Outfielder Tommy Abbatemarco (Barrington, 2026) is coming off an eventful summer, highlighted by an eventual commitment to Millikin University. No stranger to our staff, we have seen Abbatemarco develop throughout the years, as he now sits as the No. 179 ranked player in the state of Illinois.

There’s no shortage of strength or power with Abbatemarco, standing in at a broad-shouldered 6-foot, 190-pounds with a strong lower-half. He routinely will make loud contact with exit velocities around the 100 mph mark, looking to profile as a middle of the order type bat at the next level. On top of his present power, he moves very well for his size and should be able to provide quality defense in the outfield with a strong arm to pair. 

A standout at our Illinois State Games this past summer, we recently had the chance to talk to Abbatemarco about his recruitment process, and more. 

Our Q&A 

Prep Baseball: What were your expectations about the recruiting process? What were you looking for out of a college program to continue your baseball career at?

Tommy: I hadn't realized that I had to do as much work when it came to contacting schools and coaches during my recruiting process. I had expected more schools to reach out to me. I was looking for a place where I was valued and had a great opportunity to play early on. 

PB: Did location or distance from home play a factor in your decision?

T: Not really, I preferred to be closer to home but I wasn't opposed to going farther away from home.

PB: When did the recruiting process really start to heat up for you? Where did the school you committed to first see you play?

T: My process really started to take off in the winter of my Junior year. Millikin, where I'm committed, had seen me play at the Illinois State Games this past summer. 

PB: What do you like most about the program you chose, and what were the key factors in making your decision?

T: Millikin's coaching staff and philosophy were a big part of my decision. Additionally, the investment in their players when it comes to training facilities, more personalized training, and providing opportunity for their players early on. 

PB: What other schools were on your short list before you made your final decision?

T: The other schools I was deciding between were UW-Whitewater and Augustana College.

PB: Who is the best player you have faced in your state? What about them makes for a tough opponent?

T: Brady Buenik from Libertyville. When I faced him this high school season all of his pitches were well polished, and his fastball was tough to hit because of the velocity, and cutting action it has.

PB: At what point in your career did you realize you were a college-caliber player and became serious about taking your game to the next level?

T: I've always been trying to bring my game to the next level, but my eyes really opened up when I went to LakePoint during my 14U season with Top Tier Select.

PB: What advice would you give to young baseball players striving to get where you are?

T: Spend more time on strength and agility, I wish I had started sooner and had to catch up later on, and do something every day to get a little bit better.

PB: What is the most memorable moment in your baseball career to this point?

T: When I hit a game tying grand slam this past year at The Rock, or when I had hit a walk-off double in an eight pitch at-bat down at LakePoint this past year.

PB: Preview your high school team's season for us. How do you feel your team will be?

T: This year we will have a lot of returning players with varsity experience, and lots of young talented players coming in.

PB: How did the Future Games and the Illinois State Games affect your recruitment process? Did you receive more attention following the events?

T: Attending the State Games increased my exposure and had accounted for half of the schools that actively recruited me. After the event I had more schools reach out and had more in-depth conversations.

PB: If you could steal any tool or quality from another player in the state, what would it be and who would it be from?

T: T.J McQuillan's hitting abilities. He consistently hits for power and contact. He's also a great guy to have as a teammate.

PB: Who is the next talented young player to keep an eye on out of your high school or travel program?

T: Jack Postma. 

PB: Did Prep Baseball assist in your recruiting? Whether it be through a showcase, tournament coverage, tweets, etc? If yes, please explain. 

T: Yes, Prep Baseball definitely assisted in my recruiting. Their tournament coverage and social media posts helped get my footage out to college coaches. By attending their showcases it gave me verified metrics that coaches referenced during the process.

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