Ty
Batusich

Above average arm strength. Receiving needs polish. Bat is his calling card. Big power potential with excellent body/hand strength to go along with above average bat speed. Potential college masher at Western Kentucky. Batusich continues to trend upwards, and did not disappoint on the weekend as he blasted two home runs in one game, and added a double in another en route to a 5-for-12 weekend.
Stats: 5-for-12, 2 HR, 2B, 5R

Western Kentucky commit, ranked No. 9 in Illinois. 6-foot, 190-pound, wide-shouldered, physical, left-handed hitting catchers. Continues to prove he is one of the top bats in the state. Consistent quality at-bats, rarely chases out of the strike zone and hung in tough on multiple left/left matchups. Strong, fast hands, routinely on time, advanced hand/eye and is on the barrel with authority to both gaps. Made a bunch of hard contact throughout the weekend. Defensively, strong arm behind the plate with developing receiving skills. One of the top prospects in Illinois.

Already known for his bat coming into the ProCase, Batusich bashed his Blast Motion capture with a top-scale 80 rotation score, a ProCase record 28.1 g of rotation acceleration and 5.96 power kW. With a vertical bat during his setup, he was short to the ball with a flat swing through the zone and just 0.12 seconds to contact which produced a majority of line drives and ground balls. The left-handed hitter led the way in numerous metrics. His bat speed was exceptional at an eye-popping speed of 76 mph. During BP he clubbed one with an exit velocity of 101.5 mph and another that traveled 374’. During game action, he led the way with a pair of hits and a hit by pitch, reaching base in three of his four plate appearances. After a slow start off the line, the Western Kentucky commit ran a 7.10 sixty, down from a 6.86 he ran earlier this year. Behind the dish he blocked well and showed near average arm strength (78 mph). Some extra wiggle in his arm action on the transfer led to 2.02-2.14 pop times and fair accuracy.

Positional Profile: C
Body: 6-foot, 186-pounds. Wide-shouldered, strong, well-proportioned frame.
Hit: LHH. Balanced, quiet setup, minimal load and wasted movement, short stride. Short and quick to the ball, natural lift, strong hands, advanced hand/eye, knack for the barrel and made a lot of hard contact. Works gap-to-gap and flashes big pull-side power.
Power: 98 mph exit velocity from the tee. Ball jumps off the barrel. Power potential to all fields.
Arm: RH. C - 78 mph. Short arm action, over-the-top slot. Consistently around the second base bag.
Defense: 1.93-2.02 pop times. Low setup, soft hands, sticks pitches at the bottom of the zone. Out of the crouch, quick glove-to-hand release.
Run: 6.86 runner in the 60. Well above-average runner for position.

Verbally committed to Western Kentucky.

2019 Future Games: 6-foot, 180-pound, barrel-chested, muscular, left-handed hitting catcher. Arguably elevated his stock more than any other prospect on Team Illinois. Made a strong case for PBR Future Games MVP thanks to his performance throughout the week. The physical left-handed hitter, hit a two-run home run to right-center field in game one of the week. Followed it up with a no-doubt, three-run home run, to deep right-center field, in the third and final game. Batusich finished 3-for-8 with five RBIs, two runs scored and a walk. Starts from a balanced, quiet setup with his hands set low. Short leg-lift stride and late loading action. Path stays short and direct to the ball, efficient and repeatable. Present twitch, bat speed and bat strength in swing. Natural lift, gets barrel in the zone on time, mid-pull approach and ball jumps off the bat. 93 mph exit velocity from a tee. 7.01 runner in the 60, laser-timed. Defensively, had one of the strongest arms of the event, 82 mph from the crouch. Arm works short and over-the-top; throws play true with carry and consistently around the second-base bag. Pop times ranged between 1.93-2.04 on workout day. Plays with energy behind the plate, athletic and quick out of the crouch, willing blocker. High-follow left-handed hitting catcher.

Currently ranked No. 23 player in the Illinois 2021 class. Strong, physical build. 6-foot, 180-pound left-handed hitting catcher. Balanced setup, short stride with a leg kick. Twitch in hands, creates explosive bat speed, level path through the baseball, simple swing, consistently makes contact with the baseball. Defensively, presents the baseball well, quick and clean exchange leading to rapid release, comes out the crouch quickly, above-average arm, carry on throws, posted a 2.15 pop time in game, 2.04 between innings. High follow in the Illinois 2021 class. 

Uncommitted. Currently ranked No. 23 in the Illinois’ 2021 class. 5-foot-11, 175-pound, left-handed hitting catcher; Carries strength well; strong lower half. One of the top sophomore catchers in the state. Has been a starter on varsity since his freshman season. Hit in the four-hole. Carries himself with confidence and energy. Leader on the field despite being an underclassman. Has the tools to be a highly-sought after catcher. Strong, receptive hands, quiet receiver, able blocker. Could sit lower in crouch. Clean out of the crouch. Strong arm, flashed carry. Low pop time of 2.08 in between innings. Trusts his arm, not afraid to throw behind runners. Offensively, takes consistent, quality at-bats. Ready to hit when he steps in the box. Selectively aggressive, understands the strike zone, rarely chased. Quiet setup, late trigger, short to the ball, twitch in swing, knack for the barrel. Finished 0-for-2 with a walk and lined out sharply to center field. Ran a 4.44 down the line on an infield groundout. High-follow 2021 prospect.

5-foot-11, 175-pound left-handed hitting catcher, well-proportioned athletic build with strength. Moves well, 7.21 runner in the 60. Sets up even at the plate, hands load low, quick leg lift stride. Strong hands, short to the ball, creates lift through swing. Hard contact to the pull side, jumps off,  exit velocity topped 91 mph from a tee. Defensively, pop times ranged 2.15-2.19. Athletic feet, quick transfer, steady block. Short arm action, speeds through an over the top slot, 76 mph from the crouch.

5-foot-11, 175-pound, strong, athletically-built, left-handed hitting catcher. One of the top 2021 catchers in we have seen to date in Illinois. Offensively, tall setup, low hands, gets separation in load, short stride and maintains balance through contact. Present bat speed, path stays short to the ball and level through the hitting zone. Consistently found the barrel, ball jumps off the bat, line-drive, gap-to-gap approach; 87 mph exit velocity from a tee. Defensively, athletic behind the plate; clean and quick out of the crouch, natural catcher actions. Strong, sure hands, short arm action and throws were accurate with carry; topped at 78 mph. Pop times ranged between 2.12-2.19. 7.36 runner in the 60, laser-timed. High-follow 2021 catcher.

5-foot-11, 165-pound, long, lean frame, room for continued physical development, left-handed hitting catcher. Offensively, quiet, balanced setup, sets up on the innermost part of the box, low hands, smooth load back. Athletic, loose hands, bat whips through the zone, gets barrel head out in front. Defensively, short arm action, accurate with throws. In game, aggressive with pick offs. 2.18 - 2.19 pop time between innings. On the mound, sets up on the extreme first base side of the rubber, short arm action, small stab, high ¾ slot, quick tempo. Fastball sat 75-77. Curveball, 10/4 shape, 60-62.

5-foot-9, 150-pound, left-handed hitting catcher, athletic frame that looked bigger than listed. Recently called up to varsity. At the plate, even setup, low hands, smooth load, leg lift trigger, rhythm involved. Loose hands, level path, uphill at times, showed pull side tendencies, fouled off balls just to the right of first base. Feel for the strike zone, took pitches just outside and below the zone. Finished 0-for 2, flew out deep to centerfield on a low fastball over the heart of the plate. Defensively high setup, some stiffness in legs, smothered balls in the dirt. Hands work, long transfer, short hitch in arm action, high ¾ slot, some carry.