Prep Baseball Report

Recruiting Roundup: Who's Heading Where?



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.

Nathan Burns, RHP, West Bend West, 2017
Oregon State

Nathan Burns7/31/15 - No pitcher helped themselves more at the Future Games than Burns. The 6-foot, 155-pound right-handed pitcher has a lanky frame and wiry build that projects well. His young body composition is not even close to reaching its peak. He’s a lean athlete whose delivery repeats well, a high pitchability guy showing command of multiple pitches. Arm action is loose working from a ¾ slot, comes out of his hand with ease and his arm speed projects for more velocity as he matures. Burns showed the best fastball velocity we’ve seen from him, sitting 85-87 mph while touching 88 mph. He calls his breaking ball a curve, from the ¾ slot it shows two-plane break, more slurve type action ranging 72-77 mph while flashing swing and miss abilities. Also showed good feel for his changeup, using it primarily to left-handed hitters at 76-78 mph with fading action.  Burns allowed one hit in his two innings of work facing the minimum. Burns walked away from the Future Games as one of the hotter names going forward and should see his stock rise immensely.

Troy Hickey, LHP, Wilmont Union, 2017
Oklahoma State

Troy Hickey7/31/15 - Hickey is 6-foot, 180-pound left-handed pitcher with an average frame and build that has slight projection. His delivery is clean and repeatable while working slightly across his body, creating tough angles when going glove side. Hickey’s arm action makes him deceptive, its a short quick over the top slot that hides ball well. Opponents’ at bats is what separated Hickey from the rest.  His fastball was sneaky quick at 83-85 mph, getting on hitters quicker than the velocity suggests. He got more late swings and swing and misses with his fastball in game play than most of the 90 mph arms in attendance. His curveball has downward action on a 1/7 plane, occasionally getting 12/6 action. It showed good depth and feel at 71-72 mph, a good compliment to his fastball. Hickey showed swing and miss stuff in his two innings of work striking out four hitters and allowing just one hit.

Caleb Schoenholz, LHP, Preble, 2016
Winona State

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