Gavin
Michaels

Cincinnati commit, ranked No. 14 in Illinois’ junior class. Upside frame with athleticism, 5-foot-11, 167-pounds. Started at second base and batted fifth. Finished the day 2-for-4 with one RBI. Michaels’ athleticism was arguably the most impressive thing on display last night, showing it in all aspects of the game. During in-and-out, showed the ability to range and move around the infield with ease, paired with confident hands and the ability to throw from multiple slots. At the plate, right-handed hitter, loose and easy swing that works direct through the zone, one of the best base runners in the class, 6.57 60 time translates to the bases, impacts the game with his speed and the ability to steal a bag or stretch a single into a double.

Cincinnati commit, currently ranked No. 14 in the state. Athletic 5-foot-11, 167-pound frame with room to add strength. Started at second and hit out of the five-hole in both games. Michaels went 4-for-6 on the day while driving in one run. The right-handed hitter operates from a wide base that works towards the plate with a small stride. Loose, fluid hands with a compact swing from a slight up-hill bat path. Impressive bat-to-ball abilities with a whole field approach. Showed off his advanced speed (6.57 60) on the basepaths as he swiped three bags. Smooth defender at second with actions to stay up the middle.

Cincinnati commit, currently slotted at No. 18 in Illinois’ junior class. Wiry, high-waisted frame at 5-foot-11, 167-pounds with plenty of room to add more strength as he continues to develop. Started at second base and batted in the leadoff spot for Community. Tallied a double, RBI and one run scored in the game, and continues to impress with his ability to impact the game. His lone hit in the game pulled the left-fields to his right a bit, and likely should have been a single, but Michaels hustled out of the box and was looking for a double and ultimately reached base safely. Defensively he showed quality actions up the middle with clean footwork and an accurate arm.

INF Gavin Michaels (Normal Community, 2026; Cincinnati commit) was one of the day’s biggest winners and has made some big jumps over the offseason. He took one of the best rounds of BP, working all over the barrel with an athletic and compact stroke, showing some feel for loud contact up the middle (T102 mph; 96 mph avg.) with line-drive contact. He also continues to look like a quality defender on the dirt, showing bounce in his step with a high motor, steady hands and clean release, reaching up to 90 mph across. 6.57 runner in the 60, down .10 seconds from the summer.

Verbally committed to Cincinnati.

2024 Future Games: Gavin Michaels (Normal Community) left the Future Games a big winner for Team lllinois. An athletic, wiry frame with plenty more to come, Michaels checks in at 6-foot, 155-pounds. Throughout gameplay, he reached base multiple times on infield singles, showcasing his speed and baserunning IQ around the base paths throughout the entire event. He’s an athletic, clean defender, too, showing the ability to play many different positions on the field. Michaels showed some intriguing tools during the showcase, starting off by running a 6.67 60 time and jumping 32.2 inches. During batting practice, he averaged 86.7 mph (T95.8 mph) off the bat, while sending his farthest hit ball 350 feet. His BLAST metrics were intriguing as well, as his average bat speed was 75.2 mph (T81.8 mph), and his average rotational acceleration was 21.5 mph, good for the second highest on Team Illinois. He’s a highly athletic prospect with plenty of upside, and he remains a must-know uncommitted prospect from the event.

Possessing an athletic and proportionate 5-foot-11, 159-pound frame with room for growth, Gavin Michaels was impressive at the plate, on the bases, and in the field for the Rhinos. The right-handed leadoff batter went 2-for-2 with a walk hitting a ground ball to the left side of the field, then a ground ball to the right side of the field. Michaels is quick out of the box and on the bases as his home-to first time is 4.21 seconds. He stole three bases on the day. Michaels covers a lot of ground in the field and has a smooth and fluid throw from short to first.

INF Gavin Michaels (Normal University, 2026) is a name to know from the event. Listed at 5-foot-10, 153-pounds with lean limbs and all sorts of room to add on strength, the right-handed hitter has an easy, simple swing that looks to stay on top of the ball with a flat path, line-drive approach back up the middle of the field; reaching up to 95.8 mph for his max EV with an average of 86.8 mph. Premium athlete, recording a 6.71 in the 60 with a max vertical jump of 31.5”. Fluid mover on the infield with athletic actions, light on his feet with range to both sides of his glove.

Positional Profile: SS/RHP
Body: 5-10, 140-pounds. Athletic build with upside.
Hit: RHH. Wide base, short stride, minimal hand load. Short path, level plane through impact. Loose with barrel feel, projects as he adds strength.
Power: 86 max exit velocity, averaged 80.1 mph. 288’ max distance.
Arm: RH. INF - 78 mph. Loose, easy arm, 3/4 slot with quick release.
Defense: Athletic two-hand gather out front, plays low and through the ball, gains ground into throw.
Run: 7.00 runner in the 60. 

Positional Profile: SS/RHP
Body: 5-10, 140-pounds. Athletic build with upside.
Hit: RHH. Wide base, short stride, minimal hand load. Short path, level plane through impact. Loose with barrel feel, projects as he adds strength.
Power: 86 max exit velocity, averaged 80.1 mph. 288’ max distance.
Arm: RH. INF - 78 mph. Loose, easy arm, 3/4 slot with quick release.
Defense: Athletic two-hand gather out front, plays low and through the ball, gains ground into throw.
Run: 7.00 runner in the 60.

Positional Profile: SS/RHP
Body: 5-3, 105-pounds.
Defense: Clean infield actions, flashes athleticism, uses a glove tap in gather step.
Arm: RH. INF - 65 mph. Short arm action, high 3/4 arm slot.
Hit: RHH. Wide setup, short stride, simple pre-pitch actions. Short swing, level bat path, line drive approach, pull side tendencies.
Power: 68 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Run: 8.08 runner in the 60.