Recruiting Roundup: Who's Heading Where?

November 27, 2015

By Matt Huck
Area Scout

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.

Jack Howard, 1B, Joliet Catholic, 2016
Carthage College

Jack Howard 3.20.15 - 6-foot-1, 240-pound left-handed hitting first baseman, Hilltopper skipper Jared Voss jokes he’s their version of Cardinal’s 1B Matt Adams. Hits from open narrow setup, uphill bat path, geared to lift baseball, long swing, fluid, uses legs well. No doubt homer to deep right field in first at bat on to the practice football field beyond right-field fence. Legitimate power prospect. Limited range defensively at first base, but impresses with soft hands on scoops in pregame, and one in game. Shows athletic arm action, turns double play well.

Jordan Coakley, C, Wheaton Warrenville South, 2016
Roosevelt University

Jordan Coakley 10.11.15 - 6-foot-3, 180-pound catcher, lanky frame, some projection. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, short stride. Average bat speed, slight uphill plane, 84 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively played with long actions, long release. Arm played at 73 mph, pop times ranged, 2.07-2.19. 7.49 runner in the 60.

Nikolas Bell, SS, Eureka, 2016
Illinois Central College

Nikolas Bell 10.11.15 - Average build 5-foot-9, 155-pound right-handed hitting middle infielder. Offensively, flashed a level bat through the hitting zone. Starts with a wide base. Pre-pitch load, long stride and average bat speed. Line drive type hitter. Registered an exit velocity of 86 mph. Defensively, steady hands and long exchange on the infield. Long arm action, ¾ slot, some accuracy and carry on throws, clocked at 79 mph across the diamond. Also, ran a 7.39 60.

Frank Romano, 2B, York, 2016
Trinity Christian

Frank Romano 6/16/15 - 5-foot-9, 160-pound, right-handed hitting second baseman. Offensively hits from a crouched open stance with a high back elbow. Wraps bat on load. Some quickness in the hands creating whip with barrel. Long swing path with a long finish. Showed strength thru contact with 88 mph exit velocity from a tee. Ran the 60 at 7.44. Defensively has a short arm action with average hands. Threw 75 mph across the infield.

Tim Brokop, RHP, Bradley-Bourbonnais, 2016
St. Xavier

Tim Brokop 4.24.15 - 6-foot-5, 177-pound lanky right-hander, high waist, extremely skinny/projectable, long levers. Works from long, loose, high ¾ arm slot, arm action is long on takeway (breaks hands high), then shortens up close to head. Toe down at balance point, tall/fall delivery, works downhill, lands in line with home plate. Fastball sat 84-85 mph early on, still 82-84 mph late in the game. Also impressed with feel for three pitch mix. 73-75 mph slider displays short, late break, 10/4 plane. Also threw tumbling changeup, behaves like a split at times, but gripped as a traditional circle change, from 77-79 mph. Relied on change and slider when he got in a bit of trouble late. Struck out ten during complete game one-hitter, walking only two. Brokop is ranked No. 110 now, and has a considerable ceiling with his frame and ability to repeat his delivery. He is a high follow prospect in the 2016 class

Foster Heise, 1B, St. Francis, 2016
North Central College

Bryan Libby, RHP, Grant, 2016
Benedictine

Recruiting Roundup: Who's Heading Where?

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