Top 10 Player Profiles of 2014: No. 5 Nick Dalesandro
December 26, 2014
By Ryan Quigley
Illinois Scouting Director
Over the next couple weeks we are going to countdown the 2014 calendar year with a look at the top ten viewed player profiles of 2014. After drilling down into our google analytics we have compiled a list of the ten most visited profiles by you the reader in 2014.
Coming in at No. 5 with 8,281 page views during the 2014 calendar year is the No. 1 ranked player in Illinois’ 2015 class, No. 19 overall in PBR’s coverage area. Dalesandro, a 6-foot-2, 185-pound catcher/outfielder/right-handed pitcher has impressed all over the diamond in his three year high school career, leading Joliet Catholic to a 2013 Class 3A State Championship and a 2014 IHSBCA Summer State Championship.
Although Dalesandro has garnered many of his high school headlines on the mound and in centerfield, his professional future most likely lies behind the plate, as his catch-and-throw skillset is one of the best in the country. On the national stage he’s consistently reeled of sub 2.0 pop times in games (as low as 1.78-1.90 in showcase settings), and impresses with uncommon athleticism for a catcher. Dalesandro routinely throws out runners from his knees, and ran a 6.82 60 at last year’s Super 60 Professional Showcase, where he’ll be a headliner once again this February 1st.
On the mound, he’s shown consistent upper 80’s to low 90’s fastball velocity (as high as 92 mph), with the ability to spin one of the better cutter/slider’s in the Midwest, an 81-84 mph offering that he consistently commands. Dalesandro, a Purdue commit, could enter the professional ranks as a catcher, or catch and close at the collegiate level, much in the same way Buster Posey (Florida State) or Matt Wieters (Georgia Tech) were used in college.
Let’s take a look at Dalesandro’s scouting report from this summer, which highlights both his pitching and catching exploits:
Nick Dalesandro Scouting Report
Dalesandro, a 6-foot-2, 185-pound two-way player, is currently ranked No. 1 in Illinois’ 2015 class and No. 19 overall. The Purdue recruit impressed this summer on the national stage on the mound, and behind the plate and with his overall athleticism. Scouts are divided on where Dalesandro will wind up positionally as there are reservations about his bat’s future, but some believe he's the top catch-and-throw prospect in the country. Others like his future on the mound and a minority thinks he could also project in the infield with his athletic actions. Dalesandro won Illinois' summer state title for Joliet Catholic with a complete-game effort where his final fastball of the day registered 92 mph. On the mound, he flashes command of a four-pitch mix, highlighted by an 80-84 mph cutter that flashes occasional slider depth. His pitching prowess took a back seat this summer as he focused on catching, impressing at Tournament of the Stars and Area Codes with in-game pop times ranging from 1.78-1.90 seconds. He throws behind runners aggressively, and also impresses with the ability to throw runners out from his knees. He ended the summer throwing five scoreless innings with six strikeouts and just one hit allowed at the Metropolitan Baseball Classic.
Top Ten Most Viewed Profiles
