MO Preseason All-State Player Analysis: Illinois

Body: 6-foot-10, 145-pound lean and developing frame.

Hit:  RHH.  At the plate starts with slightly open stance and wide base.  Upright posture in the upper body with hands set below shoulder height.  Short stride back to neutral with small weight transfer.  Rotational upper half.  Very good bat speed with blast readings up to 80 mph.  Slight uphill bat path and line drive approach.

Power: 79 mph exit velocity from the tee. 

Arm: LH.  OF-78 mph.  Over the top arm slot with clean arm action and good hand speed.

Defense: In the outfield showed attacking feet and good rhythm.  Very aggressive routes but maintained body control very well.  Good crow hop technique.

Run: 7.73 runner in the 60.

Delivery: Rocker style delivery with smooth rhythm.  High leg kick at balance and has slight load into the back leg.  Tall and fall motion with the body working down the center of the mound.   Athletic and well-balanced finish.

Arm Action:  High ¾ arm slot with clean arm action.

FB: 77-78 mph, mostly straight action with working angles towards the glove side.

CB: 68-69 mph, short and early break with 1/7 shape.

Body: 6-foot-3, 180-pound athletic frame.

Hit: RHH.  At the plate starts with a a neutral stance with weight shifted on the back leg.  Pre-turned shoulders and hips in with hands set below shoulder height and high back elbow.  Short leg lift with linear lower half drive.  Hands are slightly arm-barred with a rotational bat path.  Strong rotational acceleration readings on blast motion.

Power: 85 mph exit velocity from the tee. 

Arm: RH.  OF-77.  High ¾ arm slot with long release.  

Defense: In the outfield showed attacking routes with short and choppy feet.  Utilizes a back foot hop crow hop technique.  Glove action and softer hands are developing tools.

Run: 7.40 runner in the 60.

Delivery: Rocker style delivery with an upright posture.  Tall and fall style motion.  High balance point with weight leaned slightly forward.  Kick out leg stride with hands working in rhythm with stride.  Works directionally down the mound and finishes off to first base side.

Arm Action: High ¾ arm slot with short arm action.

FB: 77-78 mph, slight arm side run with good extension.

CB: 69-70 mph, 12/6 shape with straight downward action and feel for spin.

Body: 6-foot-1, 165-pound lean and projectable frame with room for added strength and size.

Hit: RHH.  At the plate starts with a slightly open stance and wide base.  Hands get set at shoulder height with a high back elbow.  Smooth rhythm with leg lift stride and weight transfer into the backside.  Lower half works linearly through the swing.  Quick hands through the zone and good bat speed for class.  Likes to work the ball up in the air and finishes with good balance.

Power: 84 mph exit velocity from the tee. 

Arm: RH.  OF-85 mph.  ¾ arm slot with long arm action and hand working across the body.

Defense: In the outfield takes aggressive routes to the ball with good rhythm and feet.  Fields the ball out in front of the glove side leg with good glove action and soft hands.  Shuffle style crow hop with good mechanics.

Run: 7.16 runner in the 60.

Delivery: On the mound uses a slow and controlled rhythm and tempo.  Pre-loads weight into the backside and gets to mid height balance point.  Short stride down the middle of the mound and rotates off of plant foot at release.  Low glove side at hand break. 

Arm Action: ¾ arm slot with short arm action.

FB: 80-82 mph, heavy sink and arm side run.

CB: 68-69 mph, short cutting action with developing spin. 

Body: 5-foot-11, 175-pound lean and developing frame.

Hit: LHH.  At the plate starts with an open stance and upright posture.  Hands set high above shoulder height with a slight arm-bar position.  Uses a rhythmic two tap stride and works lower half very linear through the swing.  Upper body and bat path are very rotational.  Prefers contact point out in front of home plate and has a pull-side approach.  Finishes with weight entirely on front foot.

Power: 80 mph exit velocity from the tee. 

Arm: RH.  INF-69 mph.  ¾ arm slot with flippy arm action.

Defense: In the infield shows a feel for working around the ball with smooth feet and rhythm.  Fields the ball with soft hands and shows a feel for glove action.  Fields the ball well on the move.

Body: 6-foot-3, 145-pound long and lean build with projectable body and room to add strength and size.

Delivery: Smooth and methodical tempo with repeatable rhythm.  Sets hands high and up near the head.  Uses a slight glove tap hand break.  Balance point gets to mid height and sinks into lower half on the back side.  Gets some back side push off the rubber.  Works out of the middle of the rubber and lands directionally down the center of the mound with good momentum.  Athletic and well-balanced finish.

Arm Action: RH.  High ¾ arm slot with short arm action and long release.

FB: 76-78 mph, Gets excellent extension and above average spin rate.   Slight arm side run at times but mainly riding life at the top of the zone. 

CB: 65-70 mph, early break 11/5 shape with developing spin.

Body: 5-foot-10, 160-pound athletic and stocky frame with room for added strength and size.

Hit: RHH.  At the plate starts with a slightly open stance and wide base with weight evenly distributed on both feet.  Hand set at shoulder height with a relaxed back elbow.  Rocks weight into back side at stride and works lower half linearly through the swing.  Pushes back off of front foot to create body tilt.  Tries to work the ball up in the air.  Hands work quickly through the zone.

Power: 79 mph exit velocity from the tee. 

Arm: RH.  INF-80 mph.  OF-84 mph.  High ¾ arm slot with short arm action and good hand speed.  

Defense: In the outfield attacks the ball with smooth rhythm and short steps.  Fields the ball outside the glove side leg.  Shows a feel for glove action and soft hands.  In the infield shows short/choppy steps when working towards the ball.  Fields the ball in good fielding positon and exchanges are clean.  Rhythm and routes are developing tools. 

Run: 7.17 runner in the 60.

Delivery: On the mound uses simple footwork and slow/methodical tempo.  Hands work up and down with the lower half.  Works to a high balance point with a tall and fall motion down the mound.  Kicks leg out of balance point and glides down the mound.  Works out of the middle of the rubber and strides slightly closed to the third base side.  Finishes in athletic position with good balance.

Arm Action: High ¾ arm slot with short arm action and recoil release.

FB: 75-77 mph, gets lots of arm side run and works more towards the glove side of the plate.

CB: 65-67 mph, loopy 11/5 shape with early break.

Body: 6-foot-1, 165-pound lean and athletic frame with room for added strength and size. 

Hit: RHH.  At the plate starts with a slightly open stance and wide base with weight pre-loaded into back leg.  Hands set below shoulder height with high back elbow.  Leg kick stride to wide stance with lower half working linearly to the front foot.  Hands work quickly through the zone.  Very linear approach with weight shifting all the way to the front foot at contact point.  Works the ball up in the air with an uphill bat path.

Power: 82 mph exit velocity from the tee. 

Arm: RH.  OF-79 mph.  High ¾ arm slot with long arm action and release.

Defense: In the outfield attacks the ball aggressively with long strides and chops feet at fielding position.  Fields the ball inside the glove side leg.  Utilizes a shuffle crow hop technique with clean exchanges.

Run: 6.50 above average runner in the 60.

Delivery: On the mound shows simple footwork with slow and methodical rhythm and pace.  Tempo picks up quickly at mid height balance point.  Drop and drive style motion with good backside push off the rubber.  Curls glove under the shoulder and clears it quickly.  Works out of the middle of the rubber and drives directionally down the center of the mound with good balance and athletic posture.

Arm Action: High ¾ arm slot with hand working behind the body and working across the chest at release.

FB: 80-82 mph, good tilt and some slight arm side run.  Works it well to the bottom of the zone.

CB: 68-70 mph, short 10/4 shape with developing spin.

Body: 6-foot-2, 200-pound physical and projectable frame.

Delivery: On the mound works a rocker style motion with quick tempo.  Gets to a short/mid-height balance point with hands working up and down with the lower half.  Sinks into the lower half quickly on balance point and gets some push off the backside.  High glove side and works glove out and away from the body and pulls it across the chest.  Long strides down the center of the mound for good extension.  Finishes with good balance and athletic posture.

Arm Action: RH.  High ¾ arm slot with clean/long arm action. 

FB: 84-85 mph, mostly straight shape with good tilt at the bottom of the zone.

CB: 66-67 mph, 11/5 shape with tight spin and early break.

SL: 73-74 mph, tight cutting action with good hand speed.