Top 10 Stories Of 2016: No. 3 Illinois Products Litter MLB Draft

December 28, 2016

By Drew Locascio
Illinois Scouting Director

Over the next few weeks, in addition to highlighting the Top 10 Player Profiles of 2016, we will also highlight the Top 10 Stories in Illinois High School Baseball during the 2016 calendar year.

Today, we’ll take a look at No. 3 Illinois Products Littler MLB Draft

The top-end talent and depth of talent that comes from the state of Illinois was evident at the 2016 MLB draft. There were three first round draft picks and a total of five draft picks on day one with ties to Illinois. All five players drafted on day one were selected out of college, three of them from the University of Louisville. Corey Ray (Simeon, 2013) was selected out of Louisville, with the fifth pick overall by the Milwaukee Brewers and signed.

Zack Burdi (Downers Grove South, 2013) was another first round selection out of Louisville. Burdi who routinely touches triple digits with his fastball was selected by the Chicago White Sox with the 26th overall pick and signed.

Throughout the entirety of the 2016 MLB draft 55 players who originally hail from the state of Illinois were selected.

MLB DRAFT ILLINOIS RECAP: DAY 1

Thu June 9, 2016
By Matt Huck
Area Scout

Day one of the MLB Draft is complete and the first day had some Illinois flavor to it with five players with Illinois ties going in the first 77 picks, with all coming from the college ranks.

Corey Ray, OF, University of Louisville (Simeon), 2013
1^st round, 5^th overall, Milwaukee Brewers

Corey Ray After being drafted in the 33^rd round by the Mariners out of high school, Ray chose to honor his commitment to Louisville, where he has blossomed as Cardinal. Teams have been enamored with his five tool potential and the physical improvements he has made in his time at Louisville. This season he is hitting .319 with 15 home runs and 44 stolen bases in 52 attempts heading into the Super Regional. Here is a report on Ray from late in his senior season of high school.

5/21/13 - Has turned it on the last half of the season and his draft stock has continued to climb, from what we’re hearing. The 6-foot, 190-pound Louisville recruit has arguably the most polished left-handed swing in Illinois’ 2013 class. Ray looked extremely impressive against Morgan Park. His plate approach is advanced well beyond his age. He barreled the ball all game, but his crowning moment was when he crushed a taper-shot blast well over the centerfield batter’s eye. I’m not good at gestimating how far the ball travels, but I can tell you the ball sailed well over the 407-feet marker. He also is an advanced outfielder with solid arm strength.

Corey Ray (2.3.13)

Zack Burdi, RHP, University of Louisville (Downers Grove South), 2013
1^st round, 26^th overall, Chicago White Sox

Zack Burdi Burdi followed in older brother Nick’s footsteps on the way to the back end of the Louisville bullpen. Burdi has developed with the Cardinals with an opponents batting average of .167 off him in his career while striking out 82 hitters in 68.1 innings and racking up 20 saves. Burdi’s calling card is his electric fastball that sits in the upper 90s and reaches triple didgits, and is the closest to the Majors prospect in the draft. Most scouts feel Burdi is further along than his brother Nick was at the same time. He has shown feel for all three of his pitches and better command. It would not be out of the question to possibly see Burdi coming out of the pen at 35^th and Shields later this season. Here is a report on Burdi from his senior season at Downers Grove South.

5/6/13 - Currently ranked No. 1 in Illinois and No. 6 overall. On Monday against Willowbrook, the 6-foot-3, 195-pound showed similar stuff as his Super 60 performance in February – a performance that made him a high-interest draft prospect. Working from a 3/4 slot, Burdi’s fastball sat 91-92 in the first inning with heavy arm-side run and sink. In the second inning, his fastball sat 90-91, and didn’t dip below 90 until the fourth. He also showed a sharp 79-mph slider with hard two-plane action, a pitch he threw for strikes early in the game. Burdi also threw a 72-74 mph curveball. He didn’t throw his changeup much, which is surprising because at the Super 60, it was a plus pitch. Burdi retired the first 10 batters he faced, seven via strikeout and five straight at one point. In the later innings, he consistently missed arm-side. He finished the game with eight strikeouts, four hits – two of the infield variety – with four walks and one hit batsman. Downers Grove South lost the game 1-0. Overall, Burdi very well may have the most electric stuff in Illinois. Harnessing it will be his key in the future.

Zack Burdi (2.3.13)

Cody Sedlock, RHP, University of Illinois (Rock Island Alleman), 2013
1^st round, 27^th overall, Baltimore Orioles

Sedlock came into his junior year with the Illini making only five career starts over his first 33 career appearances. This past summer he went to the cape where he made an adjustment in his delivery and started to show the velocity scouts had been hoping for. This season he put it all together making 14 starts en route to being named the Big Ten Pitcher of the Year. He struck out an impressive 116 hitters in 101.1 innings pitched while holding opponents to a .219 average.

Nick Solak, 2B, University of Louisville (Naperville North), 2013
2^nd round, 62^nd overall, New York Yankees

Solak has been a mainstay in the Cardinal lineup the past two seasons while holding a .347 career batting average, and having an OBP just north of .440. The thing that stands out most about Solak is that in his college career he has walked more times then he has struck out. Here is a report on Solak from his senior year at Naperville North.

5/23/13 - Louisville commit. Defensively shows clean actions defensively, hands work well, shows a soft feel. Arm action is long, shows athletic arm action, plays well on the run, long strided. Offensively shows bat speed, athletic swinger, middle to opposite field approach, shows hard contact to the middle of the field.

Matthias Dietz, RHP, John A. Logan JC (Sanburg), 2014
2^nd round, 69^th overall, Baltimore Orioles

Dietz was drafted last year by the Giants in 29^th round, but decided to return to school. That decision has paid off for him improving his draft stock dramatically this season. Dietz created buzz around the scouting community last fall with his fastball reaching 98 mph. He was flat out dominant this spring going 12-1 while striking out 117 hitters in 103 innings pitched and only walking 11. Here is a report on Dietz from his senior year at Sandburg.

4/18/14 - John A. Logan commit, ranked No. 65 in the state, No. 306 overall. Big bodied right hander, 6-foot-5, 230-pounds, sturdy build, excellent pitchers frame. Controls size well, delivery shows the ability to repeat, head stays on line, closed landing. Arm works from ¾ slot, separates with thumb up, shorter back swing, rigid separation and backswing, arm works much cleaner out front, longer with separation from head. Fastball touched 90 several times, mostly in first inning, once again in fourth, created good angle with sink, pitched primarily at 88 mph, dipped slightly in stretch but held velocity through seven innings. Breaking ball has slurve action, occasionally decelerated arm speed, ranged from 72-74 mph touching 75 mph, tendency to get underneath pitch, occasional lazy action, better suited for power slider. Dietz was a pleasant surprise as his big strong frame was able to hold 88 mph throughout his outing creating excellent angles from his ¾ slot with sink. Dietz proved tough to elevate, recording just three outs via the air.

MLB DRAFT DAY 2 ILLINOIS RECAP

By Matt Huck

Day two of the MLB Draft is complete and it saw six former Illinois High School players chosen from the college ranks. Here is a look at those players.

Kyle Funkhouser, RHP, University of Louisville (Oak Forest), 2012
4^th Round, 115^th overall, Detroit Tigers

Drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers 35^th overall last season, but did not sign and returned to Louisville. Though he did not show the premium stuff he flashed last year. Has a chance to be a solid pick up for the Tigers.

Lake Bachar, RHP, UW-Whitewater (Wheaton North), 2013
5^th round, 145^th overall, San Diego Padres

Did not play baseball his freshman year at Whitewater, instead was a kicker/punter on the powerhouse football team. Came on strong last year in the Northwoods League where he showed premium velocity. Workhorse for the Warhawks this year as he threw 92.2 innings allowing just 79 hits and striking out 103 against just 20 walks.

Nick Lopez, SS, Creighton University (Naperville Central), 2013
5^th round, 163^rd overall, Kansas City Royals

Brent Gibbs, C, Central Arizona JC (Alton), 2013
7^th round, 225^th overall, Pittsburgh Pirates

Originally attended Indiana out of high school but transferred to Central Arizona this year where he hit .396 with five homeruns and 38 RBIs. Committed to Southern California.

Jason Goldstein, C, University of Illinois (Highland Park), 2012
9^th round, 267^th overall, Seattle Mariners

17^th round pick of the Dodgers last year, but came back for his senior year with the Illini. Four year starter for Illinois where he hit .289 for his career with 16 home runs and 115 RBIs.

Colin Holderman, RHP, Heartland CC (Bradley-Bourbonnais), 2014
9^th round, 280^th overall, New York Mets

Originally attended Southern Illinois out of high school, but transferred to Heartland for this school year. This fall showed a mid 90s fastball and in turn committed to Mississippi State.

MLB DRAFT DAY 3 ILLINOIS RECAP

Sun June 12, 2016
By Matt Huck

With Day 3 of the 2016 MLB Draft complete, we again look at all the players with Illinois high school ties.

Daniel Woodrow, CF, Creighton University (Loyola), 2013
12^th round, Detroit Tigers

Brandon White, RHP, Davenport University (Harlan), 2011
13^th round, Atlanta Braves

Dan Rizzie, C, Xavier University (Sandburg), 2012
13^th round, New York Mets

Matt Dennis, RHP, Bradley University (Rolling Meadows), 2013
14th round, Colorado Rockies

Chris Hall, RHP, Elon University (New Trier), 2012
14the round, Toronto Blue Jays

Zach Becherer, LHP, Rend Lake JC (Lebanon), 2014
15^th round, Atlanta Braves

Jack Suwinski, OF, Taft, 2016
15^th round, San Diego Padres

Nick Blackburn, RHP, University of Illinois (Neuqua Valley), 2012
16^th round, Arizona Diamondbacks

Matt Frawley, RHP, Purdue University (Glenbard North), 2013
17^th round, Pittsburgh Pirates