Mike
Massey

Loose bodied, athletic middle infielder who recently returned to playing defense after experiencing back issues the first seven weeks of this spring season. During this time he was exclusively the DH. Likely due to his back injury and the inability to hit the weights hard, Massey looks thinner this spring than in the past. When fully healthy, Massey plays defense with ease. He is a plus defender with soft hands, smooth actions and good range in all directions. Also has an average arm and is quick on the DP pivot. At the dish, he has a loose, pure stroke with good rhythm. Starts his swing with a leg lift load. Has minimal separation as he keeps his hands tight to his back shoulder. A slight adjustment for more separation could result in more over the fence power in the future, where it currently projects to be below average. However, his power should continue to grow as he gets completely healthy and fills out. Massey has very good hand/eye and controls the barrel. Never looks over matched and always seems to have a plan up to bat. As a result, he's been very consistent at the plate generating hard contact; batted .330 as a freshman, .326 as a sophomore and is currently hitting .319 with more walks than strikeouts. Remarkably, his babip has a very small range over the past three seasons; .333, .344, .330. Despite being somewhat of a tweener with limited over the fence power (15 career HRs in 540 ABs) and little impact on the base paths (seven career SBs) Massey has consistently hit for average, controlled the strike zone and plays defense at a high level. (Seifert)

Still tender from recent back issues and did not play in the field. Appeared at DH only where he went 4-for-11 with an RBI. When healthy he is a plus defender with above average range and one of the top 2019 middle infield bats in college baseball this spring. (Seifert)

Injured the evening before my arrival to the Cape. He did not return to play. Finished with a .280/.337/.366 slash in the Cape. Based upon my look this spring, Massey is an above average defender at second base with plus range. Offensively, he has doubles power and a chance to hit for a high average. He should receive plenty of early Day Two consideration for the 2019 draft. (Seifert)

The future also looks bright for Illinois with underclassmen Ben Troike and Michael Massey up the middle and a few young arms on the pitching staff. Both Troike and Massey are steady defenders with good range, especially Massey at second base who caught everything hit his way. Offensively, both showed gap power with the ability to consistently put the bat on the ball. Massey led the way with six hits in 12 at-bats, going a consistent 2-for-4 in each game of the series. He is a top college bat to watch for the 2019 draft. (Seifert)

Illinois commit. 6-foot-1, 170-pound left-handed hitting middle infielder, loose athletic shape. Plays the game with ease and confidence. Quality at bat guy, sees a lot of pitches, grinds out at bats. Showed pop to all parts of the field with an opposite field home run and a pull side triple. Good barrel control and plate discipline, projects near the top of any lineup. Smooth defender, confident hands, plays easy.

6-foot-, 170-pound athletic middle infielder, has grown a few inches and added muscle to lower half. Hits from the left-side, impressing with natural and fluid swing. Short, level path, great approach, quiet takes, sees every pitch into the glove. Hands start low, minimal movement, singled hard into the four-hole in second at bat, lined off the wall in right for a double in third at bat. Defensively, fielded one ground ball cleanly with a force out at second. Athletic arm, confident fielder, attacks baseball in pregame. Has the ability to stick at short at the next level. Ranked No. 10 in IL, No. 130 overall. Committed to Illinois.

Listed 5-foot-10-, 160-pounds, Illinois-commit, ranked No. 10 in Illinois’ 2016 class, No. 138 overall looks to be 6-foot, definitely added strength to lower half, muscular legs, filling out frame, left-handed hitting middle infielder, plays short for high school team. Showed average arm strength across the diamond in pregame, carry and accuracy on throws, athletic actions at shortstop, arm to stay there at next level, but could profile as offensive second baseman. Two uncharacteristic fielding errors in game, still future plus defender. Bat is elite, hits from an open setup, athletic with lower half, uses legs, hands load smoothly, smoked an 86 mph fastball to deep right-center field (400-plus feet) for a home run in second at bat. Also singled hard to right in last at bat off 91 mph Fellows fastball. Elite bat speed, squares up ball on barrel, flied out to center on 90 mph fastball off Fellows in third at bat.

Committed to Illinois in the winter of his sophomore year. ... Transferred from St. Rita.

Illinois commit. Ranked No. 13 in Illinois’ 2016 class, No. 50 overall.  5-foot-10, 160-pound skinny frame with room to add.  May be around 6-foot now.  Natural actions and quick transfer on double play ball.  Massey and senior shortstop Kevin Sullivan (Middle Tennessee State commit) form one of the state’s best double play combinations.  Fluid athlete slows the game down in the field and at the plate.  1-for-3 on the day with a 2-strike single in first at bat, and a walk on a 3-2 breaking ball in the seventh.  Not overmatched by lefty-on-lefty breaking ball.  Hits from a slightly open stance, getting back to square, and getting foot down early.  Good balance throughout swing.  Switch hitting potential, as right handed swing needs repetitions, but shows same balanced approach.

Illinois commit. Ranked No. 13 in the state. One of the more natural and instinctual baseball players in the state. Hits from the left side, slightly open stance, relaxed setup, loose hands. Offensively takes professional type at bats, highly advanced approach seeing multiple pitches in every at bat. Excellent bat control, sees pitches well, good plate discipline and pitch recognition, tough to strikeout, not much swing and miss. Defensively showed advanced actions, soft hands with a highly accurate and athletic arm. Has the ability to turn it in the middle at a high level, footwork is clean and quick. Massey’s baseball acumen is one of the best in the state and the ease at which he plays the games bodes well for future growth.