Prep Baseball Report

Player Spotlight: OF Chad Ruesch (Branson, 2016)



Shon Plack
Missouri Scouting Director

Chad Reusch (Branson, 2016) is a 6-foot- 170-pound right-handed hitting outfielder and recently attended the 2015 Top Prospects Game on Aug. 9.

Ruesch is impressive with strength and athleticism.  At the plate, athletic stance, smooth load, short stride, loose/quick hands, middle-to-pull line drives during BP, 84 exit velo, gets down line in 4.29-seconds.  In the outfield,  loose over-the-top arm action, quick footwork, clean exchange and release, momentum towards target.  He posted one of the top outfield velos of the day a 88 mph and ran a 7.04 60.

Ruesch is also and excellent student, sporting a 31 ACT. Below is a look inside the recruiting process for Chad Reusch. 

PBR: Are you looking for anything in particular in a school? (Example: high academics, certain academic program, local, etc.)

Reusch: I am looking more local and I am interested in pursuing law, so it would be more appealing if the school has programs aimed towards law or pre-law.

PBR: How did you do your junior year? What were your high school statistics? And how did your team do? Name some players that will play a key role for Branson in 2016.

Reusch: My junior year was an up and down year. I was not as consistent at the plate as I would have liked throughout the season, but towards the end of the season, and for the majority of summer ball, I found my rhythm at the plate. Defensively, I feel as if I did the task at hand. I made the plays that needed to be made and the throws that needed to be thrown. I was not perfect in the field by any means, but I definitely strove to be. Our team was also up and down. We won 7 or 8 in a row, and then we would lose 3 or 4. It was a tough season but we still did well. We were a very young team and that experience that we got this past year and summer will show in our playing style next year. Hunter Werling and Hayden Gibson will more than likely be back in the outfield along side me and, honestly, it's the best outfield I've been a part of. Bryce Burtless will be our number one pitcher and I expect great things from him going into his junior year. Jacob Newberry is another guy who can play. Whether he's behind the plate or at third, he's great to watch. And at the plate, most of our players can get the job done. We aren't a powerful team, but we get hits and we drive in the runners when they are on.

Here are my stats: PA 99, AB 81, AVG .272, OBP .371, Slug .346, OPS .717, Hits 22, Single 16, double 6. RBI 13, Runs 19, BB 12, K 13, Stolen bases 16, Fielding .983

PBR: What are you goals for your junior season?

Reusch: I am hoping for an even better senior season. My ultimate goal is to be All-State, and I believe I can obtain that. This off season I am not going to miss a beat. I want to fine tune my game to where there is no lack of confidence at the plate or in the field. I plan to get faster and stronger so I can cover more ground and hit the ball to the gaps next season. I feel that the potential is there, now I just have to expose it to increase my abilities in order to be great on the field for my senior season.

PBR: What travel team do you play for? Are you playing fall ball with a team?

Reusch: I play for the Branson Pirates over the summer and that is the only team I travel with. I do not plan on playing fall ball this year.

PBR: Do you play any other sports?

Reusch: I do not play any other sports.

PBR: What are your ACT and GPA?

Reusch: My highest scoring ACT was a 31 and I plan to take it again. MY GPA is a 3.9089 and weighted it is 4.4544

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