Illinois Natives in the MLB: Then & Now - Central & Southern Illinois

Hayden Birdsong RHP / Mattoon, IL / 2019

San Francisco Giants

From 7/10/20: “Kernels Collegiate League: Unknown to my eyes previously to this look, the 6-foot-3, 190-pound right-hander impressed with a smooth, repeatable delivery and clean arm action, although there is some length in back. He ran his sinking fastball into the 88-90 mph range early in the game, before settling in 86-88 with spin rates in the mid-2100s. He flashed an average 77-79 mph changeup with a low 1400-1550 spin rate. He featured three breaking balls; a slider-shaped offering at 78-81 mph, a true curve from 71-73 (2600 rpm) and a blender at 76-77 mph which played to my eyes on this look as his top pitch. Overall, he worked easy, mixed pitches and changed speeds well. He is a bit long to the plate (1.5) and he did allow a stolen base, but he counters his stretch time home by varying his looks and hold times. With continued development expect Birdsong to become a professional prospect in short order. He has the body type, delivery, arm action and breaking ball spin rates to expect another jump in his velocity. Birdsong pitched his freshman year at Lake Land College and has committed to EIU for this upcoming school year. (Seifert)”

McCade Brown RHP / OF / Normal West, IL / 2018

Colorado Rockies

From 3/16/18: “3.16.18 - Indiana commit. 6-foot-6, 190-pound, long, lean, projectable, right-handed pitcher. Started on the mound for Normal West and showed a significant spike in velocity since last summer. Rocker step wind up, coiled at balance point, works slightly across his body and toe lands open. Slightly shorter arm action than seen in the past, works loose and quick from a high ¾ slot. Fastball jumps out of his hand, command was spotty, works straight with life through the hitting zone; sat mostly 89-90 mph, touching 91 (last August topped at 87 mph) in the first inning. Settled in at 87-89 mph for the majority of the outing. Curveball, inconsistent feel and shape, when at it’s best works 10/4 with depth, sat 71-74 mph. Did not see a changeup in game. Overall, inconsistent results in his first outing of the year, but highly-intriguing right-handed pitcher, given his frame, arm action and uptick in velocity.”

Reid Detmers LHP / Glenwood, IL / 2017

Los Angeles Angels

From 3.16.17: “Louisville commit. Currently ranked No. 41 in the PBR Overall Ranks. First start of the year for Detmers in front of over 20 MLB scouts on a frigid night. Detmers works from a high ¾ arm angle with a long, quick arm action. Tall and fall delivery working in line with home plate. Good tempo and balance throughout. Advanced pitchability with feel for three pitches. Fastball worked 89-91 mph early in the outing, settled in at 87-89 mph. Curveball his is best secondary offering, worked 73-75 mph with 12-6 shape and sharp breaking action. Changeup has swing and miss potential with fading action at 80-81 mph. Showed dominating stuff striking out 11 in four innings of work. Stock continues to trend upwards this spring.”

Dylan Dodd LHP / OF / Danville, IL / 2016

Atlanta Braves

From 1.19.14: “6-foot, 180-pound two way player. Athletic delivery on the mound, arm works from a high ¾ slot, loose arm action, easy effort. Fastball has slight run, showed control of the zone, pitched at 75-77 mph, touched 79 mph. Curveball has 11/5 shape, occasional slurve action. 60-63 mph. Changeup has sink, 68-71 mph. Offensively hits from a balanced stance, short stride, smooth loading action. Bat path stays flat through the zone, gets extension. 78 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively shuffles through the baseball, short high ¾ arm action, 77 mph arm from the outfield. Runs an 8.02 60.”

Tyler Fitzgerald SS / 3B / Rochester, IL / 2016

San Francisco Giants

From 5.18.16: “Louisville recruit. Ranked No. 2 in Illinois and No. 30 overall. 6-foot-3, 190-pound, shortstop with an athletic, projectable frame and room to add strength. Plays the game with ease and never seems to be in a hurry. Offensively, right-handed hitter, creates easy bat speed, strength through contact, compact and simple swing. Took the first pitch he saw in the bottom of the first inning and hit a towering home run over the left-field wall. Advanced pitch recognition, sees the ball deep into the zone, doesn’t try to do too much, stays centered and balanced in the box. Athletic setup, pre-pitch rhythm, short stride and gap-to-gap approach. Defensively, smooth, confident, fundamentally sound defender with soft hands; range and quickness to play shortstop at the next level. Quick, clean transfer, short over-the-top arm action, above-average arm strength, easy effort, flashed carry across the diamond. High upside 2016 draft prospect.”

Tanner Gordon RHP / Champaign Central, IL / 2016

Colorado Rockies

From 5.16.15: “Currently ranked No. 88 in Illinois’ 2016 class. Athletic, highly projectable 6-foot-4, 190-pound frame, long limbs, baby-faced, appears to be far from physical peak. Athletic and clean arm action, over-the-top slot, stays tall and works downhill well. Opens front side early, creating some arm-side run when extended. Has been sidelined with elbow tenderness; only thrown 11 innings prior to start this spring. Fastball sat 84-86 in the first two innings, and topped at 89 once a pitch after he was denied a strikeout on a sharp 69-mph curveball that presumably buckled the umpire.  In the fourth and fifth he pitched in the 82-85 range. Threw high-volume of strikes with fastball. As the game progressed, he threw his curveball with more confidence – and effectiveness. Flashed a handful of breaking balls with sharp 11/5 bite in the 68-69 range; he threw one a tick harder at 71 mph that showed potential of being a true swing-and-miss pitch in the future. Only flashed a few changeups in the 73-74 range.  For the game against Peoria Notre Dame, he threw a five-inning no-hitter; he struck out three and walked two. Overall, it looks like Gordon is just beginning to scratch the surface of his potential. As he continues to fill into his frame and gets more experience, he has the potential to throw significantly harder in the future. High-follow prospect in the 2016 class.”

Chad Green RHP / Effingham, IL / 2010

Toronto Blue Jays

“Committed to Louisville ... Over the last two years, Green has gone from a relatively unknown prospect to one of the most intriguing potential draft picks in the Class of 2010. Green's rapid ascension isn't surprising given his natural athleticism, pitchability and arm. As a junior, Green proved to be one of the state's most dominant pitchers, as the right-hander posted a 9-1 record with a 1.85 ERA and 2 shutouts. Behind an 87-91 mph fastball and solid breaking ball, Green fanned 98 in 68 innings pitched while leading Effingham to the Apollo Conference title, along with his twin brother, Chase, a shortstop who's committed to SIU-Edwardsville. Green's star continued to rise in the fall, as he was dominant in several big tournaments. As good of a pitcher as he is, many believe the left-handed hitting Green has the ability to be an impact position player at the next level as well.”

Nick Maton SS / 2B / Chatham-Glenwood, IL / 2015

Chicago White Sox

From 4/23/14: “Ranked No. 62 in Illinois’ 2015 class; No. 297 overall. Athletically built 6-foot-1 left-handed hitting shortstop. Shows natural middle infield actions, easy hands, quick-clean transfer, moves fluidly and fields the ball in rhythm. Arm shows solid carry across infield; makes accurate throws on the move. Offensively, has simple left-handed swing. Lined single up the middle to lead off first inning. Ran a 4.32 home-to-first on a 4-3 putout.”

Phil Maton RHP / Chatham-Glenwood, IL / 2011

St. Louis Cardinals / Texas Rangers

“College: Louisiana Tech University A two-time PBR second-team All-State selection ... The long and loose Maton earned Prep Baseball Report second-team All-State honors after he helped guide Glenwood to the Class 3A state championship and a No. 2 overall ranking in the state. After going 3-1 as a sophomore, Maton was unbeatable last spring, going 11-0 with a 1.70 ERA. He amassed 106 strikeouts � including 9 in the 3A title game - and only 14 walks in 78.2 innings. Maton also was a main contributor offensively, as he belted 8 homers, 14 doubles and 42 RBI. Long and whippy righty went 3-1 for Class 3A runner-up as a sophomore”

Mason McCoy 2B / Washington, IL / 2013

San Diego Padres

From 6.13.17: “Drafted in the 6th round out of Iowa by the Baltimore Orioles. 

hit .564 with 6 homers, 12 doubles, 10 triples and 50 RBI for Washington as a junior.”

John Rave OF / 1B / Bloomington Central Catholic, IL / 2016

Kansas City Royals

From 1.19.14: “6-foot, 170-pound left handed outfielder. High level foot speed, athletic and active lower half throughout his game, 6.85 runner. Defensively feet stay active, works through the baseball, efficient exchange. Rigid arm action, 76 mph from his crow hop, lacks carry. Offensively hits from the left side, balanced stance, rhythmic swing, front foot hitter, slightly uphill path, loose hands, 80 mph exit velocity.”

Chuckie Robinson C / Danville, IL / 2013

Los Angeles Dodgers

“Robinson is a physically impressive 6-foot-1, 220-pound catcher who possesses elite natural abilities. Extremely strong and physical, Robinson features a plus arm, as he fired event-best pop times of 1.94 and 1.97. Robinson's arm strength came into clear focus (81 mph from the crouch), and he has quick, agile feet behind the plate. For his size, Robinson runs well (7.4 60 yard dash). At the plate, Robinson has immense raw power. He has tremendous bat speed and a strong lower half. As he develops and mechanically fine-tunes his swing, he has the ability to be the most prodigious power hitter in the Class of 2013. The physically impressive Robinson has big-time tools, including plus arm strength behind the plate. He registered 1.89-1.94 pop times at the PBR Top Prospect Showcase in June. Robinson also has raw power potential at the plate.”

Brock Stewart RHP / SS / Normal West, IL / 2010

Minnesota Twins / Los Angeles Dodgers

“Drafted 40th round by the Mets ... Committed to Illinois State ... Left-handed hitter had big season: .506 BA, 7 HR, 12 2B, 34 RBI as a junior...Stewart has an athletic frame and comes from good baseball genes. His brother, Luke, played at the University of Georgia and his father is a professional scout and former coach at Illinois State. As a sophomore on varsity, Stewart batted .313 with four doubles, a triple and 17 RBI.”

Bryan Hudson LHP / 1B / Alton , IL / 2015

Milwaukee Brewers / Chicago White Sox

From 5/14/15: “6-foot-8, 215-pound lanky and athletic left-handed pitcher, wide shoulders, high waist, extremely long levers, ranked No. 2 in Illinois’ 2015 class, quickly climbing up MLB draft boards with his dominating performances this spring. Signability put aside, Hudson is a top three round talent. Works from short, quick, high ¾ arm slot, tall-fall delivery, shoulders slightly uphill, creates good downhill angle on fastball, occasional arm side run. Fastball sat 88-90, touching 91 mph in the first inning. Works from the third base side of the rubber, stride direction is in line towards home plate on fastball, drifts across his body slightly, landing slightly closed at times on breaking ball, creating tougher angle. Spins off on heel at times at finish. Arm slot looked to be up a tick from the fall, creating improved depth on 75-78 mph curveball with late breaking, two-plane break, 1/7 shape. Showed the ability to land breaking ball for a strike with bigger shape, then bury it with two strikes, particularly to back foot of right-handed hitters. Breaking ball is currently major league average, has the chance to be above average to plus as he adds power to pitch, best high school breaking ball I’ve seen this year. Flashed one changeup for a hard hit ground ball out to first at 83 mph. Fastball sat 87-89 mph in the middle innings, curveball ranged anywhere from 71-76 mph, shows the ability to add and subtract when throwing it for strikes or burying it. Sat 86-87 mph in the sixth, reaching back for 89 mph on a swinging strikeout. Still up to 88 mph in the 7th. Hudson was pitching on a severely sprained ankle from a sliding mishap earlier in the week. Still fielded his position well, impressed with athleticism covering first by bare handing the underhand feed from his first baseman when it was flipped behind him. Also went 2-for-3 with a double, hitting in the three hole for the Redbirds. Hudson’s frame can easily add another 20 plus pounds with weight training and maturity, specifically in his lower half. He has future major league starting rotation type ability and perhaps more upside than any prospect in the Midwest. Reports have his fastball up to 93 mph this spring, and he has thrown a significant amount of innings (61.1 IP in 11 games started, with 129 strikeouts).”

Andrew Millas C / SS / Belleville East, IL / 2016

Washington Nationals

From 4.24.15: “Missouri State recruit, currently ranked No. 31 in Illinois’ 2016 class. Highly athletic switch-hitting catcher, athletic feet and moves well laterally; runs the bases aggressively and with confidence. 6-foot-1, 165 pounds, thin frame, narrow shoulders. Offensively, hit exclusively from the left side in game against all right-handers. Finished 2-for-5 with a pair of run-scoring singles.”