Prep Baseball Report

Recruiting Roundup: Week of 11/9


By Andy Sroka
Staff Writer

This edition of Recruiting Roundup is a special one, considering that the NCAA signing period is open, allowing prospects in the class of 2019 to sign verified National Letters of Intent (NLI) to officially mark their commitments to the programs of their choosing. This really marks the start of the offseason, having wrapped up all of our events and showcases in 2018, it’s time to take a look at the recruiting season and which prospects are headed where after a busy week of signings and verbal announcements.

Let’s get to it.

2019 COMMITS

Charlie Bischoff SS / Plainfield Central, IL / 2019

ILLINOIS WESLEYAN

8/13/17 - 6-foot, 150-pound right-handed hitting second baseman with a lanky frame. Offensively hits from an open set up, leg kick stride with good balance. Line drive hitter, works gap to gap with fluid rhythm and loose hands. 79 mph exit velocity from a tee. Ran the 60 at 7.63. Defensively has a short arm action from a high ¾ slot. Plays thru the ball, athletic actions. Soft hands with fluid footwork. Threw 75 mph across the infield.


Sean Blanchard C / Plainfield East, IL / 2019

HEARTLAND CC

10/7/18 - Ranked No. 189 in Illinois’ 2019 Class Rankings. 5-foot-11, 185-pound catcher, strong athletic shape. Right-handed hitter, open stance, leg kick trigger, average balance. Bat strength present, strong contact, middle to pull side contact on the barrel. Path is level, slightly long with intent for hard contact. Above average bat speed, 87 mph exit velocity from the tee. Above average arm strength out of the crouch for age, 79 mph, short over the top slot with accuracy. Natural actions out of the chute, quick clean transfer and footwork, flashed soft hands. 2.05-2.12 pop times. 7.44 runner in the 60.


Marshall Chapman INF / Rich Central, IL / 2019

BENEDICTINE

10/7/18 - 5-foot-11, 175-pound, athletically-built, infielder. Right-handed hitter, open setup, stride gets back to even, path works level at times, line-drive approach and registered an 82 mph exit velocity from a tee. Defensively, reliable hands, active feet, plays through the baseball, long firm arm action, high ¾ slot and throws clocked at 76 mph. 7.55 runner in the 60, laser-timed.


Robert Farrell LHP / Joliet Central, IL / 2019

MISSOURI WESTERN STATE

10/7/18 - 5-foot-7, 140-pound, left-handed pitcher, small, athletic build. Low effort delivery, high front side,  hip leads in-line down the mound, lands square, athletic finish. Full arm swing, arm gradually speeds through a clean, over the top slot, rhythm throughout. Pounded the strike zone with three pitches. Fastball, slight run, late at times, 75-77 mph. Curveball, 12/6 shape with arm speed, present depth and sharp at times, 66-67 mph. Changeup, faded with arm speed, 70-71 mph.

Josh Gibson SS / O'Fallon, IL / 2019

JEFFERSON JC

3/17/18 - Ranked No. 27 in Illinois’ 2019 Class Rankings. 5-foot-8, 165-pound, right-handed hitting shortstop with a strong, compact, athletic frame. Hits leadoff for O’Fallon and finished the game 2-for-4 with a two-run single off of the third base bag. Quiet, relaxed setup, short stride and good feel for the barrel. Stays short to present bat speed and bat strength. Jumped on the first pitch he saw in his last at-bat and singled sharply up the middle. Was 4.40 on a ground out and on his single off the third base bag was 4.51 on the turn. Steady defender at shortstop, ranges well, athletic actions and soft, confident hands. Short, firm arm action, carries across the diamond at times.


Zachary Gould RHP / Joliet Catholic, IL / 2019

ILLINOIS-CHICAGO

10/7/18 - Ranked No. 68 in Illinois' 2019 Class Rankings. 6-foot-4, 205-pound, right-handed pitcher; athletic, strong, well-proportioned build. Smooth, tall and fall delivery, repeats, works on-line and lands square. Clean arm action, works loose and quick from a high ¾ slot. Fastball, clean out of the hand, works mostly straight, carries through the zone, 86-88 mph. Changeup, thrown aggressively, heavy power type pitch, fade action, 79-82 mph. Slider, maintains arm speed, tight spin and shape, 10/4 plane, feel, 72-74 mph. One of the top unsigned arms in the class. 

Brandon Green C / Kenwood, IL / 2019

SOUTHERN

6/12/18 - Ranked No. 74 in Illinois’ 2019 Class Rankings. 5-foot-7, 165-pound, right-handed hitting catcher, athletic build, present lower half strength. Offensively, balanced, relaxed setup, smooth back load, short stride, rhythm and balance maintained. Loose hands, fluid, level bat path, controls barrel in the zone, sprayed line drives to the middle of the field, easy effort. Present bat speed, exit velocity topped 85 mph from a tee. Defensively, pop times ranged from 2.11-2.20. Quick, fluid footwork, stays under control, rhythmic hands translates to clean exchange and transfer. Agile blocker, quick recovery, short, easy arm action, over the top slot, accurate throws carried 77 mph from the crouch. 7.67 runner in the 60.

Jake McKendry RHP / Providence Catholic, IL / 2019

HEARTLAND CC

10/7/18 - Ranked No. 203 in Illinois’ 2019 Class Rankings. 6-foot-2, 185-pound right-handed pitcher, large frame, sturdy lower half. Delivery is smooth, lands closed toe, low effort. Arm action is long and loose, above average arm speed, high ¾ slot. Fastball is straight, feel for the zone, 83-85 mph. Curveball plays light on 11/5 plane, ability to consistently get over for strikes, 65-68 mph. Straight changeup, near-fastball arm speed, 72-74 mph. 


Evan Orzech C / Homeschool, IL / 2019

SAINT XAVIER

8/26/18 - 6-foot, 160-pound, left-handed hitting catcher, lean, projectable build. Defensively, soft, receptive hands, quick feet out of the crouch, early at times, clean, fluid transfer and actions. Short, loose arm action, ¾ slot, throws consistently around the second base bag. Throws topped at 75 mph from the crouch and pop times ranged between 2.01-2.10. Ran a 7.28 laser-timed 60. Offensively, balanced, closed setup, drops during load and short stride. Short, level bat path, line-drive approach and 85 mph exit velocity from a tee.


Justice Page INF / Lindblom, IL / 2019

CLARK ATLANTA

1/15/18 - Ranked No. 244 in Illinois’ 2019 Class Rankings. 5-foot-11, 160-pound, strong, athletic third baseman. Offensively, right-handed, balanced setup, fluid rhythm, smooth load, leg lift stride, maintains good balance through contact. Line drive hitter, swings with intent, present bat speed, level barrel path, gains extension, 83 mph exit velocity. Ran a 7.89 laser-timed 60. Defensively, short arm action, over-the-top slot, maintains body control, 71 mph across the infield.


Sean Rivera SS / 2B / Plainfield East, IL / 2019

AURORA

8/13/17 - 6-foot, 165-pound left-handed hitting shortstop with a lanky frame. Defensively has a short arm action from a ¾ slot. Athletic actions with quick footwork, solid on the backhand. Threw 75 mph across the infield. At the plate hits from an open setup, toe tap stride. Pull hitter with a long swing path, and early rhythm. 82 mph exit velocity from a tee. Ran the 60 at 7.28.


Wendell Smith INF / RHP / Marist, IL / 2019

MOREHOUSE COLLEGE

8/7/18 - 6-foot-1, 160-pound, two-way prospect with a long, athletic, projectable build. Ran a 7.17 laser-timed 60. At the plate, right-handed hitter, balanced setup, pre-pitch load and short stride. Aggressive swing, creates bat speed, level bat path, pull-side approach and bat strength; 90 mph exit velocity from a tee. Defensively, flashed easy infield actions, reliable hands and a clean exchange. Long, loose arm action, high ¾ slot and throws carried across the infield at 85 mph. On the mound, right-handed pitcher, slight drop and drive delivery, works with rhythm. Long, clean arm action from a high ¾ slot. Fastball, inconsistent action sat 76-78 mph, touched 80.


Jake Stipp LHP / Danville, IL / 2019

DANVILLE AREA CC

1/27/18 - 6-foot-1, 155-pound, two-way prospect with a lanky, projectable frame. On the mound, left-handed pitcher, full wind up, on line delivery and lands with his front toe open. Long, loose arm action, over-the-top slot and easy effort throughout. Fastball sat 74-76 mph, touched 80. Curveball sat 58-59 mph, 12/6 type. Changeup sat 70-71 mph. As a position player, ran a 6.86 laser-timed 60. At the plate, left-handed hitter, balanced, closed setup, pre-pitch load and short stride. Short bat path and 76 mph exit velocity. In the outfield, long and loose arm action, accurate throws topped at 75 mph.


Gabriel Tindall RHP / Belleville East, IL / 2019

HEARTLAND CC 

No report available. 


Rigel Verciglio RHP / Lane Tech, IL / 2019

PARKLAND COLLEGE

No report available. 

 

 

2020 COMMITS

Ernie Day RHP / INF / Taft, IL / 2020

MIAMI-OHIO

8/9/18 - Ranked No. 48 in Illinois’ 2020 Class Rankings. 6-foot-2, 190-pound, right-handed hitting infielder, athletic frame. Projects on the mound, tall and fall delivery, compact balance point, slightly cross body, short stride, closed toe land, easy finish with rhythm. Arm plays short and loose, high front side, quick arm speed, over the top slot, easy effort. Fastball, worked straight, came out firm, played up, 83-87 mph, topped 88 mph. Curveball, 11/5 slurvy shape, around it, 68-73 mph. Changeup played 70 mph. Allowed no hits with two K’s and two walks in game. Defensively arm works across the infield, easy, long and loose arm action, winds up, high ¾ slot, steady hands, clean exchange, works through the ball, throws carried 85 mph across. At the plate, balanced, wide setup, back load, short stride. Strong hands, uphill path, line drive hitter, repeats to the middle of the field in BP, rhythm involved, exit velocity topped 93 mph from a tee. 7.48 runner in the 60.


Griffin McCluskey RHP / Normal Community, IL / 2020

VALPARAISO

4/28/18 - 5-foot-11, 160-pound, lean, right-handed hitting infielder with plenty of room for continued physical development. Hits in the two-hole for Normal Community. Finished the day 2-for-4 with a triple, four RBI’s, two runs and a walk. Lined his triple hard down the left-field line, 5.12 on the turn. Also, lined a single up the middle. Balanced setup, pre-pitch rhythm, loose hands, path has some length and stays through the hitting zone. Defensively, made the routine play at shortstop. Steady, sure hands. 


JUCO COMMITS

Shakur Jackson SS / Rock Island, IL / 2017

NORTHWESTERN OHIO via HEARTLAND CC

7/15/15 - (HS, Rock Island) 5-foot-8, 168-pound strong and athletic middle infielder. Defensively throws from right side with short loose arm action, high ¾, some accuracy, and carry on ball. Showed soft hands, fluid footwork, quick clean exchange, and plays thru. Threw 82 mph across infield. Offensively hits from right side with athletic and open setup, smooth load back, short stride, and good balance. Showed quick bat speed, fair approach, and power/pull type. Exit velocity, 85 mph. Ran a 6.96 60 yard dash.


Nick McAlister 2B / Homewood-Flossmoor, IL / 2017

SOUTHERN ILLINOIS via SOUTH SUBURBAN

9/27/18 - (HS, Homewood-Flossmoor) 5-foot-9, 152-pound, lean, live-bodied, right-handed hitting infielder. Ran the top 60 of the event, a 6.44. Defensively, clean and easy infield actions. Soft hands, clean release and accurate arm across the diamond. At the plate, quiet setup, simple swing with rhythm. Barrel control swing with a line-drive approach.


Michael Oh RHP / Glenbrook North, IL / 2016

NORTH CAROLINA via NORTH IOWA AREA CC

6/18/15 - (HS, Glenbrook North) 6-foot-4, 245-pound right-handed pitcher, big build, strong lower half and wide shoulders. Works from a full overhead windup, slight drop and drive. Arm action has length, high ¾ slot. Fastball sat 83-85 mph, touched 86 mph. Curveball has 11/5 shape, gradual action with ability to land for strikes, 66-67 mph. Changeup sat 72-74 mph.

 

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