Filippo
Baratta

Verbally committed to Southwestern Illinois JC.

OF Filippo Baratta (Lincoln-Way Central) is an uncommitted outfielder to follow. A lean and athletic 5-foot-10, 157-pounds, Baratta showed well on both sides of the ball. Defensively, he has fluid movements and routes, giving a natural look in center field. The right-handed hitter looked comfortable against tough arms at the State Games - working quality at-bats and finding barrels. Baratta also looked the part on workout day; running a 6.65 60, posting a max vertical of 33”, reaching 86 mph on a crow hop, while also putting up a max exit velocity of 93.7 mph.

Positional Profile: OF/2B
Body: 5-10, 157-pounds. Lean, athletic frame.
Hit: RHH. Simple, knee-knock stride, repeats with rhythm. Whippy, uphill path, middle/pull-side approach. 64.5 mph bat speed with 8 G’s of rotational acceleration. Finished gameplay 2-for-5 with an RBI and a walk.
Power: 94 max exit velocity, averaged 83.3 mph. 326’ max distance.
Arm: RH. OF - 86 mph. 3/4 slot, full arc, extension backwards, works through throw.
Defense: One-hand gather out front, attacks ball, long shuffle steps into throw.
Run: 6.65 runner in the 60.

Lean, 5-foot-10, 157-pound frame, collected a pair of barrels against heavy velocity in the Sparks’ 11-1 win Saturday night. The right-handed bat went 2-for-2 with a walk and two opposite field two RBI doubles, including the game-ending swing in the fourth inning. Demonstrated a steady opposite field approach and the ability to hit pitches where they’re pitched. Presented a stable base, quick hands, efficient load, and flat bat path. A quality set of at-bats from the uncommitted Baratta, Illinois’ No. 141 overall ranked prospect.

Positional Profile: OF/2B
Body: 5-11, 165-pounds. Lean, athletic frame with projection.
Hit: RHH. Athletic, slightly crouched setup, starts slightly open, small, controlled leg lift into minimal stride length. Direct, short path through the zone with quick hands, slightly uphill path, worked the pull-side/middle of the field. On the barrel throughout. 67.9 mph bat speed with 6 G’s of rotational acceleration.
Power: 92 max exit velocity, averaged 82.9 mph. 336’ max distance.
Arm: RH. OF - 85 mph. Short arm action, plays quick, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Athletic mover, quick feet, easy range and body control. Gets around the baseball and plays through in rhythm.
Run: 6.77 runner in the 60.

Uncommitted. Currently ranked No. 112 in the state, and stands in at a wiry 5-foot-11. Started in right field and batted ninth for the Knights, impressing with his actions at the plate. The right-handed hitter has a calm presence in the box, with some rhythm in his load pre-pitch. He uses a short leg lift stride, before swinging with an athletic and slightly uphill path that was on the barrel a couple times. In his first at-bat, he laced a hard line drive back up the middle into center field, showing a simple middle of the field approach throughout the game afterward. Baratta finished the day 1-for-3.

OF Filippo Baratta (Lincoln-Way Central, 2025) stood out for Cangelosi Sparks 2025 over the weekend. THe athletic leadoff hitter split the right-center gap for an opposite field double in the first game of the event and followed up with a leadoff extra base hit to deep left-center field in game two. Baratta stays short and quick to the baseball with sneaky gap-to-gap power and is quick to get to his top-end speed. Uncommitted, athletic 2025 to follow.

Positional Profile: OF/2B
Body: 5-9, 140-pounds. Athletic frame. Long legs.
Hit: RHH. Balanced, narrow setup, smooth load and leg-lift trigger. Loose hands, fluid rhythm, stays inside the baseball, line-drive approach. Sprayed hard contact to all fields.
Power: 79.3 max exit velocity, averaged 74.2 mph. 243’ max distance.
Arm: RH. INF - 68 mph. OF - 77 mph. Over-the-top slot. Draws straight up into slot. Short path.
Defense: Good first step. Plays through the baseball.
Run: 7.13 runner in the 60.