Every Friday National Scouting Supervisor Nathan Rode provides a roundup of insider recruiting information and commitments throughout the PBR coverage area: The Buzz. CLICK HERE to take a look at this week’s National Buzz. With that in mind, let’s take an in depth look at the Illinois prospects who have committed to colleges, with detailed scouting information.

Tyler Acosta, OF, Barrington HS, 2018
State College of Florida

7.11.17 - Illinois recruit, currently ranked No. 23 in Illinois’ 2018 class. 6-foot-1, 155-pound right-handed hitting outfielder, wiry-athletic frame, young build with plenty of room for continued physical development. Considerable upside in the frame as he gains strength. Live-bodied quick-twitch athlete, ran a 6.65 laser-timed 60 with easy, fluid strides. Shows natural outfield actions and instincts; takes confident, aggressive routes, fields the ball in rhythm, plays through the ball well. Highly athletic arm, over-the-top slot, clocked at 85 mph, arm plays up with carry. Offensively, shows loose, athletic hands; lacks strength but generates bat speed. Aggressive approach, utilizes pronounced leg lift back, minimal load, long through the ball. Registered 92 mph exit velocity with wood. Went 1-for-3 in game with an infield single; 4.37 down the line
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Eddie King Jr, OF, Marian Catholic HS, 2021
Louisville

Trevor Davis, C, Danville HS, 2020
Illinois State

7.24.17 - 6-foot, 175-pound left-handed hitting catcher with a strong, solid frame. At the plate hits from a balanced setup with a short heel lift stride and good balance. Line drive hitter with a short, uphill swing path and fast bat. 81 mph exit velocity from a tee. 4.91 runner down the line. Defensively long arm action from an over the top slot. Accurate throws with carry, threw 78 mph from the crouch. Clean exchange with fluid footwork and soft hands. Pop times ranged 2.04-2.15. 

Cam Robinson, OF/RHP, Champaign Central HS, 2018
John A. Logan JC

1.21.18 - High upside frame, long and lean build, 6-foot-4, 190-pound two-way player. Right-handed hitter, open stance, weight balanced, short stride, works linear to front foot. Path is short to the baseball, has bat speed, front foot hitter, contact is hard occasional backspin, 88 mph exit velocity from the tee. 7.16 runner in the 60. Defensively plays through the baseball easy action, long exchange. Arm action is short and over the top, carries at 87 mph from the outfield. Similar arm action on the mound, drop and drive style, athletic finish. Fastball is straight, showed control, 83-86 mph. Slider is occasionally sharp, 11/5 shape, control for zone, 69-71 mph. Changeup has feel, 75-76 mph.

Coliani Martinez, 3B, Lake View HS, 2018
Joliet JC

10.8.17 - 5-foot-11, 200-pound right-handed hitting third baseman. Offensively hits from an open setup, leg kick stride with average balance. Pull hitter with a long, uphill swing path. 85 mph exit velocity from a tee. Ran the 60 at 8.16. Defensively has raw arm strength across the infield throwing 75 mph.

Ryan Turgeon, RHP, Nazareth HS, 2018
Dayton

6.6.17 - 6-foot-5, 250-pound, extra-large right-handed pitcher. Delivery works with some rhythm, coiled high leg-kick, stays on-line and lands square. Arm works short, clean and out of a high ¾ slot. Fastball flashed arm-side-run and sat 80-83, topping out at 84. Curveball thrown near fastball arm speed, depth, 12/6 shape and 65-66 mph. Also, mixed in a changeup, maintains arm speed, straight action and ranged between 69-75 mph.

Jake Blount, SS/RHP, Lincoln-Way Central HS, 2018
Concordia (WI)

6.6.17 - 6-foot-3, 185-pound, two-way prospect with a projectable, athletic build. Defensively, fluid feet, clean quick exchange and showed the ability to throw from multiple angles. Arm clocked at 78 mph across the diamond. Offensively, tall, open setup, short stride and average balance through contact. Path works long and uphill with a pull approach; 78 mph exit velocity from a tee. Singled, walked, stole a base and scored a run in game play. 4.90 home-to-first. On the mound, right-handed pitcher, smooth delivery, stays on-line, lands square with easy effort throughout. Arm works short and out of a high ¾ slot. Fastball sat 80-82 mph, thrown for strikes with slight arm-side-run. Curveball works 11/5, short break, feel, 73-74 mph. Flashed a slider at 74 mph, 10/4 shape. Changeup, down in the zone, 76 mph.

Adam Brown, INF/C, Lincoln-Way Central HS, 2018
Triton JC

10.8.17 - 5-foot-10, 160-pound right-handed hitting shortstop. Defensively has a short arm action from a low ¾ slot. Plays thru the ball, quick exchange and footwork. Threw 71 mph across the infield. Offensively hits from an open setup, armbar load with average balance. Pull hitter with an uphill swing path. 75 mph exit velocity from a tee. Rant he 60 at 7.81.

Ben Mazzulla, LHP, St. Joseph HS, 2018
Concordia (WI)

1.21.18 - 5-foot-10, 160-pound left-handed pitcher, small athletic frame. Delivery repeats, tall and fall type, loads lift to back side, coiled at top, lands square and stays on line and balanced. Arm action is loose, high ¾ slot. Fastball runs to arm side, 78-80 mph, showed ability to command. Curveball has 1/7 shape, had bite with spin and shape, 67-69 mph. Changeup fades to arm side, 67-70 mph. Slider has shorter break, 68-69 mph.

Cole Juelfs, SS/RHP, Valmeyer HS, 2018
Southwestern Illinois JC

6.6.17 - 5-foot-11, 160-pound, lean, right-handed hitting infielder. Offensively, wide, even setup, slight leg-lift timing trigger and maintains balance through contact. Repeatable, simple swing, routinely found the barrel and hit line-drives back up the middle in his round of batting practice; 83 mph exit velocity from a tee. Ran a 4.71 home-to-first. Defensively, flashes soft hands, clean transfer and ability to make plays on the move. Long arm action, accurate arm across the infield clocked at 79 mph.

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