Recruiting Roundup: Who's Heading Where?

March 11, 2016

By Matt Huck
Area Scout

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.

Nicholas Urban-Michalak, SS, Park, 2017
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi

Nicholas Urban-Michalak 2/21/16 - Quick, twitch athlete with wiry strength at 6-foot-1, 176-pounds. Right-handed hitting shortstop. Toolsy player running the 60 at 6.74. Defensively has a loose arm action from a high ¾ slot. Throws showed carry throwing an event best 93 mph across the infield. Plays fast with quick footwork while playing thru the ball. At the plate hits from a crouched stance with a long stride and good balance. Line drive gap to gap hitter with fluid rhythm and some explosion in the hands. Showed strength thru contact with 91 mph exit velocity from a tee.

Travis Styer, SS, Brookfield East, 2016
Aurora University

Travis Styer 1.24.16 - 5-foot-10, 160-pound right-handed hitting SS/RHP. Defensively has a short, loose arm action from a high ¾ arm slot. Throws showed carry at 83 mph across the infield. Plays thru the ball with good body control. Offensively hits from a tall, balanced setup with a toe tap stride and slight collapse on the backside. Line drive hitter with a long level swing path. Showed strength thru contact with 84 mph exit velocity from a tee. Ran the 60 at 7.11. On the mound works from a high ¾ arm angle with a long, quick arm action. Slow paced to balance point with a square landing and some rhythm. Fastball sat 81-82 topping out at 83 mph. Curveball showed 11-5 shape with short breaking action at 69-73 mph. Changeup showed armside run at 69-71 mph. Threw knuckleball for strikes with some downer action at 64-65 mph.

Mike Gross, 1B, Hortonville, 2016
Viterbo

Mike Gross 3/1/15 - 6-foot-1, 198-pound two-way player, large build, carries strength. Offensively hits from the right side, short stride, good balance. Strong swing, some uppercut, long path, power potential. Can get more out of lower half. Good bat speed, 89 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively showed average hands, lacked footspeed. Arm action is long, high ¾ slot, 75 mph across the diamond. Could project as a power hitting first baseman. 8.11 runner in the 60. On the mound uses a long sweeping arm action. Fastball has slight run, pitched at 74-76 mph. Curveball sat 64-66 mph, gradual action. Showed feel of a changeup at 66-68, controlled the zone with slight arm side action.

Recruiting Roundup: Who's Heading Where?

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