By Sean Duncan
Executive Director

The only question surrounding SS Tyler Fitzgerald (Rochester HS) was when, not if, Illinois’ No. 1-ranked 2016 prospect would name his school.

With the speed at which recruiting is going these days, it figured to be sooner rather than later. Fitzgerald ended any suspense when the highly athletic 6-foot-2, 165-pound middle infielder verbally committed to Louisville.

Fitzgerald catapulted to the No. 1 spot in Illinois, and No. 8 overall, after his impressive showing at the 2016 Top Prospect Games in late July, when he earned top prospect honors among an extremely talented field. His performance in July landed Fitzgerald a late invitation to the Midwest Future Games in August.

Fitzgerald had been earmarked as a high-level prospect since his seventh grade, when he first attended a Prep Baseball Report event. Fitzgerald continued to grow, and as a freshman, he ran a 6.89 60 and showed advanced defensive actions with easy arm strength (80 mph) at the PBR Underclass Invitational last January.

Fitzgerald plays the game with a sense of ease incomparable to his peers. Offensively, he hits from a balanced stance, short stride. Hard contact guy, finds the barrel with regularity, occasional pull tendencies, with significant bat speed.

Fitzgerald’s commitment gave Louisville yet another top-level 2016 prospect. Earlier in the week, INF Justin Lavey (Tremper HS, WI), the No. 1-ranked 2016 prospect in Wisconsin, had verbally committed to the Cardinals.