Jonah
Roper

Verbally committed to Rock Valley JC.

6-foot-3, 203-pound frame with clear strength in the lower half. Roper got the call on Saturday and was efficient across his start. The right-handed arm worked through seven innings and allowed three runs, none of which were earned. Roper featured an easy delivery on the mound that showed repetition and feel for the way he operates. He showed a long, loose arm action with some quickness out front.. Roper’s arsenal featured a fastball that he ran up to 85 mph and sat 82-84 mph throughout. He also flashed feel for off-speed pitches that he was consistently able to induce weak contact with, helping him work through the contest.

The talented, uncommitted junior has had a strong spring for Normal Community and it continued in the Regional Championship. In the matchup against Rock Island, Roper spun a complete game. In the win he allowed one run, eight hits, struck out nine and did not walk a batter.

Uncommitted. In the Ironmen’s 4-0 win over Peoria Notre Dame, Roper threw a complete game with 13 strikeouts, two walks, no runs and five hits allowed.

Uncommitted. Durable and athletic 6-foot-2, 203-pound frame. The right-hander threw it well out of the ‘pen for the Ironmen, going two innings while only allowing one hit, no runs or walks and striking out three. Roper has a controlled leg-lift with a slight coil into balance point, working with a drop/drive lower-half that stays in-line with the plate. High ¾ release, creates some carry on his fastball when it plays up in the zone, sitting 86-87 mph and topping out at 88 mph. His primary secondary was a sinking/fading changeup, tunneling well off fastballs at the top of the zone and consistently ending up under barrels and under the zone, 71-74 mph.

RHP/OF Jonah Roper is another Normal Community product to keep an eye on moving forward. Roper has a developing 6-foot-2, 180-pound frame, loose, clean arm stroke and makings of a three-pitch mix. His fastball played easy out of the hand and sat in the low-80s, T82.4 mph. He also featured a low-70s curveball with 2067 average rpm and a 69-71 mph changeup that played with fade at the bottom of the zone. Roper also swings a left-handed bat that stays on-plane and works with natural loft to the pull-side.

RHP/OF Jonah Roper is another Normal Community product to keep an eye on moving forward. Roper has a developing 6-foot-2, 180-pound frame, loose, clean arm stroke and makings of a three-pitch mix. His fastball played easy out of the hand and sat in the low-80s, T82.4 mph. He also featured a low-70s curveball with 2067 average rpm and a 69-71 mph changeup that played with fade at the bottom of the zone. Roper also swings a left-handed bat that stays on-plane and works with natural loft to the pull-side.

Positional Profile: RHP/OF
Body: 5-9, 150-pounds. Well-proportioned frame.
Defense: Lower half works on an angle around the baseball, fluid footwork.
Arm: RH. OF - 67 mph. Long arm action, over-the-top slot.
Hit: LHH. Open base, balanced lower half, smooth load with a slight hand drop, quick leg kick trigger, short stride. Loose swing, easy effort and repeats. Uphill path, elevates out front. Fluid rhythm throughout.
Power: 70 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Run: 8.70 runner in the 60.

Positional Profile: RHP/OF
Body: 5-9, 150-pounds. Well-proportioned frame.
Defense: Lower half works on an angle around the baseball, fluid footwork.
Arm: RH. OF - 67 mph. Long arm action, over-the-top slot.
Hit: LHH. Open base, balanced lower half, smooth load with a slight hand drop, quick leg kick trigger, short stride.  Loose swing, easy effort and repeats. Uphill path, elevates out front. Fluid rhythm throughout.
Power: 70 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Run: 8.70 runner in the 60. 

Delivery: Simple and repeatable tall/fall type delivery. Controlled posture at balance point, hands separate on time, level shoulders throughout, works direct to target.
Arm Action: RH. Long and loose arm action, high 3/4 slot.
FB: T70, 66-70 mph. Four-seam type, straight action. Strikes.
CB: 60-63 mph. Knuckle-type grip. 11/5 shape, gradual action, landed for strikes.
CH: 63-66 mph. Thrown at near fastball arm speed, runs arm-side occasionally.