Kellen
Sarver

10/20/16 - Verbally committed to Illinois.

6/16/16 - 6-foot-2, 200-pound left-handed hitting catcher/third baseman. Hits from a slightly open stance, slight leg lift stride, average balance. Well above average bat speed, made hard contact in BP, pull side hitter. Path has some length on slight uphill plane, showed pull side pop. 88 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively showed soft hands, athletic setup behind the plate. Gets out of the chute well with a short over the top arm action, carried at 79 mph out of the crouch, 84 mph across the diamond. Pop times ranged 1.97-2.04. Ran the 60 at 7.58.

2/14/16 - 6-foot-1, 185-pound left-handed hitting catcher, average frame. Strong armed catcher, 79 mph from the crouch, short over the top slot, easy carry, also showed it off at 78 mph across the diamond. Defensively shows best behind the dish, hands worked, gets out of the crouch well, wide base. Pop times ranged 2.00-2.08. Offensively hits from the left side, 97 mph exit velocity. Slight open setup, loads hands back, short stride, average balance. Showed feel for the barrel, line drive approach, took a good round working gap to gap.

10.18.15 - Loose athletic frame, 6-foot-1, 185-pound left-handed hitting catcher/infielder. Profiles as a primary catcher with the ability to play third base. Defensively showcased advanced actions behind the dish, ability to block, hands work, athletic out of the crouch. Big arm played with carry, 80 mph behind the plate and across the infield, athletic short arm action with accuracy. Pop time ranged 2.01-2.08. Offensively hits from a balanced setup with open stance, smooth rhythmic loading action, short leg lift stride, on time and balanced through contact. Path is short flashing extension through contact, showed an ability to backspin baseballs, strong upper half with bat speed. 83 mph exit velocity from the tee. 7.63 runner in the 60.

7.15.15 - 6-foot-1, 180-pound, athletic build with some length, left-handed hitter. Hits from an open stance, short stride, above-average balance. Average bat speed, short bat path, line-drive approach, 85 mph exit velocity. Defensively on the infield displayed average hands, clean exchange, short arm action, high ¾ slot, 77 mph across the infield. Behind the plate showed short arm action, high ¾ slot, pop times ranged from 2.18-2.22, threw 69 mph from the crouch. Ran a 7.53 60-time.

5.16.15 - 6-foot-1, 165-pound left-handed hitting catcher, currently unranked in the IL’s 2017 class. Impressed with arm strength/carry from behind the plate in pregame, and also in a pinch hitting role in the seventh inning. Singled off Birlingmair to lead off the seventh, the first Charger hit of the game. Hits from a tall, open setup, fluid, slightly uphill bat path, high finish. Did a good job going the other way on an 87 mph fastball for a line drive single to left. Defensively, did not see him receive as he didn’t start behind the plate, but has shown 2.18-2.29 pop times in the past. Impressed with short, quick arm action, good carry on throws down to second in pregame. Did not record accurate pop times because he did not throw from a crouch in pregame. Prospect to follow in the 2017 class.10.21.14 - 6-foot-1, 165-pound lanky left-handed hitting catcher hits from an open setup, raises hands back to load, short stride, long, uphill bat path produced 74 mph exit velocity off the tee. Impressed defensively behind the plate throwing 74 mph from the crouch from short, over-the-top arm action with carry to second. Soft hands receiving, quick footwork, pop times ranged from 2.18-2.29 to second. Ran a 7.88 60. 10/27/13 - Lean frame, 5-foot-10, 145-pound left handed hitting catcher/third baseman. Offensively hits from a slightly open stance, toe tap stride. Showed occasional bat speed, uphill path, slightly longer, 71 mph exit velocity from the tee. Behind the plate uses a short over the top arm action, quick transfer, 69 mph out of the crouch. Posted pop times of 2.26-2.33. On the infield arm played at 69 mph across the diamond. Ran an 8.17 60.

10/9/19: Offensively, Illinois struggled to get much going, but catcher Kellen Sarver had a pair of singles and an RBI groundout. At 6-foot-2, 200 pounds Sarver shows plus raw power from the left side and average arm strength from behind the dish. As a redshirt sophomore, Sarver has the most upside of any of the 2020 draft eligible position players for the Illini, but he must continue to advance with the consistency of his approach and plate discipline.