Ryan
Bakes

A South Carolina commit, Bakes played a critical role in the Huntley lineup this season and was effective behind the dish. Bakes raked at the plate this spring as he recorded 41 hits and 35 RBI, ending with a slash line of .404/.538/.909. He tallied 25 XBHs, 13 of which were launched for home runs. The right-handed power bat is the second-ranked catcher in the Illinois 2023 class and is ranked nineteenth nationally at the position.

South Carolina commit. Currently ranked No. 10 in the state, No. 250 nationally. 5-foot-10, 187-pound frame, compact/strong frame, round shoulders with a thick lower-half, strength throughout. Hit out of the three-hole for the Red Raiders and started behind the plate; finishing the day 3-for-4 with a home run, double, two RBIs, three runs scored and a walk. The right-handed hitter has premium bat-strength in his compact and simple swing, going down and getting a pitch low and away to him and pulling it over the wall for his home run. Stock setup with minimal load, extremely simple and looks to translate to higher velocity. Heavy pull-side results in this look while staying on the barrel consistently. Defensively, he’s a confident receiver of the baseball, working to steal the low strike with strong wrists/hands. Athletic blocker that doesn’t get lazy, always working to keep the ball in front. Quick/clean transfer, throws played with backspin down to second with some accuracy. High-level 2023 in Illinois.

RHP Ryan Geraghty (Mundelein; Wichita State), RHP/SS Dominic Voegele (Columbia; Kansas) and C Ryan Bakes (Huntley; South Carolina) round out the top-10 in Illinois.

South Carolina commit, currently ranked No. 2 in Illinois’ 2023 class, No. 39 overall in the country. Ultra-physical, 5-foot-10, 187-pound frame, broad shoulders. Is a premier defender behind the plate and proved so yet again on Saturday; using quiet/receptive hands to present pitches around the zone, quick/clean transfer with a strong arm that plays with backspin (1.95 pop-time recorded during warmups), while also boasting quick/athletic footwork on throws. His ability to move so well behind the plate makes him a highly reliable blocker of the baseball as well; moving side-to-side with ease and judging angles on balls in the dirt, deadening stray pitches out in front. Bakes possesses one of the best right-handed bats in the entire class on top of his stellar defense; starting with a wide base and using minimal pre-pitch movements. His hands work quickly through the zone with a slight uphill path, maintaining balance throughout the entirety of his swing. Premier 2023 backstop who should garner some attention in the draft next spring. 

Positional Profile: C/OF
Body: 5-9, 187-pounds. Strong frame.
Hit: RHH. Balanced, athletic setup, smooth load, short stride, easy pre-pitch actions. Short swing, quick bat speed with average of 70.3 MPH, path works uphill, balanced throughout, gap-to-gap approach, consistent hard contact, line drives.
Power: 98.74 max exit velocity, averaged 89.02 mph. 318’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 83 mph. Short arm action, over-the-top arm slot, throws carry.
Defense: 1.95-2.04 pop times. Quick transfer/release,  solid receiver, kills ball on blocks.
Run: 6.70 runner in the 60. Advanced runner.

Positional Profile: C; One of the top 2023 catchers in the Midwest.
Body: 5-foot-9, 187-pounds. Wide-shouldered, muscle-bound frame.
Hit: RHH. Balanced, quiet load, short stride and minimal wasted movement throughout. Creates advanced bat speed for his age with minimal effort. Short, compact swing, feel for the barrel, gap-to-gap approach with intent to drive the baseball with authority. Flashed big pull-side power. One of the top right-handed bats in the Illinois' 2023 class.
Power: 97.73 max exit velocity, averaged 88.83 mph. 356’ max distance. Some of the best raw power in the 2023 class.
Arm: RH. C - 84 mph. Plus arm for his age. Works short and quick from an over-the-top slot. Throws were consistently on the bag, played true and flashed plus carry and finish to the target.
Defense: 1.93-1.98 pop times. Highly-efficient out of the crouch. Simple, athletic feet, directional. Advanced glove-to-hand release, quick transfer.
Run: 4.36 runner in the 60. Advanced runner for his age and position.

Verbally committed to South Carolina.

5-foot-9, 180-pound, muscular, right-handed hitting catcher; advanced strength and physicality for age. Possesses some of the best bat speed and power in the class. Was one of the few 2023’s selected to participate at this summer’s Midwest Future Games. Only caught one game on the weekend. Homered three times at a PBR Wisconsin tournament the weekend before. Simple, explosive swing that is compact and repeatable. One of the top uncommitted 2023’s in the Midwest.

Positional Profile: C/OF; Emerged this summer as one of the top uncommitted 2023s in the Midwest.
Body: 5-9, 181-pounds. Barrel-chested, muscle-bound frame.
Hit: RHH. Balanced, quiet setup, minimal wasted movement and short stride. Simple strong swing, fast bat, creates electric bat speed at times. Short and direct to the ball, highly-repeated, connected swing present pull-side power. Hit a towering homerun down the left-field line during game play.
Power: 92 mph exit velocity from the tee. Max exit velocity of 101.21 mph and max distance of 397' during BP, via TrackMan.
Arm: RH. C - 80 mph. Short, quick arm action, over-the-top slot. Throws have life, play true and consistently around the bag.
Defense: 1.92-2.00 pop times. Quick glove-to-hand release, maintains body control, natural catcher actions. Soft, sound block, plays with bounce behind the plate.
Run: 6.93 runner in the 60. Advanced runner for age and position.

Positional Profile: C
Body: 5-foot-9, 175-pounds. Athletic, wide-shouldered frame with strength throughout.
Hit: RHH. Balanced slightly open setup, short stride and minimal load. Easy effort, short uphill bat path, present bat speed, gap-to-gap approach, fluid rhythm and maintains balance throughout.
Power: 97 mph exit velocity from the tee. Power potential moving forward.
Arm: RH. C - 75 mph. Short, quick arm action, over-the-top slot.
Defense: 2.03-2.15 pop times. Advanced defensive actions. Square, flexible target, soft hands, quiet receiver, willing agile soft blocker; deadens the baseball. Clean out of the crouch, replaces feet, highly-repeatable.
Run: 7.16 runner in the 60. Advanced run time for position and age.

Positional Profile: C 
Body: 5-foot-9, 175-pounds. Strong, athletic frame.
Hit: RHH. Balanced slightly open setup, short quiet stride and minimal load.  Simple swing, creates present bat speed, short uphill bat path, gap-to-gap approach, fluid rhythm and maintains balance throughout.
Power: 93 mph exit velocity from the tee. Advanced bat strength for age.
Arm: RH. C - 80 mph. Short clean, quick arm action, works from an over-the-top slot. Throws played true with carry.
Defense: 1.98-2.04 pop times. Advanced defensive actions. Square, flexible target, soft hands, quiet receiver, willing agile soft blocker; deadens the baseball. Clean and quick out of the chute, highly-athletic feet.
Run: 4.39 runner home-to-first. Advanced run time for position and age.

Positional Profile: C
Body: 5-foot-8, 170-pounds. Strong build throughout, athletic frame.
Hit: RHH. Balanced stance, slightly open stance, smooth loading action, short stride, good balance through contact. Physical swing creates bat strength, simple swing, path has some length and gets hard contact to both gaps, hits in rhythm.
Power: 88 mph exit velocity from the tee. Above average pop for age.
Arm: RH. C - 77 mph. Short over the top slot, arm played accurate to the bag with carry.
Defense: 2.01-2.14 pop times. Soft hands, plays with quick athletic feet out of the crouch. Soft quiet receiver.
Run: 7.21 runner in the 60. 

Positional Profile: C
Body: 5-foot-8, 170-pounds. Strong build throughout, athletic frame.
Hit: RHH. Balanced stance, slightly open stance, smooth loading action, short stride, good balance through contact. Physical swing creates bat strength, simple swing, path has some length and gets hard contact to both gaps, hits in rhythm.
Power: 88 mph exit velocity from the tee. Above average pop for age.
Arm: RH. C - 77 mph. Short over the top slot, arm played accurate to the bag with carry.
Defense: 2.01-2.14 pop times. Soft hands, plays with quick athletic feet out of the crouch. Soft quiet receiver.
Run: 7.21 runner in the 60. 

A physical, strong right-handed-hitting catcher with some natural feel behind the plate. Quick catch-and-throw actions and strong hands/wrists help him receive pitches well. Swings hard, aggressively, and flashes gap-to-gap ability.

5-foot-8, 170-pound, strong right-handed hitting catcher/outfielder. Offensively, tall balanced setup, smooth  load, short stride and utilizes lower half. Flashed bat speed, consistent hard contact, level barrel path, extension through contact, gap-gap approach. 82 mph exit velocity off the tee. From the outfield, played through the ball, fluid footwork. Threw from a high ¾ slot, short arm action, throws topped at 78 mph from outfield. Behind the plate, quick footwork, clean exchange from glove to hand, accuracy on throws. Pop time ranged between 2.14-2.25. Clocked at 73 mph from behind the plate. Home to first in 4.72.