By Sean Duncan

Will Krug, a senior OF/RHP from Maine South HS, and Paul DeJong, a senior SS/3B from Antioch HS, were named the Fall Prospect Program co-Most Valuable Players. Both Krug and DeJong did it all in leading their respective team to a first-place tie in the Fall Prospect Program. Aside from their superlative play, they also showed the type of leadership, hustle, and all-around skill one would expect from an MVP-caliber player. In addition, both Krug and DeJong are top-level students in the classroom.

The 5-foot-11, 170-pound DeJong is one of the most unheralded infield prospects in the Class of 2011. DeJong, with a quiet and compact plate approach, was a hitting machine throughout the Fall Prospect Program. He consistently showed he can drive the ball with authority to all fields, in addition to launching a few taper-shot home runs. DeJong was also extremely solid in the field, where he showed the ability to play shortstop, third base and second base adeptly.

The 5-foot-8, 165-pound Krug was the most exciting player in the Fall Prospect Program. An athletic, hard-nosed competitor, Krug very well may be the best defensive outfielder in the entire class. He gets tremendous reads off the bat, he covers an extraordinary amount of ground in the outfield, and he has a strong, accurate arm. An example of Krug’s play: He caught a fly ball about 10 feet inside the warning track in centerfield, then fired a strike to home on a fly to beat the runner. He then sprinted to third base, as the third baseman was seemingly contemplating his navel, or perhaps marveling at Krug’s throw. Either way, there was no one at third base, and there was a potential a play developing. In addition to his defense and hustle, the right-handed hitting Krug was clearly one of the top hitters in the league as well. Krug is also a top-level student and a two-way football player at Maine South.

Krug, DeJong and the rest of the Fall Prospect Program, will be on display this Sunday, Oct. 3, at the Prep Baseball Report’s Open I.D. Showcase at Oakton Community College in Des Plaines. Pitchers and catchers begin at 8:30 a.m. …

In recruiting news, Jake Bergren, an athletic left-handed hitting OF from St. Charles North HS, has committed to the University of Minnesota. The 6-foot-1, 185-pound Bergren is one of the best athletes in the 2011 class. Physical and quick, Bergren runs a 6.8 60. He’s also the school’s star quarterback on the football team. …

Mark Johnson, a left-handed hitting outfielder from Evanston HS, has committed to Valparaiso University. …

Alec Ornelas, a catcher from Lincoln-Way East HS, has committed to Parkland College.

For a complete list of college commitments, Click Here.