Chase
Stanke

4.26.18 - Minnesota commit. 6-foot-2, 195-pound left-handed hitting catcher. Shows off a plus arm for age  out of the crouch, easy carry and on line. 2.05 pop in game. Showed soft hands receiving, quiet setup. Above average bat speed from the left side, hard contact in game, middle to pull side approach, line drive type hitter.

8.22.17 - Verbally committed to Minnesota.

7.20.17 - De-committed from Arkansas.

7.11.17 - Currently ranked No. 251 overall, No. 8 in Illinois’ 2018 class. Projectable 6-foot-2, 185-pound left-handed hitting catcher, athletic build with wide shoulders and room for continued physical development. Delivered strong all-around performance at the Midwest ProCase. More known for his loose, athletic left-handed swing, Stanke showed extremely well behind the plate. Displayed quick directional footwork, quick and clean glove-to-hand transfer, highly accurate throws with easy carry through the bag, clocked at 80 mph from the crouch. Pop times ranged between 1.93-1.97, all strikes to second base. Offensively, generates easy bat speed with his hands, pull-side approach with projectable power, rhythm in load, inconsistent swing path. Registered 90 mph exit velocity with wood. Also ran a 7.45 laser-timed 60.

4.20.17 - Arkansas commit, currently ranked No. 8 in the Illinois’ 2018 class and No. 142 overall. 6-foot-2, 175-pound, left-handed hitting catcher, tall, lean, wide shoulders, trim waist and room for continued physical development. Defensively, behind the plate, has strong hands, frames well, sticks pitches in the zone. Easy actions and blocks well. Loose arm action and strong, accurate arm. Offensively, crouched setup, even stance and high hands. High-leg kick load and stays back on the ball. Easy swing, present bat speed, gap-to-gap power currently and used the whole field to hit. Shows leadership traits, take charge type player.  

7.30.16 - Arkansas commit. Had a strong day offensively going 2-for-2 with a walk and three RBI’s. Behind the plate, showed above average receiving skills. Short arm action from an over-the-top slot. Pop times ranged between 1.98-2.04 in between innings. Vocal behind the plate.

6.18.16 - Arkansas commit. Collected two hits in three at-bats including a double down the right field line and an infield single.

6.6.16 - Verbally committed to Arkansas.

4.23.16 - Ranked No. 2 in the Illinois class of 2018, No. 62 overall. 6-foot-2, 175-pound, athletically built, projectable, left-handed hitting catcher. Not much new to report other than the fact that Stanke keeps hitting. Advanced approach, good plate discipline, rarely chases pitches out of the zone and comfortable in the box. Made hard contact in every at-bat. Went 2-for-4, with a line-out, 3 RBI and a BB. Behind the plate, above-average receiver; sticks the low pitch, flexible and vocal leader type. Short arm action, high ¾ slot, not a prototypical catchers arm slot; throws carry, pop times ranged between 2.01-2.04 in between innings. Stanke projects as a highly offensive catcher at the next level.

3.19.16 - 6-foot-2, 175-pound, athletically built, catcher. Continued to solidify himself as an elite left-handed bat in the 2018 class throughout the weekend. In his first game he went 3-for-3 with a HR, 2B and 5 RBI. In his second game he hit an opposite field home-run and in his third game he laced two line-drives, the second of which was hit directly at the right-fielder for an out. Advanced approach at the plate; uses the entire field, hits the ball where it is pitched and consistently makes hard contact. Loose, easy bat speed at the plate, barrel stays through the zone a long time and good awareness of the strike zone; rarely leaves the zone to chase a pitch. Did not catch on the weekend. Played 3B, 1B and DH. Athletic movements in the field, looking most natural at first base.

11.1.15 - Projectable, athletic frame at 6-foot-2, 175-pounds. Left-handed hitting catcher. At the plate hits from a balanced setup. Smooth load to backside with a short stride and good balance. Slight collapse on backside. Looseness in the hands creating a fast, whippy bat. Middle away approach with a short swing path and fluid rhythm. Showed strength thru contact with 87 mph exit velocity from a tee. Home to first at 4.36. Defensively has a short, loose arm action from an over the top arm slot. Quick footwork with a clean exchange, doesn’t always gain ground towards second. Popped 1.98-2.01 and threw 79 mph from the crouch.

10.2.15 - 6-foot-1, 160-pound left-handed hitting catcher. Offensively, loose, whippy hands throughout contact. Bat stays through the hitting zone for a long time. Reached first base in three of his four plate appearances. Behind the plate popped a 1.97 and 2.05 in between innings. High level catcher in the 2018 class and should be a high follow moving forward.

7/15/15 - Left-handed hitter with some projectability. Hits from slightly open stance, wide base, loads back smooth. 1-for-3 with a double, and two RBI. Behind the plate pop times ranged from 2.11-2.19. Had a big day Saturday morning going 2-2 with a double and an RBI… continued to show a hot bat Saturday afternoon as he went 2-for-2 with a triple, walk and 2 RBI. Showed simple, advanced approach in all three of his at-bats. His bat stays flat through the zone and showcased loose quick hands; maintains solid balance throughout the swing. More power to come as he physically develops.  First at-bat he drew a walk. In his second AB he drove a triple to the base of the center-field wall. His last AB he hit a sharp line drive over the shortstop.

1.18.15 - 6-foot-1, 165-pound lanky and athletic left-handed hitting catcher hits from a wide base, utilizes legs in swing, short stride, turns front toe inwards to load, fluid bat path, feel for the barrel, solid contact up the middle, barrels the baseball consistently, 83 mph exit velocity off the tee. Defensively, pop times ranged from 2.07-2.11 to second from short, loose, athletic arm action, 73 mph from the crouch (has been up to 77 mph this winter). Potentially a plus catch-and-throw recruit down the road. Stanke is loose and projectable in every facet of the game and should be a high end recruit in the 2018 class.