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Recruiting Roundup: 12/18 to 1/6

January 7, 2022
By: Peter Hamot
Area Scout

Today we'll address all of the Illinois prospects who made the decision to announce their commitment from 12/18 to 1/6 of the new year. There were a total of 28 commitments throughout this time period, a number of which were high-level underclassmen. Lets check out who's headed where.

2025

Ethan Moore SS / 2B / Oak Park-River Forest, IL / 2025

Louisville

6/2/20

5-foot-6, 110-pound right-handed-hitting middle infielder. Athletic, well-proportioned frame. Strong lower half. Balanced setup, fluid pre-pitch movement in hands, smooth load, steady leg lift trigger. Swings a quick bat that stays on a level plane. Doesn’t try to do too much at the plate, comfortable hitting the ball where it’s pitched, line drive approach. Advanced overall offensive game for age. Athleticism plays on the field, has lateral range, steady glove, second base profile. Emerging as a follow in Illinois’ 2025 class.

Brady Rosenkranz RHP / 1B / Stevenson, IL / 2025

Missouri

8/19/21

One of the highest upsides at the event belongs to RHP/1B Brady Rosenkranz (Stevenson, 2025). The 6-foot-3 185-pound right-hander has all the makings of a high-level pitcher; long-limbs, clean arm, minimal effort and he already has a feel for multiple pitches. Rosenkranz mowed down a tough Missouri lineup with a fastball that reached 80 mph, on top of a curveball/changeup mix that he can throw in any count. Rosenkranz should continue to gain velocity as he matures and adds on strength in the future. As only an incoming freshman, he has a legit chance to see time on varsity this coming season for the Patriots.

2024

Henry Brummel RHP / SS / Pontiac Township , IL / 2024

Indiana 

6/26/21

2024 RHP Henry Brummel (Pontiac, 2024) got the start on the mound and delivered three scoreless innings with a fastball sitting 83-85 mph early. Curveball worked 67- 68 mph with 11/5 to 10/4 shape. Also, mixed in a mid-70s changeup to round out an impressive three-pitch mix. Brummel, listed at 6-foot-2, 165-pounds, oozes upside. The arm is loose, clean and quick and the ball comes out of the hand with ease. High-follow 2024 arm.

Justyn Hart LHP / 1B / Marian Catholic , IL / 2024

Missouri

8/20/21

LHP/1B Justyn Hart (Marian Catholic) came away as arguably the top all-around performer from this event, establishing himself as a true two-way follow in the Illinois’ 2024 class. A physical 6-foot-2, 218-pound athlete, Hart routinely worked on the barrel throughout one of the day’s loudest BP rounds. His best batted ball left his barrel at 95.18 mph and traveled 340 ft., while his 88.48 mph average exit speed was amongst the day's leaders. Hart hopped on the mound later on in the event and strung together an impressive ‘pen, throwing three quality offerings for strikes. He sat at 82-84 mph, while touching 85 mph, with his fastball throughout and consistently spotted it up for strikes, averaging 19.6 inches of Induced Vertical Break, too. Hart’s changeup proved to be his best pitch of the day, showing natural arm-side fade and thrown at fastball arm speed, and he landed his breaking ball for strikes in the zone, too. 

Charlie Vercruysse SS / RHP / Normal University , IL / 2024

Notre Dame 

 8/04/21

Positional Profile: INF/RHP
Body: 6-2, 175-pounds. Long, athletic frame.
Delivery: Tall and fall delivery with smooth rhythm, ability to mess with timing, level shoulders, works in line with home.
Arm Action: RH. Short, loose arm action, high 3/4 slot.
FB: T86.03, 83.3-85.1 mph. Late two seam action, thrown for strikes. T1918, 1742 average rpm.
CB: 68.1-70.6 mph. Gradual 11/5 movement, flashes tight spin. T2048, 1943 average rpm.
CH: 73.76-75.17 mph. Arm side run, flashed sinking action at times. T1612, 1555 average rpm.

Hit: RHH. Wide, balanced stance, quick pre-load actions, short stride. Flashed bat speed, athletic hands, compact swing, ability to drive the ball to all fields.
Power: 87 max exit velocity, averaged 75.2 mph. 302’ max distance.
Arm: RH. INF - 89 mph. Short, loose arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Athletic footwork with natural hands, clean transfer, quick double play actions.
Run: 7.12 runner in the 60. 

2022

Braden Alfano LHP / 1B / Rochelle, IL / 2022

North Central College

 6/15/21

Positional Profile: LHP/1B
Body: 6-foot, 175-pounds. Athletic build, strong lower-half.
Delivery: Athletic leg-kick, tall and fall delivery down the mound, strides in-line.
Arm Action: LH. Loose, high 3/4 slot.
FB: T82, 79-81 mph. Generally straight but flashed arm-side run, feel for the zone. T1850, 1762 average rpm.
CB: 67-69 mph. Gradual 2/8 shape. T2065, 2035 average rpm.
CH: 72-73 mph. Thrown with fastball intent, showed arm-side fade with feel for the bottom of the zone. 

Parker Baryl LHP / OF / St. Rita , IL / 2022

Motlow State CC

 8/5/21

One of the big winners from the event was OF/LHP Parker Baryl (St. Rita, 2022). Baryl showed natural outfield actions on top of a strong arm; touching 90 mph multiple times from a crow-hop with a clean arm action and accurate throws. The left-handed hitter possesses an athletic swing; peppering gaps with line-drives during BP with a level-path through the zone and quick hands to the ball.  On the mound, Baryl has a repeatable, controlled delivery and clean arm with his fastball topping at 84 mph. Baryl threw a high-volume of strikes and featured a four-pitch mix. Left/left two-way prospect to follow.

Aric Beaman 1B / RHP / Burlington Central, IL / 2022

Mount Mercy University 

 8/4/21

Hit: LHH. Tall, open stance, hands held high, smooth pre-pitch actions, short stride. Strong hands, short, level swing, ball jumps off the bat,  pull side approach.
Power: 93.3 max exit velocity, averaged 85 mph. 332’ max distance.
Arm: RH. INF - 77 mph. Long arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: First basemen, attacks the baseball, steady hands, clean exchange on a double play.
Run: 8.45 runner in the 60. 

James Blokell SS / 3B / Lyons Township, IL / 2022

Dominican University

 8/10/21

Positional Profile: SS/3B
Body: 6-1, 165-pounds.
Hit: LHH. Quiet, open setup, minimal pre-pitch movement. Quick hands, controls levers, stays short and direct to the baseball, controls the barrel, line-drive, whole field approach.
Power: 86.3 max exit velocity, averaged 83.7 mph. 284’ max distance.
Arm: RH. INF - 80 mph. Short, loose arm action, over-the-top slot.
Defense: Fluid footwork, plays with body control at times, natural double play turn and quick release.
Run: 7.37 runner in the 60.


Tommy Cheney 2B / SS / Lincoln-Way East, IL / 2022

North Central College

 2/15/21

Positional Profile: SS/2B
Body: 6-foot-3, 170-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Tall, narrow stance, open base, back load, leg kick to even.  Flashed bat speed, long level swing path, line drive type hitter, gap-to-gap approach, fluid rhythm
Power: 91.68 max exit velocity, averaged 81.64 mph. 299’ max distance.
Arm: RH. INF - 69 mph. Long arm action, over-the-top slot.
Defense: Average hands, plays through the baseball.
Run: 7.02 runner in the 60. 

Jac Cholke 1B / LHP / St. Rita , IL / 2022

Milwaukee Area Tech

 2/15/21

Positional Profile: 1B/LHP
Body: 6-foot-3, 180-pounds.
Delivery: Deliberate tall/fall delivery with some effort, works in line, lands squared.
Arm Action: LH. Short arm action, over-the-top slot.
FB: T77, 74-77 mph. Straight downward movement. T1979, 1874 average rpm.
CB: 65-68 mph. 12/6 breaker, works down in the zone. T1766, 1668 average rpm.
SL: 64-66 mph.  T1761, 1623 average rpm.
CH: 70-71 mph. Maintains arm speed, plays straight, works down in the zone. T1712, 1650 average rpm.

Hit: RHH. Wide, balanced stance, uphill shoulder plane, pre-pitch load, toe tap stride.   Long uphill swing, line drives to all fields.
Power: 89.21 max exit velocity, averaged 85.06 mph. 328’ max distance.
Arm: LH. INF - 74 mph. Long arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Works towards the baseball, average hands.
Run: 7.34 runner in the 60. 

Matt Dworsky C / 1B / Deerfield, IL / 2022

College of Central Florida

 8/10/21

Positional Profile: C/1B
Body: 6-0, 205-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Tall, upright setup, short lifted stride. Quick hands, present bat speed, direct stroke, natural lift with ability to create leverage to the pull-side of the diamond.
Power: 91.3 max exit velocity, averaged 84.9 mph. 338’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 73 mph. Short arm action, high 3/4 to over-the-top slot.
Defense: 2.08-2.21 pop times. Plays from a knee at times, directional out of the crouch.
Run: 7.53 runner in the 60.

Ethan Fleming SS / RHP / Plainfield North, IL / 2022

Saint Francis

 9/16/20

Positional Profile: SS/RHP
Body: 5-10, 145-pounds. Thin, wiry frame.
Delivery: Simple pace to level knee lift, big hip turn balance point. Separates into tall/fall down mound; uphill shoulders, high front side. Creates flexion in hip/shoulder separation at toe-open landing, square. Regular effort, athletic finish.
Arm Action: RH. Long swing to high 3/4 slot; looseness, shown in flexible elbow/forearm layback.
FB: T77, 75-77 mph. Straight four-seam type; averaged 2,072 rpm, above average for its velocity. Some carry through the zone.
CB: 61-61 mph. 10/4 shape with above-average spin and horizontal action; 2,179 rpm with -12.6 inches of horizontal break.
SL: 66-70 mph. Shorter action, more vertical. Minimal, gradual break.
CH: 67-69 mph. Mostly maintains arm speed; generates arm-side run.

Defense:  Attacks the baseball at times, hands work out front of body.
Arm: RH. INF - 69 mph. Short arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, smooth load, short stride to even.  Loose hands, short and level bat path, line drive approach, consistently on time.
Power: 78 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Run: 7.68 runner in the 60.

Eliot Fulscher SS / 2B / Hinsdale South, IL / 2022

Millikin University 

 8/23/21

MIF Eliot Fulscher (Hinsdale South, 2022) is a quick-twitch up-the-middle defender that took an impressive round of infield defense yesterday. He’s active on the dirt with athletic feet that comfortably cover ground on the move. Fulscher’s glove plays low to the ground and his soft hands work out front, funneling inward cleanly with a smooth, accurate release to his target. He also topped at 84 mph across the diamond on his first throw of the day. Fulscher looked the part of an everyday up-the-middle asset at the next level. 

Kaden Kumzi RHP / OF / Benet Academy, IL / 2022

Ohio Northern University

 2/27/21

Positional Profile: RHP/OF
Body: 6-3, 145-pounds. Lean, long-levered frame.
Delivery: Methodical tall/fall type delivery, works with some deception, lands closed to target and finishes in line.
Arm Action: RH. Long arm action, over-the-top slot.
FB: T77, 73-76 mph. Four-seam type, wrist works around to cut it at times.  T1798, 1686 average rpm.
CB: 65-67 mph. Spins early off a 12/6 plane.  T1739, 1671 average rpm.
CH: 68-69 mph. Thrown with near fastball arm speed. Flashed cutting action.  T1793, 1758 average rpm.
KN: 64-66 mph. 

Charlie Saul OF / 1B / Batavia, IL / 2022

Hope College

 6/15/21

Positional Profile: OF/1B
Body: 6-foot, 185-pounds. Strong frame, wide shoulders with a developed lower-half.
Hit: RHH. Smooth tempo with a leg-kick timing trigger. Long/level bat path, line-drive approach to the whole field.
Power: 93.26 max exit velocity, averaged 70.62 mph. 251’ max distance.
Arm: RH. OF - 84 mph. Clean high 3/4 slot
Defense: Smooth footwork, soft hands with an athletic crow hop for size. 

Ty Schafer LHP / OF / Saint Viator, IL / 2022

Wisconsin-Eau Claire

 2/27/21

Positional Profile: LHP/OF
Body: 5-9, 150-pounds. Athletic frame.
Delivery: Stretch-only, tall and fall delivery, works with rhythm, stays on-line and lands front-toe slightly closed.
Arm Action: LH. Short arm action, high 3/4 slot.
FB: T81, 75-79 mph. Slight arm-side-run. T2032, 1871 average rpm.
CB: 60-65 mph. Feel for the pitch, 1/7 shape, occasional depth. T2142, 2044 average rpm.
CH: 67-69 mph. Maintains arm speed, up in the zone at times. T1434, 1388 average rpm.

Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, hands start back with minimal movement at load, quick leg lift trigger.  Simple swing without much added movement, long bat path, barrel head stays flat through the zone, pull-side approach.
Power: 82.57 max exit velocity, averaged 76.13 mph. 265’ max distance.
Arm: LH. OF - 80 mph. Long and loose arm action, high 3/4 release.
Defense: Attacks the baseball in a fluid rhythm, works around on an angle at times, soft hands, clean exchange and plays through release.
Run: 7.48 runner in the 60. 


More Commits

  • Max Bianchini | RHP | Schaumburg | 2022 - McHenry County
  • Jake Bianco | LHP/1B | Kaneland | 2022 - Judson
  • Anthony Consiglio | LHP | Marist | 2022 - Aurora University 
  • Zane Danielson | LHP/1B | Glenwood | 2022 - Lincoln Land CC
  • Joseph Guzman | C | Morton West | 2022 - Morton College
  • Chris Kahle | RHP/3B | Crystal Lake South | 2022 - North Park University
  • Colin Kalinowicz | 1B/3B | Elk Grove | 2022 - Kishwaukee College
  • Ben Kasparie | OF/RHP | Quincy Notre Dame | 2022 - John Wood CC
  • Cameron Knapp | INF/RHP | Plainfield South | 2022 - Kishwaukee College 
  • Hunter Melody | RHP/1B | Rock Island | 2022 - Buena Vista University 
  • Dillion Smail | MIF | Rock Island | 2022 - St. Charles CC (MO)

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