Top 10 Player Profiles of 2014: No. 1 Jake Godfrey
December 31, 2014
By Ryan Quigley
Illinois Scouting Director
Over the next couple weeks we are going to countdown the 2014 calendar year with a look at the top ten viewed player profiles of 2014. After drilling down into our google analytics we have compiled a list of the ten most visited profiles by you the reader in 2014.
Coming in at No. 1 on our most viewed player profiles of 2014 is Providence Catholic right-handed pitcher Jake Godfrey with 11,540 views. Godfrey was the No. 1 ranked player in Illinois’ 2014 class for a majority of the year and found his groove late in the season when it mattered the most, leading Providence to a Class 4A State Championship over No. 1 ranked St. Rita.
Before the state championship weekend, Godfrey was selected in the 21st round of the June MLB Draft by the Atlanta Braves. He’s currently enrolled as a freshman at LSU, joining fellow Class of 2014 Illinois prep stars Jake Latz and Mike Papierski.
The Celtics ace closed out the Class 4A State Semifinal in an 8-7 victory over Prairie Ridge. Godfrey saved his best stuff for the following day in the title game, carrying a no-hitter into the sixth in a complete-game 4-1 victory over St. Rita. He finished with six strikeouts, one walk, and dialed up his fastball to 92 mph in the seventh inning.
Let’s take a look at an in-game scouting report of Godfrey from this past spring:
Jake Godfrey Scouting Report
The LSU commit held velocity longer into the game in his second start of 2014. Came out sitting 90-91 in the first inning. In the third, dipped down and flashed a few 87's before reaching back and touching 93 twice. In the fifth and sixth worked at 85-88 touching 89. Fastball stayed mostly straight, and struggled to command down in the zone early in the game. Settled down later and commanded fastballl down in the zone better, albeit at lower velocity. Maintained velocity on 75-78 breaking ball all game. Flashed vertical 12-6 break occasionally, eight of nine strikeouts came on the breaking ball. Actually showed more sweeping slider action on strikeouts to right handed hitters, possibly throwing curveball and slider, although velocities are similar. Change flashed plus action at 80-81 and showed swing and miss potential. Godfrey struck out nine, walked two, hit two, with seven wild pitch/passed balls in six innings of work. The first run scored on a wild pitch, from third after being balked to second. The second two runs scored on sac-flies after base runners moved from first to third on consecutive wild pitches. Struggled with command out of the stretch. Sets hands higher than where they started in the windup, breaking his hands earlier in his delivery, leading to curve and change bouncing before home plate at times. Has a better rhythm in the windup, “bumping” his hands up and down before they break. Athleticism shows the ability to make adjustments and clean up things as the season progresses.
Top Ten Most Viewed Profiles
