Prep Baseball Report

Recruiting Roundup: Week of 11/2


By Andy Sroka
Staff Writer

Today, we’ll address all the Illinois prospects who made the decision to announce their commitment throughout this past week. We wrapped up our final showcase of 2018 at the end of October, so as we head into the fall and winter offseason, now’s the time when recruiting season picks up. This past week was a busy one for commitments, so let’s begin.

2019 COMMITS

Brady Alexander OF / Normal West, IL / 2019

SAUK VALLEY CC 

10/7/18 - 5-foot-9, 165-pound outfielder, solid build. Aggressive defender, attacks the baseball in the outfield, plays quick and in stride. Gains ground through transfer, crowhop to long over the top slot, 79 mph. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, short stride. Path works slightly uphill, gets deep into lower half. 78 mph exit velocity from the tee. 7.35 runner in the 60.

Anthony Caruso 3B / 1B / Streamwood, IL / 2019

WISCONSIN-OSHKOSH

6/11/18 - 6-foot, 215-pound, left handed hitting infielder. Offensively, displayed fast bat speed, aggressive swings, uphill barrel path, gap-gap power, fluid rhythm, exit velocity of 89 off the tee. Open balanced setup, short stride, quiet aggressive hands, simple load, extension through ball. Defensively, long arm action, high ¾ slot, easy arm action. Throws 76 mph across infield. Runs 7.23 in the 60.

Austin Collinson inf / rhp / Normal West, IL / 2019

CARL SANDBURG JC

8/7/18 - 5-foot-11, 175-pound, two-way prospect, athletic, defined build. On the mound, right-handed pitcher, threw a high-volume of strikes. Delivery works on-line, front-toe lands closed with regular effort throughout. Long arm action from a high ¾ slot. Fastball works mostly straight, occasional arm-side-run, sat 81-83 mph, topped at 84. Curveball 12/6 shape, feel, 66-68 mph. Saw a changeup in warmups; maintains arm speed, sinking action, 78 mph. At the plate, right-handed hitter, balanced setup, long stride, level bat path, line-drive approach and present bat strength; 87 mph exit velocity from a tee. Defensively, steady defender, reliable hands, funnels into exchange. Long, quick arm action, high ¾ slot, accurate throws, carried across the diamond and topped at 85 mph.  Ran a 7.65 laser-timed 60.

Christopher Conrad RHP / Plainfield Central, IL / 2019

SAINT XAVIER

8/7/18 - 6-foot-2, 160-pound, right-handed pitcher, lean and lanky frame. Drop and drive delivery, works on line, stride is short and toe lands closed, head jerks at finish. Arm is long and loose, full swing, pull down front side, quick arm speed, clean over the top slot.  Fastball, worked straight, thrown for strikes, sat 81-83 mph. Curveball, 12/6 roller, maintains arm speed, 63-65 mph. Changeup flashed fade in warmups, 73 mph.

Lucas Danielewicz C / Deerfield, IL / 2019

SOUTHERN ILLINOIS

10/15/17 - 5-foot-10, 175-pound catcher, stocky, solidly built frame. Right-handed hitter, slightly open stance, short stride and maintains balance. Loose swing, flashes quick twitch, lot of hard contact off the bat. Bat speed present, 90 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm played short and over the top, 70 mph out of the crouch. Athletic defender, plays with bounce, soft hands receiving the baseball. 2.26-2.40 pop times. 7.33 runner in the 60.

Noah Diederich 1B / Richwoods, IL / 2019

LINCOLN LAND CC

10/15/17 - 5-foot-11, 190-pound, left-handed hitting first baseman with a strong frame. 7.18 runner in the 60, laser-timed. Offensively, open balanced setup and short stride. Level bat path, flashed strength through contact; 88 mph exit velocity from a tee. Defensively, steady defender, reliable hands, clean transfer, short arm action from a ¾ slot, clocked at 66 mph across the diamond.

 

Peter Fusek OF / Home School, IL / 2019

KANKAKEE CC

10/7/18 - 6-foot-1, 195-pound outfielder, strong physical build, toolsy profile. 6.74 runner in the 60, laser timed, easy runner. Arm played with above average carry, 89 mph and accurate, quick high ¾ arm action. Actions play through the baseball, gathers to exchange, gets long at times, hands play soft. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, loads hands back, leg lift stride. Flashed quick twitch actions at the plate, above average bat speed. Path is short and level through contact, line drive contact to all fields. 93 mph exit velocity from the tee.

Keegan Gagliardo LHP / Coal City, IL / 2019

LINCOLN TRAIL JC

10/7/18 - 5-foot-10, 145-pound two-way player, lean build. Left-handed hitter, tall closed setup, short stride. Path is level, line drive contact to pull side approach. 85 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm plays long and loose, over the top slot, runs to arm side, 83 mph from the outfield. 7.31 runner in the 60. Tall and fall delivery on the mound, smooth rhythm, squared landing. Arm is loose from high ¾ slot. Fastball showed feel for the zone, slight angle, 80-82 mph, touched 83 mph. Curveball plays 1/7, 65-67 mph, flashed sharp action at times. Changeup fades to arm side, near-fastball arm speed, 67-70 mph.

Isaiah Gudeman C / Morton, IL / 2020

BRADLEY

8/9/18 - 6-foot-2, 195-pound catcher, strong build. Right-handed hitter, athletic setup, loads hands back, short reverse load stride. Short path is loose, advanced bat strength, gap to gap approach. Aggressive swing with hard contact, 99 mph exit velocity from the tee. Strong arm out of the crouch, carries with accuracy to target, short quick stroke, 77 mph. Hands play well, clean exchange, 1.95-2.01 pop times. 7.48 runner in the 60.

Nathan Hardin C / Plainfield North, IL / 2019

HANOVER COLLEGE

2/19/18 - 6-foot, 170-pound, big framed, right-handed hitting catcher. At the plate, crouched, balanced setup and heel-raised stride. Long bat path and exit velocity topped 87 mph off a tee. Defensively, replaces feet, clean transfer. Accurate arm, high ¾ slot and throws topped at 70 mph from the crouch. Pop times ranged 2.15-2.27. Ran an 8.14 60.

Isaiah Hart OF / Stevenson, IL / 2019

COWLEY COUNTY CC

4/10/18 - 6-foot-1, 190-pound, athletically-built, physical, right-handed hitting outfielder. Started in right-field and hit in the two-hole for Stevenson. Has been one of the top producers in the Stevenson lineup so far this spring. Finished the day 1-for-4 with a walk. In his first at-bat, reached on an infield hit, ran a 3.98 down the line. Starts from a balanced, open setup and short stride. Strong, quick hands with slight lift in swing. Follow 2019 right-handed hitter.

Carson Harvey LHP / Plainfield South, IL / 2019

DOMINICAN

10/7/18 - 6-foot, 210-pound left-handed pitcher. On the mound, throws from a high ¾ slot with short arm action, regular effort. Works in some rhythm and on line, lands square. Fastball, mostly straight, occasional run, sat 76-80 mph. Curveball, 1/7 plane, some feel, 65-68 mph. Changeup, straight, near-fastball arm speed, 67-69 mph.

Brendon Herrin INF / Andrew, IL / 2019

EVANSVILLE

7/24/18 - 5-foot-11, 170-pound shortstop, lean athletic frame. Advanced defensive actions, feet work really well through the baseball, soft hands out in front, clean exchange. Arm action is short and high ¾, carried well with accuracy, 85 mph across the diamond. 7.28 runner in the 60. Right-handed hitter, open stance, leg lift stride, average balance. Path works uphill, top spin contact, 80 mph exit velocity from the tee.

Brandon Laux RHP / Brother Rice, IL / 2019

KIRKWOOD CC

9/16/18 - 6-foot-3, 170-pound, lean, wiry, live-bodied, right-handed pitcher. Came out of the bullpen and threw one inning. Short, quick arm action, high ¾ slot. Worked primarily with his fastball. Controlled the zone, sat 83-86 mph; worked mostly straight, occasional arm-side-run.

Carlos Martinez INF / Grant Community, IL / 2019

ROCK VALLEY JC

8/7/18 - 5-foot-6, 145-pound, two-way prospect. At the plate, right-handed hitter, balanced, slightly open setup, short stride and maintains balance. Quick hands, stays short to the ball and line-drive approach. 81 mph exit velocity from a tee. Singled to right field and scored a run during game play. On the infield, strong arm that flashed carry and topped at 84 mph. Arm works short and quick. Steady hands, fluid footworks and clean transfer. 7.21 runner in the 60.

Zach Ori LHP / Limestone, IL / 2019

CARL SANDBURG JC

8/9/17 - 6-foot, 170-pound, left-handed pitcher. On the mound, short arm action, over-the-top slot, tall and fall delivery, lands toe open. Fastball, mostly straight, 74-75 mph, touching 76. Curveball, 1/7 shape, 62-64. Changeup, down in the zone, 64-65.

Zachary Rocke-White C / Richwoods, IL / 2019

LINCOLN LAND CC

1/27/18 - 5-foot-10, 180-pound, catcher with a strong build, thick lower half. 7.25 runner in the 60, laser-timed. Right-handed hitter, balanced, slightly open setup, low hands and short stride. Flashed strength in bat at times; 84 mph exit velocity from a tee. Behind the plate, soft hands, clean transfer and natural catcher arm action; short and over-the-top. Throws topped at 76 mph and pop times ranged between 2.15-2.28.

Jorge Santos OF / Homewood-Flossmoor , IL / 2019

SOUTH SUBURBAN JC

10/7/18 - 6-foot-1, 145-pound outfielder, lanky frame, slender build, projectable live body. 6.88 runner in the 60. Arm showed carry from a long over the top slot, loose arm, 86 mph from the outfield. Actions play fluid through the baseball, long strided, clean transfer. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, short stride, average balance. Loose hands at times, favored opposite field contact in BP, 87 mph exit velocity from the tee.

Jordan Smevoll LHP / Marian Catholic, IL / 2019

WEBSTER

5/17/18 - Listed at 6-foot, 200-pounds, left-handed pitcher. Started the game for the Spartans and stymied a potent St. Laurence by filling the zone with three pitches. Fastball had run, occasional tilt, 80-83 mph, topped 83 mph. Curveball, 12/6 shape, loopy at times, flashed depth down for an out pitch, 69 mph. Changeup, sinking action, maintained arm speed, 71 mph.  Tilt and topple delivery, quick turn balance point, led with lower half, directionally in line, closed toe landing, some stiffness in front leg. Hid the ball well on the back side, high ¾ slot, average arm speed. Very effective when he worked downhill and got on top of the ball. The lefty finished with a line: 5.2IP, 5H, 0R, 7K, 1BB, 3HBP.

MJ Stavola OF / Aurora Christian, IL / 2019

INDIANA WESLEYAN

9/16/18 - Unsigned senior. 5-foot-10, 150-pound, wiry, right-handed hitting outfielder. Plays the game with high energy and takes competitive at-bats. Open setup and flashed a short, quick swing with sneaky pop for size. Flew out deep to center field. Ranges well in the outfield and has a plus arm; up to 91 mph at a past PBR event.

Anthony Sterchele RHP / Neuqua Valley, IL / 2019

SANTA FE COLLEGE

5/5/18 - Currently ranked No. 55 in the Illinois’ 2019 class. 6-foot-5, 200-pound, right-handed pitcher; Long limbs, young look, carries strength well with plenty of room for continued physical development. Set to climb in the rankings with his last two performances this spring. On Saturday, started for undefeated Neuqua Valley and went six innings, scattered one hit, no runs, struck out nine and walked one. Works out of the stretch-only, can get rotational but impressed with his ability to repeat throughout the outing and control the zone with a fastball/slider combination. Arm works long, out of a high ¾ slot; some quickness and looseness out front. Fastball, around the zone, commanded it to his glove side at times, late run and life through the hitting zone. Sat 88-90 mph in the early innings, settled in at 86-88 mph. Went to his slider often, maintains arm speed, 10/4 shape, late bite at times, feel, 74-77 mph. Was able to hold velocity with runners on base. Faced only a few stressful at-bats throughout his six innings of work. High-follow 2019 right-handed pitcher.

Robby Taul SS / Alton , IL / 2019

JOHN A. LOGAN JC

2/10/18 - Taul is a 6-foot-1 170-pound right-handed hitting shortstop in Illinois’ 2019 class.  He ran a 7.53 60 and has a 93 mph exit velocity. At the plate, open stance, smooth weight sign to back side, stays under control, slight lift in bat path, gap to gap line drives with occasional pull side power.  On the infield, athletic actions, loose high three quarters arm slot, fluid feet to the ball, gathers feet and momentum to throw, exchange on time with footwork, mostly accurate throws.

Joe Unger C / Schaumburg, IL / 2019

DUBUQUE

10/7/18 - 5-foot-10, 175-pound catcher. Right-handed hitter, open stance, loads hands back, longer stride slightly dives. Firm path on long uphill plane. 85 mph exit velocity from the tee. Quick clean transfer out of the crouch, glove hand played soft, agile blocker, quick off the knees. Arm plays with slight length, high ¾ slot, 73 mph out of the crouch. Pop times ranged 2.15-2.26. 8.06 runner in the 60.

Nic Vitiritti RHP / Mount Carmel, IL / 2019

CARTHAGE COLLEGE

10/7/18 - 6-foot-3, 185-pound, athletically-built, well-proportioned, right-handed pitcher. Tall and fall delivery, works on-line and lands front foot slightly closed. Long draw out of the glove, high 3/54 slot and some looseness out front. Fastball, run and sink action, sat 81-83 mph. Changeup, maintains arm speed, power type pitch, arm-side-run and sink, 75-77 mph. Curveball 11/5 plane, sharp spin at times, thrown for strikes, 71-74 mph.

 

2022 COMMITS

Logan Wagner SS / Home school, IL / 2022

LOUISVILLE 

8/27/18 - 6-foot, 180-pound switch hitting shortstop, highly athletic build, live body plays with bounce and enthusiasm and moxy. Athletic defender, hands play soft, excellent body control, arm plays to stick at SS at the next level. Shows plus feel for the barrel from both sides of the plate for his age, present gap to gap guy with doubles pop. Plays the game at a different pace than his peers.



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