Recruting Roundup: Who's Heading Where?

August 28, 2015

By Matt Huck
Area Scout

Every Friday National Scouting Supervisor Nathan Rode provides a roundup of insider recruiting information and commitments throughout the PBR coverage area: The Buzz. CLICK HERE to take a look at this week’s National Buzz. With that in mind, let’s take an in depth look at the Illinois prospects who have committed to colleges, with detailed scouting information.

KC Simonich, 3B, Joliet Catholic Academy, 2017
Texas Tech

KC Simonich Future Games 2015 - Simonich entered the Future Games as one of the more projectable bats in attendance for Team Illinois. His long thin frame projects well at 6-foot-3, 175-pounds. Hitting from the left side, Simonich has a pretty swing that features easy hand speed and a power potential when he fills out. He hits from a tall setup with short stride, staying balanced all through contact. His bat didn’t produce much in game play over the weekend but his BP sessions showed the ability to consistently barrel baseballs to all fields. Defensively his position isn’t clear cut, he shows the ability to play any of the corner spots either in the outfield or infield, most likely his arm and foot speed will be the determining factors. Currently his arm action is loose and highly accurate which will play from likely anywhere (81 mph across the diamond, 84 mph from the outfield). His hands and lateral action are suitable for third base making him a well above average first baseman and his 60 time (6.93) should give him the tools at either corner outfield spot. Either way Simonich’s bat will be his calling card, and a left-handed bat is always in need.

Jack Lambert, LHP, St. Charles North, 2016
Parkland

Jack Lambert 7.8.15 - 6-foot, 155-pound lanky, projectable left-handed pitcher, with pitch ability. Smooth, athletic delivery. Pitches out of the stretch. ¾ arm slot, loose, quick arm. Low effort delivery, very repeatable. Pounds the strike zone, heavy fastball and arm-side-run. Fastball ranged between 80-82 mph. Features two off-speed pitches for strikes. Slider with 2/8 action, sat 70-73. Flashed, sharp, tight, late break. Swing and miss pitch, was able to back-foot right-handed hitters. Tough on lefties. Also, mixed in a few change-ups, 74-75. Fastball arm speed, slight fade and some feel. One of the top arms at the event. Should be a high follow, uncommitted prospect, in the 2016 class.

Anthony Rios, C, St. Laurence, 2016
Lewis University

Anthony Rios 6/18/15 - 5-foot-10, 190-pound catcher, thick build, solid catchers body composition. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, short stride, minimal loading action, solid balance through contact. Fast bat, strong hands, path is short and level, gap to gap type with occasional pop. 82 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively plays with a short, over the top arm action, arm plays online with accuracy. 78 mph out of the crouch. Hands play softly, quick clean exchange, 1.94-2.01 pop times behind the plate. 7.72 runner in the 60.

Drew Demumbrum, LHP, Plainfield East, 2016
Oakland University

Drew DeMumbrum 4/10/14 - Sophomore lefty showed poise despite struggling giving up five runs, three earned, in three innings of work. 5-foot-11, 160 pounder athletically built. Struck out three and walked one. Balanced, deliberate delivery and tempo. Short arm action comes out of ¾ slot. Picks arm up with his elbow, climbs above his shoulder, but hand still gets on top of the baseball. Was able to locate to his arm side, and 77-80 mph fastball showed arm side run when down in the zone. Struggled to pitch in on right handed hitters to his glove side, but also did not attempt to come in very often. Stride direction comes at home plate, but lands slightly closed on plant foot, and spins on heel limiting extension. This may be a reason he struggles to get out front and locate to his glove hand side. Change was thrown at 72-74. Utilized 68-70 mph sweeping curveball. Was not afraid to throw this in any count, and threw it for strikes 2-0 and 3-1. Out of the stretch showed the ability to hold runners well, and mix up leg kicks and looks. Controlled the running game well. Good athlete fields his position well.

Kyle Hentis, RHP, Red Bud, 2016
Lindenwood University

Kyle Hentis 7.7.15 - 6-foot-3, 190-pound, two-way player, projectable body, right-handed hitter. Hits from a tall stance, short stride, average balance. Above-average bat speed, level bat path, 84 mph exit velocity. Defensively displayed above average hands, clean exchange, short arm action, high ¾ slot, some accuracy, 80 mph across the infield. Ran a 7.43 60-time. On the mound displayed a tall-and-fall delivery, short arm action, quick arm speed, over-the-top arm slot, landing square, athletic finish. Straight fastball, thrown for strikes, sat 85 mph, touched 87 mph. Curveball showed 12/6 shape, 69-73 mph. Changeup showed arm-side-fade, 68-70 mph.

Jake Pomykalski, RHP, Lincoln-Way East, 2017
University of Illinois-Chicago

Jake Pomykalski 6/18/15 - 6-foot-5, 210-pound, strong, athletic build, two-way player. Hits from a tall, balanced set up, loads back, short stride, above-average balance. Above-average bat speed, short bat path, 91 mph exit velocity. Defensively showed soft hands, quick footwork, long arm action, high ¾ slot, 79 mph from 1B. Ran a 7.29 60-time. On the mound displayed a tall-and-fall delivery, high ¾ arm slot, loose arm action, landing square. Fastball showed arm-side-run, sat 83-84 mph. Curveball sat 64-68 mph. Changeup showed sink and cut, sat 69-73 mph. Knuckleball 70-71 mph.

Alex Peters, C, Richwoods, 2016
Illinois Central College

Alex Peters 2.15.15 - 5-foot-11, 180-pound right-handed catcher muscular build, strong lower half, hits from a narrow, slightly open setup, hands held high, hands load back smoothly, dives during stride, line drives from gap-to-gap during batting practice, pull tendencies, solid path, barrel stays level through the zone, 90 mph exit velocity, well above average bat speed. Defensively, pop times ranged from 1.94-2.07 to second base, 76 mph out of the crouch from short, over-the-top arm slot, erratic accuracy, good carry on throws. Ran a 7.62 60.

Reid Detmers, LHP, Nokomis, 2017
University of Louisville

Reid Detmers Future Games 2015 - Wide shouldered, strong 6-foot-2, 185-pound was the most impressive left-handed pitcher on the Illinois staff at the PBR Future Games. Detmers went 86-88 mph with his fastball and showed an, at times sharp, 70-72 mph curveball. Detmers is still a little raw in his delivery which makes him even more intriguing as a prospect. Flat out pounded the zone with all of his pitches. His fastball features late life, resulting in tardy swings time and time again. To make matters worse for hitters he flashed plus feel for his curveball, throwing it for strikes any time he wanted too. Put on an absolute show at the Future Games, striking out six of the seven batters he faced. The one batter lucky enough to put a ball in play, hit a weak comebacker to the mound. Also features a change-up at 74 mph.

Sam Lawrence, LHP, Wheaton North, 2016
Northwestern University

Sam Lawrence 2.15.15 - 6-foot-4, 195-pound lanky left-handed pitcher impressed with frame, 3-pitch mix, and future projection. Fastball sat 82-85 mph, touching 86 mph for strikes with arm side run from a long, loose, easy, high ¾ arm slot. Tall/fall delivery, toe down at balance point, opens up front side early in delivery, lands slightly closed on front foot, spins off slightly. 69-70 mph curveball flashed 2/8 shape, depth to pitch. 74-75 mph changeup thrown for strikes with sinking action. Lawrence is an extremely intriguing southpaw to keep a close eye on over the next two seasons.

Alec Powell, RHP, Rockford Christian, 2016
Quincy University

Alec Powell 6/18/15 - 6-foot-1, 180-pound, right-handed pitcher with a lanky build. Currently ranked No. 137 in the Illinois Class of 2016. On the mound works exclusively from the stretch. Over the top arm angle with a short arm circle in back, but gets extension out front. On toe at balance point. Tall and fall delivery with level shoulders throughout. Some rhythm with an occasional recoil at finish. Fastball sat 85-86 mph. Curveball showed 12-6 shape with sharp action at 72-75 mph. Changeup was firm at 80-82 mph.

Ryan King, SS, Brother Rice, 2017
Michigan State

Ryan King Future Games 2015 - Small framed 5-foot-9, 145-pound athletic, right-handed hitting shortstop. Ran the fastest 60 yard dash for Team Illinois, 6.65. Defensively, showcased some of the best hands at the Future Games on the infield. Plus actions, quick transfer, athletic, short-arm action. Throws were true, had carry and clocked at 81 mph from across the diamond. Flashed an electric transfer in game, relaying a throw that was in and out of his glove in a split second, had life and was right on the money to the third-basemen. Also, made the slow roller play look easy. Offensively, in batting practice flashed plus bat control, spraying line-drives all over the yard. Hit a triple in game to the right centerfield gap and floated around the bases. Projects to hit for a high average at the next level.

Casey O'Brien, C, Lemont, 2016
Heartland Community College

Recruting Roundup: Who's Heading Where?

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