Top-10 Profiles of 2021: No. 5, Alex Alicea
December 29, 2021
As we approach the end of 2021, we're taking account of the PBR Illinois player profile pages to determine the players in our backyard whose profiles earned the most attention throughout the year. We're counting down the top-10 profiles in the state that received the most views, from No. 10 and on, concluding our countdown on New Year's Day by revealing the most-viewed profile of the year.
Fifth on this end of the year countdown is INF Alex Alicea (St. Thomas More). Committed to Louisville, Alicea is a top-10 player in the state’s junior class and he’s penciled inside the top-500 nationally for the 2023 grads, too. His calling card, for as long as we’ve known him, has always been his up-the-middle defense. Alicea’s savvy actions immediately standout when you watch him play and he’s currently amongst the best infield defenders in the entire state. Offensively, his knack for contact and constant hustle plays to his strengths as a consistently pesky at-bat that looks to take the extra bag out of the batter's box. He boasts the foot speed and quickness to offer upside on the bases as well, featuring an all-around package that can contribute in multiple ways.
Scouting Report
Alicea is another one of the state’s Louisville recruits, and he left the South Milwaukee I.D. event as, still, one of Wisconsin’s best sophomores. He’s an elite defender who reached a 90 mph high across the infield from an athletic, live 5-foot-7, 140-pound stature. Alicea also takes short, compact swings from both batter’s boxes, demonstrating barrel feel.
Positional Profile: SS/2B The No. 1 overall 2023 prospect in Wisconsin; a high-level defender at shortstop.
Body: 5-7, 140-pounds. Compact build on an athletic frame.
Hit: SH. Balanced stance, slightly open when hitting from the left side of the box. Leg kick trigger with smooth loading actions, repeats from both sides of the plate. Swing path is short and compact through contact, bat travels on a slight uphill plane through the zone, has barrel awareness from both sides of the dish.
Power: 90.87 max exit velocity, averaged 82.02 mph. 291’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - mph. INF - 90 mph. OF - mph. Athletic arm action, short and loose that can work from different slots. Throws play with carry and accurate across the diamond.
Defense: Natural actions in the middle infield. Quick and fluid footwork, soft hands, plays through the ball well. Advanced defender for his class.
Run: 6.71 runner in the 60.