MIF Lucas Simulick (Joliet Catholic, 2026) has been a staff favorite since before he was even in high school, representing Team Illinois at the Junior Future Games back in 2022. Since then, he has established himself as one of the premier middle infielders in the state, earning notable time on varsity at Joliet Catholic since his freshman year and even winning a state title. 

Also a talented QB1 on the gridiron, Simulick’s athleticism and advanced glovework has long stood out among his peers, and his bat has continued to get better each time we see him, most recently at the Illinois State Games this past summer.

The Eastern Illinois commit recently chatted with us about his recruitment process and more, found below.

Our Q&A 

PBR: What were your expectations about the recruiting process? What were you looking for out of a college program to continue your baseball career at?

Lucas: My expectations about the recruiting process were how I expected it to go. The school comes to watch you play, if they like what they see then they will watch you again. They will reach out to you to build a relationship with you, and after being in touch for a while they will want to get you on campus for a camp and maybe a visit. After getting you on campus they will give you a call and let you know your offer. I was looking for a winning program with a good culture, one that produces players to the next level, and coaches with past experience.

P: Did location or distance from home play a factor in your decision?

L: Yes, I was looking at colleges closer to home and in state.

P: What do you like most about the program you chose, and what were the key factors in making your decision?

L: The thing I liked most about the program was the coaching staff and they are known to win as a program. The key factors were the location of the school, the team GPA, the coaching staff and the relationship I had with them. 

P: What other schools were on your short list before you made your final decision?

L: EIU was my only offer but I did have interest from the Dayton Flyers, Wofford Terriers and NIU. 

P: Who is the best player you have faced in your state? What about them makes for a tough opponent?

L: Aidan Flinn, he has run to his fastball and is tall, so the ball gets to you a lot faster than what it really is.

P: At what point in your career did you realize you were a college-caliber player and became serious about taking your game to the next level?

L: Eighth grade year.

P: What advice would you give to young baseball players striving to get where you are?

L: Consistency is key, play multiple sports, always be open to listen to things people have to say, you can always learn more no matter how much you think you know, have good time management, always get good grades in school and how you are off the field is how people will see you on the field (build a good reputation).

P: What is the most memorable moment in your baseball career to this point?

L: Winning state as a freshman in high school.

P: Preview your high school team's season for us. How do you feel your team will be?

L: Our team will be good, we have three lefties in our rotation. We have four returning starters in the field with a lot of young talent that will step up.

P: How did the Future Games and/or the Illinois State Games affect your recruitment process? Did you receive more attention following the event(s)?

L: The Illinois state Games really helped my recruitment process. EIU was able to see more of me when I played there. Yes, I did receive more attention following the event. 

P: If you could steal any tool or quality from another player in the state, what would it be and who would it be from?

L: Exit velocity from Tj McQuillan. 

P: Who is the next talented young player to keep an eye on out of your high school or travel program?

L: Johnny Curbis (Joliet Catholic, 2027).

P: Did Prep Baseball assist in your recruiting? Whether it be through a showcase, tournament coverage, tweets, etc? If yes, please explain. 

L: Yes, Prep Baseball did assist me in my recruiting process. I think the showcases really helped me because I was able to show off my different measurables that were good enough to catch the eye of college coaches.

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