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Illinois Mailbag: Top Questions of the Week

January 25, 2014

By Steve Nielsen
Scouting Director - Illinois/Wisconsin

The Mailbag is a feature which allows readers to ask our scouting directors any questions they wish about high school baseball in their state. Whether it's about possible state title contenders, top prospects, recruiting, etc. your questions will get put into our "Mailbag" via the ask.fm app and our scouts will answer your questions through Twitter (@PBRIllinois) and Facebook.

This week's top questions feature recruiting information, what colleges look for and more team previews.

To submit a question about Illinois high school baseball to the PBR scouting staff simply follow the link HERE. Also if you have a burning question about the national landscape of high school baseball or draft specific questions you can send them to National Supervisor Nathan Rode HERE.

Who's winning the I8 this year?!

If I had the clairvoyance to predict the Interstate-8 championship – isn’t there a North and South Division anyway? – I would use those powers to win the lottery.

Once you verbally commit to a school, do other schools stop paying interest in you?

The unwritten code is if a player verbally commits, others should lay off and not recruit the player. However, that doesn't always hold true. If a player continues to improve and his stock increases, so to speak, some bigger fish might begin to circle. Many of the Midwest schools adhere to that unspoken code, but there are schools who are notorious for continuing to recruit verbally committed players.

Do college scouts attend 15u travel baseball tournaments in Illinois? And if so, what are they mainly looking for?

Would say very infrequently do they recruit 15U tournaments. Typically, really good 15-year-olds play up on a 16U/17U team anyway.

You and Perfect Game’s Illinois 2015 rankings don't match up at all. Top five guys on perfect game isn't even top 15 on your rankings.

We've been carefully following this 2015 class since they've been in 7th/8th grade, so we have an excellent feel for the 2015 class. That's all I know; can't speak about anyone else's rankings.

What are the most important characteristics that colleges look for in a pitcher? Fastball velocity? Movement on breaking pitch? Anything else? If it varies from pitcher to pitcher, as I assume it does, what would be one top trait that they look for? D-1 D-3 etc.

Good question. Velocity is not the be-all, end-all quality in a pitcher, but the higher level you go, the more premium is placed on velocity. Velocity, however, is useless without the most important pitch in baseball: the strike pitch. If you don't throw the strike pitch, then you're not going to help any college program win games. Command of secondary stuff is very important as well. Pitchers who can command a true curveball, and have the confidence to throw it in different counts, have become a rare commodity.
Competitiveness on the mound is a huge factor as well; how he comports himself, how he handles himself after getting barreled or getting squeezed on a call, goes a long way as well. Delivery - does the pitcher have the athleticism and ability to repeat his delivery - arm action (free and easy, stiff, etc.), slot, movement all factor into evaluating a pitcher. And, of course, if he's left-handed or right-handed.

What are you thoughts on Carmel Catholic high school?

The present and future outlook of the Corsairs should be very bright.

Prior to the season starting do you ask HS coaches about their teams and what players on their roster they expect to produce. and or break out during the season and how much of their opinion do you place on how PBR ranks the teams in pre-season polls?

Yes, every year we send out preseason questionnaires asking coaches for their season expectations, top returning players, top underclassmen, team strengths and weaknesses, etc. They are coming in now, which is why I've side-stepped many questions regarding who will be the top-ranked teams in the state. I have a pretty good idea as to who those teams will be, but don't want to be premature in making any early prognostications.

What are your thoughts on Elgin high school?

I don't know a whole lot about Elgin's roster composition, other than Mari and Sitter should be a solid 1-2 pitching combination.

What do you think about the Fox Valley Conference?

Always extremely balanced and tough conference from top to bottom. There never seems to be a team that runs away with either division. The Fox is especially tough with the likes of Huntley, Cary-Grove, Prairie Ridge, Crystal Lake South, McHenry ...

Who do you think wins the Southwest Suburban Red Conference?

I would have to think Lincoln-Way North is the preseason favorite again in conference.

If a college says they're still looking to sign pitchers in the spring, how long do I have as a senior to get noticed by them before it becomes too late?

Let me preface this answer by saying that a first-team All-State pitcher last year, Matt Starai from St. Charles East HS, signed in June - after the season. He had a .50 ERA, sat 87-89 with his fastball, bumped some 90s. He was legit, and no one knew about him prior to the spring. I just happened to stumble into him chasing a different player on the opposing team. My point is, there are no exact timetables, no 1+1=2 answers. However, in most cases, you ideally would like to be on some coaches' radar prior to the season, so they can find an open date and see a start or two. To just go out there, pitch well and hope for the best is leaving a lot to chance and, frankly, wishful thinking. If you're good, and are realistic with where you fit at the next level, reach out to some schools and let them know who you are. Remember that it is hard for college coaches to get out in the spring season as it is, so they just don't randomly go to games. They will go to games with intent and purpose of seeing a player or two.

What are your thoughts on St. Francis after the state run last year?

St. Francis certainly surprised many by finishing second in Class 3A last year. I know I didn't see that coming. Can it do it again this year? I'm pretty sure they graduated a lot of seniors, but junior SS/RHP Jason Sullivan should again be an impact player for them this spring.

Does overall academic achievment (GPA, ACT scores, etc.) play a role in the recruitment process?

Without question. The better your grades, the wider scope of schools you can pick from. The worse your grades, the smaller the scope. If you're a very good student, you can also get academic money packaged with your athletic money.

What do you think of the West Suburban Gold Conference?‎  

Typically a solid conference. Downers Grove South has been the favorite the last few years.

Thoughts on JUCO? Best JUCOs around?

Illinois is fortunate to have several strong JUCO programs in the state, and just outside the state, Iowa has top-level JUCO competition as well. Iowa Western has won two JUCO D1 national championships in recent years.

How high a priority are outfielders and corner infielders for college programs?. I am told most of the money goes to pitching, middle infield and catching is that usually the case?

There are no hard, fast rules to recruiting. But, generally speaking, I'd say whoever told you that has an idea of what he's talking about. However, if you're an outfielder or corner infielder who hits from the left side, that certainly benefits your cause.

What's a good 60 time?

Depends on what position you play and how well you hit. But, generally speaking, if you're running a sub-7 that's good, sub-6.8 is very good, sub-6.6 is elite national speed,

Thoughts of presently who are the top 10 2015 pitching prospects in Illinois?‎  

Our class-specific rankings can be found here >> http://www.prepbaseballreport.com/rankings/IL/Illinois-Class-of-2014-8270931465

What is the latest you can get on a colleges radar for playing there? Is summer before senior year too late?

No, it's not too late at all. In fact, up until a few years ago, summer before senior year was the norm for the recruiting cycle. The process has indeed accelerated at the top level, but summer before senior year is still an extremely active period for players to be recruited.

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