ranged between 63-67 mph. Changeup, slows arm, feel, 63-65 mph. Offensively, right-handed hitter, aggressive, violent swing, looks to drive the baseball with authority. Pull approach, strength in bat.
Ryan Cermak (1.15.17)
Zach Litke, RHP, Brother Rice, 2018
Concordia (IL)
10.8.17 - 6-foot-1, 185-pound right-handed hitting RHP/3B. On the mound works from a high ¾ arm angle with a short, loose arm action. Tall and fall delivery with a closed landing. Fastball was straight at 77-78 mph. Curveball has 11-5 shape with loose rotation at 65-69 mph. Changeup sat 69-70, straight action. At the plate hits from a balanced setup, short leg lift stride. Line drive middle of the field approach. 75 mph exit velocity from a tee. Ran the 60 at 7.49. Defensively has a short arm action from a high ¾ slot. Threw 72 mph across the infield.
Zach Litke (10.8.17)
Nathan Wantland, 2B, Morris, 2018
Taylor
2.20.17 - 5-foot-8, 150-pound, right-handed hitting second baseman. Defensively, flashed fluid footwork, clean exchange with reliable hands on the infield. Short arm action from high ¾ to ¾ slot. Throws clocked at 73 mph across the diamond. Offensively,hits from a balanced setup with a short stride and good balance through contact. Line drive approach with a long path through the zone. Exit velocity registered at 78 mph. Ran a 7.51 laser-timed 60.
Nathan Wantland (2.20.17)
Justin Rios, OF.LHP, St. Laurence, 2018
North Central
10.8.17 - 5-foot-7, 160-pound, left/left, two-way prospect. At the plate, left-handed hitter, balanced setup, smooth load, short stride and good balance through contact. Loose hands, creates bat speed, stays short to the ball, gap-to-gap approach and makes consistent hard contact; 88 mph exit velocity off a tee. Defensively, athletic outfield actions, quick active feet, attacks the baseball, plays through, soft hands and quick, clean exchange. Throws from a high ¾ slot, clocked at 81 mph from the outfield. 7.38 runner in the 60, laser-timed. Left-handed pitcher, tall and fall delivery, regular effort throughout. Long arm action, out of a ¾ window. Fastball, arm-side-run, thrown for strikes, 78-81 mph, topped at 82. Feel for a changeup, late arm-side-run and sink, 73-74 mph. Curveball, 1/7 shape, sat 69-71 mph.
Justin Rios (10.8.17)
Jaylen Patterson, RHP, Kenwood, 2018
Carl Albert JC (OK)
2.19.17 - 6-foot-2, 180-pound, athletically built, well-proportioned two-way prospect. Highly projectable right-handed pitcher. Arm is extremely quick and loose out of a high ¾ window. Delivery works with smooth rhythm, repeats, stays on-line, lands square, finishes athletically and regular effort throughout. Fastball works downhill, thrown for strikes at the bottom of the zone and sat 84-85 mph, touched 86. Slider, works 11/5, short break, occasionally between curveball/slider type action, 71-74 mph. Changeup, sat 69-71 mph. Offensively, right-handed hitter, open, tall setup, stride gets back to even and average balance through contact. Fluid rhythm, loose hands, flashed quick twitch and bat speed. Short to the ball, extension through contact and a gap-to-gap approach. Defensively, feet work fluidly in the outfield, plays through the baseball and throws flashed carry, clocked at 84 mph. 7.09 runner in the 60, laser-timed.
Jaylen Patterson (2.19.17)
Mark Paul, LHP, Crystal Lake South, 2018
St. Mary’s (MN)
8.26.17 - The 5-foot-9, 150-pound left handed pitcher is a bit undersized, but clearly knows how to pitch and compete. He throws from a short 3/4 arm action and the stuff is far from overpowering, but his uses plus command of a 74-76 mph fastball and an above average curveball and changeup to keep hitters consistently off balance. Struck out four hitters in two innings. The stuff or frame doesn’t stand out, but he really knows how to pitch and get hitters out.
Mark Paul (8.26.17)
Brian May, INF, Oak Park-River Forest, 2018
DePauw
6.8.16 - 6-foot, 160-pound, wiry, athletically built, right-handed hitting infielder. Offensively, balanced setup, pre-pitch load, short stride and maintains good balance through contact. Gap-to-gap type hitter with an uphill bat path; 77 mph exit velocity. Defensively, flashed soft hands and a quick exchange on the infield. Throws from a high ¾ slot, clocked at 76 mph across the diamond. 7.74 runner in the 60, laser-timed.
Brian May (6.8.16)
Brandon Olion, OF, Champaign Centennial, 2018
Missouri-St. Louis
10.8.17 - 6-foot-3, 165-pound, highly-athletic build, projectable, left-handed hitting outfielder. Ran a 6.85 laser-timed 60. Offensively, wide setup, smooth load and minimal stride. Fluid rhythm, loose swing, flashes bat speed at times and gap-to-gap approach. 84 mph exit velocity from a tee. Defensively, fluid footwork, works through the baseball, clean exchange. Short arm action from a high ¾ slot, clocked at 80 mph.
Brandon Olion (10.8.17)
Ty Liaromatis, RHP, Yorkville, 2018
Benedictine (IL)
7.27.17 - 5-foot-11, 185-pound, strong, defined lower half, right-handed hitting two-way prospect. Hits in the three hole. Long bat path, creates easy bat speed and ball jumps off his bat at times. Doubled and scored a run. Defensively, maintains body control on the move, reliable hands and strong, easy arm that carries across the diamond. On the mound, high leg kick, short arm action, quick draw, ¾ arm slot, works on-line, finishes walking off, high effort. Fastball, run action, 84-85 mph. Curveball, 11/5 shape, 70-72 mph. Changeup, sink action, used sparingly, 78 mph.
Ty Liaromatis (7.20.16)
Robert Deischer, RHP, Cary Grove, 2018
North Central
8.8.17 - 6-foot-2, 170-pound right-handed pitcher. Works from a high ¾ arm angle with a short arm action. Drop and drive delivery, slide step from the stretch. Fastball sat 79-81 topping out at 83 mph. Curveball has 10-4 shape at 63-67 mph. Maintained arm speed on changeup at 71-73 mph.
Robert Deischer (8.8.17)
Daniel Reynolds, OF, Evergreen Park, 2018
South Suburban JC
6.6.17 - 5-foot-9, 175-pound, strong, left-handed hitting outfielder. Offensively, balanced, open setup, fluid rhythm and confident look at the plate. Toe-tap stride, hands load back, line drive hitter, short, uphill barrel bath, stays on the ball, purposeful aggressive swing, 87 mph exit velocity off a tee. Ran a 4.54 home to first. Defensively, short arm action from high ¾ slot, 75 mph from the outfield.
Daniel Reynolds (6.6.17)
Todd Fowler, OF, Chatham Glenwood, 2018
Delta State
1.16.17 - 5-foot-10, 165-pound right-handed hitting outfielder. At the plate hits from a tall, slightly open stance and short stride. Path works level and he looks to pull the ball. Flashed strength thru contact with 88 mph exit velocity from a tee. Ran a 4.51 runner down the line. Defensively has a short arm action from an over the top slot. Aggressive to the ball, plays through with a clean exchange and steady hands. Clocked at 79 mph from the outfield.
Todd Fowler (1.16.17)
Nathan Gomez, INF, Lake View, 2018
Marian (WI)
6.6.17 - 6-foot-1, 163-pound, right-handed hitting infielder. Offensively, open setup, big leg-kick timing trigger, deep load and fluid rhythm throughout. Attacks the baseball, bat stays flat through the zone at times, line-drive approach and 79 mph exit velocity from a tee. 4.78 runner, home-to-first. Defensively, athletic actions, hands play confident and soft, fluid footwork. Athletic arm action, some effort in throws, clocked at 79 mph across the diamond.
Nathan Gomez (6.6.17)
Ben Jaynes, 1B, Waubonsie Valley, 2018
Aurora
10.8.17 - 6-foot-4, 220-pound right-handed hitting first baseman. At the plate balanced setup, short stride, closes off. Short, uphill swing path with a high finish. 84 mph exit velocity from a tee. Ran the 60 at 7.38. Defensively has a short arm action from a high ¾ slot. Average hands. Threw 72 mph across the infield.
Ben Jaynes (10.8.17)
Chase Hacker, 1B, Normal West, 2018
Elmhurst
8.8.17 - 6-foot, 165-pound right-handed hitting 1B/LHP. At the plate hits from a balanced setup with a short stride. Pull hitter with a long swing path. 80 mph exit velocity from a tee. Ran the 60 at 7.51. Defensively has along arm action from a high ¾ slot. Threw 72 mph across the infield. On the mound works from a high ¾ arm angle with a short arm action. Tall and fall delivery with a short stride and upright finish. Fastball has cutting action at 75-78 topping out at 79 mph. Slider has 2-8 shape at 71-73 mph. Changeup sat 63-65 mph.
Chase Hacker (8.8.17)
J.T. Oie, C, St. Charles North, 2018
Elmhurst
8.8.17 - 5-foot-11, 175-pound two-way player. On the mound arm played over the top with a short arm action. Ability to pound the zone with regular effort. Delivery works on line, lands closed. Fastball is mostly straight, 78-79 mph. Curveball rolls, short breaking action with above average feel, 69-71 mph, 11/5 shape. Flashed changeup at 73 mph. Offensively, balanced setup, loads into backside, short stride, bat stays level through the zone and average balance through contact; 74 mph exit velocity from a tee. Defensively from behind the plate, flexible, clean transfer, short arm action from an over-the-top slot. Throws clocked at 73 mph. Pop times ranged between 2.25-2.35. 8.04 runner in the 60.
J.T. Oie (8.8.17)
Alex Runge, RHP, Joliet Catholic, 2018
Aurora
8.8.17 - 5-foot-10, 170-pound right-handed pitcher. Works form a high ¾ arm angle with a short arm action. Drop and drive delivery with a high front side and uphill shoulders throughout. Closed landing. Fastball sat 72-74 topping out at 75 mph. Curveball has 11-5 shape with short breaking action at 65-68 mph. Changeup has fading action at 67-69 mph.
Alex Runge (8.8.17)
Tyler Long, C, Wilmington, 2018
St. Xavier
So thankful and excited to become a Cougar at SXU!!! Can’t wait to start my academic and baseball career here!! @gosxucougars @sxubaseball pic.twitter.com/0lhh3bq8Ih
— Tyler Long (@tlong_28) December 6, 2017
Trevor Potter, INF, Paris, 2018
Olivet Nazarene
Congratulations to Paris High School senior baseball player TJ Potter on committing to further his baseball and academic career at Olivet Nazarene University next year. @PBRIllinois @Prairiepress @Rick_Sports10 @little_illini pic.twitter.com/cjHxffuokN
— Paris Baseball (@ParisTigersBB) December 6, 2017
Zach Farris, C, Kaneland, 2018
Elgin CC
Could not be more happy with my decision, but first it is time to get things done this year. #ECC#Commit @ElgCCBaseball1 @KlandBaseball pic.twitter.com/nDhyy9CNrf
— Zach Farris (@zfarris0) December 6, 2017
Howard Hatton, OF, Riverside Brookfield, 2018
Concordia (IL)
Excited to say that I will be continuing my athletic and academic career at Concordia University of Chicago. #GoCougars pic.twitter.com/YzGvtS6kWo
— Howie Hatton (@HowieHp12) December 1, 2017
Kevin Dowling, OF, Mount Carmel, 2019
Murray State
Christion Woods, LHP, Homewood-Flossmoor, 2018
Concordia (IL)
Dominic Milano, INF, Nazareth, 2018
Trition JC
Zachary Haddox, INF, Yorkville, 2018
Benedictine (IL)
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