Jalen
House

Northern Illinois University commit. Currently ranked No. 40 in the State’s class of 2024. A lean, athletic 6-foot, 170-pounds frame with the ability to add more weight. The left-handed hitting outfielder got the start in center field and slotted in the lead-off spot. A simple and relaxed stance, has minimal pre-pitch movement going into the leg-lift stride. Quick, repeatable swing through the zone, direct to the ball that allows for a whole field approach, picking up two hits on the day. House displayed his athleticism and speed, stealing second twice and going first to third on a bunt. Defensively, has a quick first step to the ball, taking proper routes, throws plays with carry. House will play a major role down the stretch as Downers Grove South looks to make a deep run.

Positional Profile: OF/OF
Body: 6-0, 175-pounds. Lean athletic build. Broad shoulders.
Hit: LHH. Wide, balanced setup, short/minimal stride, simple and repeats, short/direct path to the ball. Easy operation with rhythm, flat path, worked line-drives up the middle and to his pull-side, quick bat through the zone, stays balanced through impact, athletic operation. 75.7 mph bat speed with 27 G’s of rotational acceleration.
Power: 98 max exit velocity, averaged 91 mph. 344’ max distance.
Arm: LH. OF - 88 mph. Long out of the glove, transitions into a high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Athletic with a bounce to his step, plays through the ball with rhythm, one-handed gather, fields in stride, moves well into a crow hop.
Run: 6.52 runner in the 60.

One of the best runners in the entire state, OF Jalen House (Downers Grove South; Northern Illinois) will look to impress in front of pro scouts this coming week. Listed at 6-foot, 175-pounds, House has an athletic, lean build with a high waist and more room to add on strength. As previously mentioned, House is a high-level runner at 6.37 in the 60, and his speed can impact the game in numerous ways, whether it be tracking down fly balls in the outfield or causing headaches for opposing teams on the basepaths. He’s a left-handed hitter, which makes his speed play up even more, and he tries to keep the ball on a line to help keep his legs in play when he makes contact.

Verbally committed to Northern Illinois.

A premier athlete in the Illinois’ 2024 class: OF Jalen House (Downers Grove South). House shattered the Illinois State Games 60-yard dash record, cruising to a double-plus 6.37 time on our lasers with a 1.58 10-yard split while reaching 22 mph at peak speed. House brings a quiet look into the left side of the plate, and he showed more juice than we’d seen from him in the past, squaring his hardest ball up at 96.3 mph in BP. 

Positional Profile: OF/LHP
Body: 5-11, 175-pounds.
Hit: LHH. Stock setup, short stride, minimal load. Lets the ball travel, stays short and uphill; ability to stay inside the baseball and work baseballs to the opposite gap. 72.3 mph bat speed with 19 G’s of rotational acceleration.
Power: 96 max exit velocity, averaged 84.9 mph. 301’ max distance.
Arm: LH. OF - 81 mph. Clean, carry on throws, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Fluid, athletic actions, sequences well into crow hop. INF: steady actions, two-hand gather out front.
Run: 6.37 runner in the 60.

OF Jalen House (Downers Grove South, 2024) is a left/left 5-foot-11, 175-pound prospect that just committed to Northern Illinois and showed his high-level of athleticism running the top 60-time (6.37; event record) at the recent Illinois State Games. House ran a clean 6.80 at this event and showed a loose and easy swing and stayed on the barrel for much of the round; recorded a max exit velocity of 93.8 mph and a max distance of 309 feet. Defensively, he plays light and easy on his feet with body control on the move, clean release and topped at 85 mph. 

Positional Profile: OF
Body: 5-11, 175-pounds. Athletic, high-waisted frame.
Hit: LHH. Pre-pitch rhythm; tall setup. Fluid, athletic swing. Balanced throughout; pull-side approach, line-drives.
Power: 91 max exit velocity, averaged 83.6 mph. 321’ max distance.
Arm: LH. OF - 86 mph. Plays with some carry and backspin, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Athletic actions through the ball, plays in rhythm, steady hands, sequences well into crow hop.
Run: 6.76 runner in the 60. 

One of the top players in attendance on Sunday was OF Jalen House (Downers Grove South). Standing 5-foot-11, 170-pounds, House has a lean/athletic build with plenty of room for additional strength. He’s a well above-average athlete, leading the event with a 6.78 60-time (recording as low as 6.60 in the past). The L/L outfielder took one of the better rounds of BP on the day; staying short to the ball with bat-speed and flat path, using the middle and opposite fields with a max exit velocity of 93.7 mph. He put up some intriguing BLAST metrics as well; reaching up to 76.1 mph for his max bat-speed with a max rotational acceleration of 24.5. Defensively, House moves with fluid footwork and athletic actions, working with steady hands through the ball and a clean exchange. His arm played with life and carry from a high ¾ slot, reaching up to 83 mph from a crow-hop. High-follow L/L prospect with upside.  

Positional Profile: OF/LHP
Body: 5-11, 170-pounds. Athletic frame with plenty more room for continued physical development.
Hit: LHH. Balanced setup, fluid load and heel-lift timing trigger. Easy, fluid swing, short to the ball, loose hands and middle/opposite field, line-drive approach.
Power: 94 max exit velocity, averaged 81.3 mph. 280’ max distance.
Arm: LH. OF - 83 mph. Loose arm action, plays quick and out of a high 3/4 slot. Throws play with carry and life out of the hand.
Defense: Athletic outfield actions, breaks down and plays through the baseball in rhythm. Directional, clean routes.
Run: 6.78 runner in the 60. Clean, easy, straight line runner.

OF Jalen House (Downers Grove South, 2024). The 5-foot-10, 165-pound, athletic outfielder started his day by running a 6.66 laser-timed 60, which led the event. He fits the profile of a top-of-the-order bat, starting spread and balanced. He stays short and compact to the baseball, staying within himself and spraying line-drive oriented contact to all fields. Defensively, he has loose, athletic actions with a short, quick arm that topped at 79 mph.

Uncommitted. Hit out of the lead-off spot for the Mustangs as only a sophomore. Left-handed hitter, direct hands to the ball with a flat path, line-drive and opposite field approach, sees the ball deep. Impressed with quickness out of the box; running to a 4.61 on a turn and a 4.28 straight through, speed plays on the bases and defensively. In the outfield, House showed easy range and athletic first steps, tracking down fly balls with ease with a strong arm to pair. 

Positional Profile: OF/LHP
Body: 5-9, 155-pounds.
Hit: SH. Tall, open setup, leg kick trigger, short stride. Loose, simple swing, average bat speed of 69.1 MPH, level bat path, line drive approach.
Power: 89.24 max exit velocity, averaged 81.57 mph. 311’ max distance.
Arm: LH. OF - 82 mph. Long, loose arm action, high 3/4 arm slot.
Defense: Clean outfield actions, steady hands play out front, fluid feet.
Run: 7.08 runner in the 60. 

Positional Profile: OF/LHP
Body: 5-9, 140-pounds. Thin, high-waisted frame.
Hit: SHH. Tall stance, balanced base, smooth load, steady leg lift trigger.  Uphill bat path with lift to the pull-side, smooth rhythm throughout.
Power: 80 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: LH. OF - 70 mph. Short and loose arm stroke, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Fields with some lower-half rhythm to the baseball, quick hand transfer to release.
Run: 7.52 runner in the 60.