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.

Sam Jones, SS, Brother Rice, 2018
Indiana

Future Games 2016 - 6-foot, 170-pound, lean, right-handed hitting infielder with plenty of room for continued physical development. Steady defender on the infield, fundamentally sound and never seems to be in a hurry. Plenty of arm strength to play anywhere on the infield, 7.58 runner in the 60. Long, loose, whippy arm action from a ¾ slot; accurate throws, flashed carry and clocked at 84 mph across the diamond. Hands work soft and out in front of his body. Offensively, confident and comfortable in the box. Aggressive approach, hunts the fastball with looseness in swing. Took one of the better rounds of batting practice for Team Illinois; sprayed line drives to both gaps and made consistent hard contact. Pull approach in game with natural lift in swing; registered an 80 mph exit velocity.

Jake Ridgway, C, Brother Rice, 2017
Indiana State

6.16.16 - 6-foot-2, 185 pound, multi-positional prospect. Offensively, right handed hitter, Flashed bat speed with a line drive and gap-to-gap approach; exit velocity clocked at 89 mph. Balanced setup, short stride, fluid rhythm, maintained balanced through contact. Defensively, fluid footwork behind the plate. Arm works short from an over the top arm slot. Throws clocked at 77 from the crouch and pop times ranged from 2.11-2.19. In the outfield, similar arm action, works through the baseball, throws clocked at 84 mph. 7.45 runner in the laser timed 60.

 

Eric Maurer, 2B, Huntley, 2017
North Park

1.31.16 - Solidly built 5-foot-10, 150-pound right-handed hitting infielder. Offensively, stayed on top of the baseball, gap-to-gap approach, short and level bat path. Open, balanced setup, pre-pitch load, leg-lift timing trigger and fluid rhythm through contact. Registered an exit velocity of 80 mph. Defensively, reliable hands and clean exchange on the infield. Moved well to his right, making the play deep in the hole. Short arm action, high ¾ slot and clocked at 76 mph across the diamond. Also, ran a 4.83 home-to-first.

 

Scott Nygren, LHP, Prairie Ridge, 2017
McHenry County College

6.1.16 - Big bodied left-handed pitcher at 6-foot-1, 190-pounds. Short, quick arm action from an over the top slot. High front side, works in line with home plate. From the windup fastball sat 84-86 mph with some tilt. Lost velo from the stretch working 80-82 mph. Throws curveball with conviction and fastball arm speed at 71-75 mph with 1-7 shape and hard biting action. Solid reliever profile at the next level.

Robert Hunt, OF, Kenwood, 2017
Heidelburg University

1.31.16 - 5-foot-7, 150-pound left-handed hitting OF/2B. Defensively in the outfield has a long arm action from an over the top arm slot. Plays thru the ball with fluid footwork and a quick, clean exchange. Threw 77 mph from the outfield. In the infield showed soft hands. Threw 73 mph across the infield. Offensively hits from a balanced open stance with a smooth load and short leg lift stride. Line drive hitter with fluid rhythm and a level path. 70 mph exit velocity from a tee. Home to first at 4.29.

 

Brenden Norberg, OF, St. Charles North, 2017
Benedictine

10.9.16 - 5-foot-8, 171-pound, right-handed hitting outfielder. Defensively, plays through the baseball, long arm action from a high ¾ slot; throws clocked at 79 mph from the outfield. Offensively, open setup, short, uphill path through the zone, tendency to cut off his finish; exit velocity registered at 83 mph. 7.51 runner in the laser timed 60.

 

Colin Rebenstorf, C, Marian Central Catholic, 2017
Ohio Northern

10.18.15 - 6-foot-3, 195-pound catcher, carries some strength. Right-handed hitter, tall setup, loads hands back, with short stride. Showed bat strength on lifting path, flashed ability to barrel baseballs, slight uphill path, 86 mph exit velocity from the tee. 7.53 runner in the 60. Defensively played tall out of the chute, pop times at 2.08-212. Short over the top slot, 75 mph arm strength out of the crouch.

 

Noah Hibler, SS, Lincoln-Way West, 2017
Webster University

2/14/16 - 5-foot-9, 155-pound middle infielder. Defensively plays with ease, loose actions, athletic defender with soft hands, likely projects best at second base. Arm flashed carry, 79 mph across the diamond, short loose arm action, high ¾ slot, athletic arm can play from multiple slots. Right-handed hitter, open stance, short stride, good balance through contact. Works the middle of the field consistently, stays through the baseball, easy compact path, short to the baseball, barrel control hitter. 82 mph exit velocity from the tee. 7.13 runner in the 60.

Killian O'Hanlon, RHP, St. Rita, 2017
Iowa Western CC

Joe Sarnello, OF, St. Viator, 2017
Cornell College (IA)

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