Prep Baseball Report

PBR Illinois Player of the Week: 3B/OF Luke Adams


By: Diego Solares
Associate Scout, Staff Writer

Entering last week with just one game under their belt this season, the Hinsdale Central Red Devils departed for their spring trip and returned with a perfect 3-0 record, anchored by an offensive outburst from their star-studded 3B/OF Luke Adams (2022; Michigan State). Led by Adams, the Red Devils maintained their No. 8 overall spot on our Power 25 rankings and returned home with plenty of momentum heading into conference play.

Adams finished the week 10-for-11, good for a .909 batting average, and an eye-popping 2.280 OPS. He reached base in 11-of-12 plate appearances, walking once and recording his only out via strikeout. Every other time Adams put bat-to-ball last week he recorded a hit, including a double, two triples, and seven RBIs. Adding onto his already impressive statline, Adams scored five runs of his own and also swiped five bags, serving as a do-it-all type throughout the week.

The Spartans’ signee’s first game last week was perhaps his loudest, as he finished 3-for-4 with two triples out of the three-hole in the lineup, scoring a run and stealing two bags. His most impactful, however, came in the Red Devils’ second game of the trip. Down by two runs heading into the bottom of the seventh, Adams sparked an eventual game-tying rally with an RBI single to center field. He came up again in the bottom of the eighth inning and jumped on the second pitch of his at-bat, blasting a walk-off double to center field to keep Hinsdale Central’s undefeated season alive. He finished the game a perfect 4-for-4 with three RBIs, walked once, scored a run, and stole another bag. Adams concluded his near perfect week with three more hits in the week’s finale, driving in four runs and scoring three of his own, stealing yet another base as well.

Adams is no stranger to our staff, either. He’s currently the ninth ranked prospect in an absolutely loaded Illinois’ 2022 class and lands just outside the top-250 on our company’s national rankings, while also being the only nationally-ranked name in the Spartans’ current recruiting class. Adams was one of several Illinois’ players that attended the Super 60 Pro Showcase, where he comfortably held his own against several of the nation’s top-tier high school players. We recently wrote about Adams in our rankings update piece, having this to say about him:

“Sits at No. 9, checks off all kinds of boxes from a prospect standpoint. He is one of the more physical prospects in the class at a hulking 6-foot-4, 227-pounds yet he ran a 6.73 60 at the Super 60 and has been as low as a 6.66 runner in the past. He has also seen his velocity from the outfield continue to tick up, topping at 97 mph at the Super 60 while also showing some of the best raw power in the class. Adams showed a more controlled, repeatable swing than we have seen in the past, living all over the barrel during his two rounds of BP at the event. Adams registered an 85% hard-hit percentage, launched his furthest batted ball 386 feet with an average exit velocity of 96.3 mph, max of 103.3 mph. Along with his impressive metrics, Adams plays the game with reckless abandon. Adams thinks two out of the box and takes pride in showing off his base-running ability as well. It would be no surprise to see Adams put up Player of the Year type of numbers this spring while helping lead Preseason No. 8 Hinsdale Central."

Luke Adams (2/6/2022)


For his efforts, Adams has been named the PBR Illinois Player of the Week, for the week of Monday, March 28 through Sunday, April 3. We're thankful for the POTW submissions we received from the coaches across the state. The players who garnered POTW consideration will earn a place within Friday's Diamond Notes story, so be on the lookout for that by the end of this week.

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