Top-10 Player Profiles: No. 4 Quinn Priester
December 26, 2018
The majority of the prospects on this list represent the Class of 2018, some of whom with hopes of being selected in last June’s MLB Draft. Well, at No. 4 on our list is the well-regarded righty from Cary Grove’s 2019 class: Quinn Priester. Priester has long held the big buzz as the state’s top-ranked prospect – he’s been ranked No. 1 since April of 2017. He made the high-profile rounds on the national circuit all summer long and, even when he put his glove and cleats away in the fall, he couldn’t stray far from the spotlight. He helped his high school on the football field, hauling in a touchdown pass in the Trojans’ state championship win. His repertoire, projection, and present stuff have the Texas Christian commit bidding for a selection in the top couple of rounds of the 2019 MLB Draft.
Priester is ranked as the No. 50 prospect on our PBR Draft board and is the No. 17-ranked prep prospect in the class. Check out his profile below and how it’s evolved over the years, as his status as one of the state’s brightest prospect has earned himself national attention.
NO. 4: QUINN PRIESTER
Scouting Report
5.17.18 - Texas Christian recruit, currently ranked No. 1 in Illinois’ 2019 class and No. 15 overall. 6-foot-3, 185-pound right-handed pitcher with lean, wiry-strong, athletic build. Highly athletic frame, long limbs, high-waisted with considerable room for continued physical development. Overall high level of projection with premium current ability. Made his first start of spring after a few short stints coming out of the pen. Looked sharp, making quick work in his four-inning performance, yielding two hits, no runs, no walks while striking out four. Pounded the strike zone, working in and out confidently and comfortably. Four-seam fastball sat 89-91 in the first two innings, touching 92, and settled in at 87-90 in final two innings. Easy and effortless out of the hand, seemingly plenty more in the tank. Four-seamer plays true with some deception coming from the ease of delivery. Two-seamer flashed late darting arm-side action with occasional sink at 87-88. Worked primarily off his four-seam fastball, inducing a lot of weak contact. Curveball progressively got better, 11/5 shape with depth at 72-75, recording all four of his strikeouts with it. Didn’t need his changeup, but flashed a few in the low-80s, excellent feel with fastball arm action. Calm, confident demeanor on the mound, works with rhythm, efficiency and athleticism. Clean, uninterrupted arm swing out of a high-3/4 window, fast hand at foot strike with minimal head movement at release. Thoroughbed athlete. (Ran a 4.10 on a sacrifice bunt; starting quarterback in football) Three-pitch starter repertoire and delivery. Overall, Priester should establish himself as a high-level draft prospect in the 2019 class.
5.25.17 - TCU commit, currently ranked No. 1 in the Illinois’ 2019 class and No. 16 overall. 6-foot-3, 185-pound, high-level right-handed pitcher. Started on the mound and hit in the six-hole for Cary-Grove. Showed once again the stuff and velocity we have become accustomed to seeing. Fastball has premium velocity for age, sat 89-91 mph, touching 92 early on the outing. Settled in at 88-90 mph the rest of the way. Changeup flashed swing-and-miss action, gets late and hard arm-side action, above-average feel, threw it to right-handed and left-handed hitters, 81-85 mph. Curveball, inconsistent early on, got more comfortable with it as the game progressed, 12/6 action, depth 72-76 mph. At the plate, right-handed hitter, loose, athletic swing. Finished the day 2-for-3 with a two-run homerun to right-center field. Ran a 4.16 down the line on an infield single. Highly athletic right-handed pitcher in the 2019 class.
4.24.17 - Verbally committed to Texas Christian.
4.11.17 - One of the top uncommitted sophomore’s in the midwest. 6-foot-3, 175-pound, right-handed pitcher. Highly-athletic frame, high-waisted, plenty of room for continued physical development. Refer to previous scout blog entry for arm action and delivery notes. Started on the mound for Cary Grove and continues to prove he is one the top sophomore arms in the midwest. Advanced pitch-ability, arm strength and composure for his age. Game seems to move slow for him, never in a rush, looks to be in total control on the mound, stays even keeled and rarely shows emotion. Showed he can handle a running game, mixes looks and timing. Stays quick to plate without losing velocity and stuff out of the stretch; 1.22-1.26 to the plate. Velocity was a tick harder than his previous start last week. In the first inning his fastball sat at 90 mph, in the second it mainly sat 91 mph, touching 92 and 93 once. Held velocity for much of his start, was still 88-89 mph in his sixth and final inning. Not afraid to go in on RHH’s and LHH’s, commands it to glove side and arm side, gets occasional arm-side run and downhill tilt, flashed the ability to pitch at the bottom of the strike zone. Curveball was his best secondary offering on this day; confidence, feel, threw it in any count, works 12/6 early in the count, manipulates it with two strikes, gets more 11/5, swing and miss action, ranged between 73-77 mph. Struggled with feel of his changeup on this day but did flash one late in the game with plus action. Maintains arm speed, aggressive, arm-side-run, 81-85 mph. High-level 2019 right-handed pitcher.
4.4.17 - Uncommitted. Currently ranked No. 16 in the PBR Overall Ranks. 6-foot-3, 175-pound right-handed pitcher. Highly athletic, ran a 4.36 down the line on a groundball. Lanky frame with wide shoulders and present strength in the upper half. Impressed over five shutout innings. Competes on the mound with good presence. Works from a high ¾ arm angle with a long, quick arm action. Tall and fall delivery. Stays tall, gathers on the backside before working down the mound. Online delivery with a square landing and easy effort. Fastball worked 88-90 mph topping out at 91 mph in the first inning. Settled in at an easy 88-89 mph touching 90 mph in every inning. Commanded fastball to both sides of the plate for strikes. Curveball sat 73-75 mph with 12-6 shape and depth with sharp breaking action, ability to throw it for strikes. With two strikes, snapped off a curveball with 11-5 shape at 77 mph and late breaking action. Changeup is a true plus pitch with swing and miss potential. Works in the 82-85 mph range with heavy sinking and fading action. Will use changeup against both RHH’s and LHH’s. Struck out eight over five innings of work allowing just two hits. High-level draft prospect for 2019.
7.26.16 - 6-foot-3, 175-pound right-handed pitcher with a highly athletic, projectable frame. Delivery is athletic, repeatable, stays on-line and works with smooth rhythm. Arm works long, loose, clean and lightning quick from a high 3/4 window. Attacks the zone with all of his pitches. Fastball jumps out of his hand, thrown for strikes, hard running action and life, clocked at 87-89 mph. Curveball, advanced action, feel, thrown aggressively, 11/5 shape, sharp, late action and depth; sat 73-74 mph. Did not throw a changeup in game in this outing but has seen it in the past; legitimate out pitch with feel and sinking action. One of the top arms in the 2019 Class.
2.21.16 - 6-foot-3, 172-pound, athletic, extremely projectable right-handed pitcher. One of the top right-handed pitchers in the 2019 class. Priester features a power arm with polish well beyond his years; fastball topped at 87 mph, throws three-pitches for strikes with his changeup flashing plus action. Smooth, slow-paced, repeatable delivery; stays in-line, square landing, athletic finish and pretty easy effort. Clean, quick, short arm action from a high ¾ slot. Fastball, thrown for strikes, straight action and sat 85-86 mph, touching 87. Changeup was his best secondary offering; good arm speed, feel, sinking action, 75-78 mph. Slider, good feel, sweeping action, working mostly 10/4, tight spin and clocked at 72-74 mph.