Blaine
Williams

Uncommitted, currently ranked No. 77 in the state. Strong 5-foot-11, 178-pound frame. Started behind the plate and hit out of the three-hole. Williams had a strong day at the plate Saturday morning as he went 2-for-3 while collecting a walk as well. Right-handed hitter that operates with a wind stance and a small leg lift. Showed quality pull-side power with a line drive into left field for a double. Showed quality barrel control and a patient approach at the plate. Was a vocal leader behind the plate and showed a strong arm on a pickoff attempt.

Verbally decommitted from Illinois.

Positional Profile: C/RHP
Body: 5-11, 177.8-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Wider setup, minimal leg lift and load. Twitchy, direct hands, stays flat through the zone, some bat speed. 68.2 mph bat speed with 26 G’s of rotational acceleration.
Power: 96 max exit velocity, averaged 82.6 mph. 277’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 85 mph. 3/4 slot, quick/loose action.
Defense: 2.00-2.08 pop times. Jab step footwork, squatted stance, glove-side pull off, efficient transfer.
Run: 6.70 runner in the 60.

Positional Profile: C 
Body: 6-0, 195-pounds. Compact frame. Strength throughout.
Hit: RHH. Wide, balanced setup with slight knee bend, medium stride, active hands pre-pitch, stays mostly short to the ball. Pull-side approach, flat path, rotational through the zone, creates leverage and hard elevated contact to pull-side at times. 78.8 mph bat speed with 26 G’s of rotational acceleration.
Power: 95 max exit velocity, averaged 89.6 mph. 342’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 87 mph. Short to the ear out of the glove, transitions in a high 3/4 slot, ball explodes out of the hand with carry to his target, consistently put throws around the bag.
Defense: 2.01-2.06 pop times. Explosive out of the crouch, gains ground easily to second while staying in-line, clean exchange, gains momentum into throws, deadens the ball out front on blocks.
Run: 6.80 runner in the 60.

Positional Profile: RHP
Delivery: Side-saddles into a high leg lift, slight coil into balance point, drop/drive lower-half, works in-line, jumps down the mound and lets his momentum take him downhill.
Arm Action: RH. Long, loose arm swing into a 3/4 slot, quick arm out front.
FB: T91, 89-91 mph. Plays with cutting action, pulled off to glove-side. T2227, 2121 average rpm.
SL: 75-78 mph. 10/4 shape, flashed sharp action when kept middle/glove-side. T2404, 2342 average rpm.
CH: 79-82 mph. Thrown with intent, flashed fade to the arm-side, occasionally got under it. T1963, 1889 average rpm.

C Blaine Williams (Tremont, 2025; Illinois) is the lone junior headed to this year’s Preseason ProCase. He stands in a hard-to-miss frame at 6-foot, 195-pounds with plenty of strength throughout. The Central Illinois native has one of the strongest arms in the state, regardless of class, with his best bullet being recorded at 85 mph on throws down to second while popping a 1.91 from the chute. At the plate, he’s direct to the ball and makes contact with authority, averaging 88.4 mph off the bat during BP last winter. We’ve also seen his fastball up to 89.3 mph with reports of his velocity being higher since we last saw him on the mound.

Illinois commit. Ranked No. 14 in the state’s class of 2025. Stands at an athletic and strong 5-foot-11, 185-pounds. Williams started behind the dish and batted in the cleanup spot. Went  1-for-3 on the day with a double, two runs scored, and a stolen base. At the plate showed to be a tough out, fouled off a lot of pitches. Showed impressive bat speed with a direct path to the ball, lots of pop in the bat. Behind the dish, showed athleticism with soft hands paired with a strong arm, commands the game, leader tendencies. 

Illinois commit. Ranked No. 14 in the state’s class of 2025. Stands at an athletic and strong 5-foot-11, 185-pounds. Williams started behind the dish and batted in the cleanup spot. Went 1-for-3 on the day with a double, two runs scored, and a stolen base. At the plate showed to be a tough out, fouled off a lot of pitches. Showed impressive bat speed with a direct path to the ball, lots of pop in the bat. Behind the dish, showed athleticism with soft hands paired with a strong arm, commands the game, leader tendencies.

Similar to Essenburg, listed above, C/RHP Blaine Williams (Tremont, 2025), an Illinois commit, has true two-way upside with advanced arm strength that plays well behind the plate and on the mound. The right-handed hitter continues to show off gains at the plate, staying on the barrel with much more authority than we have seen in the past, averaging 88.4 mph off the bat during BP which is up from an average of 79.4 mph last winter. Williams also reached up to an eye-opening 85 mph from behind the plate. Williams has an intense approach on the mound as well and brings a “here it is, hit it” mentality with plus arm strength for his age (88-89 mph) and tight short slider that plays well into a catcher/closer type role.

Positional Profile: C/RHP
Body: 5-11, 185-pounds. Athletic, well-proportioned frame with lean-strength throughout.
Hit: RHH. Wide base, high hands, short stride with minimal hand load.  Strong, intentful swing, short path, long through the zone and finished on balance. Hard contact off the barrel, middle/pull-side approach.
Power: 94 max exit velocity, averaged 88.4 mph. 337’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 85 mph. Short, clean arm action, over-the-top slot, throws play with life, carry and on the bag. One of the top arms in the state from behind the plate.
Defense: 1.91-2.00 pop times. One knee receiver in bullpens, quiet actions, steady hands. Athletic, clean and calm out of the crouch, works on-line, repeatable. Gets to advanced strength in rhythm.
Run: 6.91 runner in the 60. 

Delivery: High effort delivery with intent, works directionally.
Arm Action: RH. Long arm from 3/4 slot.
FB: T89, 88-89 mph. Showed ability to pound zone, slight sink action. T2309, 2100 average rpm.
SL: 78-80 mph. Lateral action, plays like a cutter, lowers slot. T2264, 2197 average rpm.
CH: 76-81 mph. Heavy sink action, flashed plus for age. Occasional decel. T1894, 1814 average rpm.  

Positional Profile: C
Body: 5-11, 185-pounds. Athletic, well-proportioned frame with lean-strength throughout.
Hit: RHH. Wide base, high hands, short stride with minimal hand load. Strong, intentful swing, short path, long through the zone and finished on balance. Hard contact off the barrel, middle/pull-side approach.
Power: 94 max exit velocity, averaged 88.4 mph. 337’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 85 mph. Short, clean arm action, over-the-top slot, throws play with life, carry and on the bag. One of the top arms in the state from behind the plate.
Defense: 1.91-2.00 pop times. One knee receiver in bullpens, quiet actions, steady hands. Athletic, clean and calm out of the crouch, works on-line, repeatable. Gets to advanced strength in rhythm.
Run: 6.91 runner in the 60.

Positional Profile: RHP
Delivery: High effort delivery with intent, works directionally.
Arm Action: RH. Long arm from 3/4 slot.
FB: T89, 88-89 mph. Showed ability to pound zone, slight sink action. T2309, 2100 average rpm.
SL: 78-80 mph. Lateral action, plays like a cutter, lowers slot. T2264, 2197 average rpm.
CH: 76-81 mph. Heavy sink action, flashed plus for age. Occasional decel. T1894, 1814 average rpm.

Similar to Essenburg, listed above, C/RHP Blaine Williams (Tremont, 2025), an Illinois commit, has true two-way upside with advanced arm strength that plays well behind the plate and on the mound. The right-handed hitter continues to show off gains at the plate, staying on the barrel with much more authority than we have seen in the past, averaging 88.4 mph off the bat during BP which is up from an average of 79.4 mph last winter. Williams also reached up to an eye-opening 85 mph from behind the plate. Williams has an intense approach on the mound as well and brings a “here it is, hit it” mentality with plus arm strength for his age (88-89 mph) and tight short slider that plays well into a catcher/closer type role.

Positional Profile: RHP
Body: 5-11, 165-pounds.
Delivery: Uptempo delivery, athletic mover down the mound, coils into a leg-lift to create power in the front hip, slight drop/drive lower-half that remains in-line to the plate.
Arm Action: RH. Long arm swing out of the glove, quick to release from a 3/4 slot, present arm-strength.
FB: T86.4, 85.0-86.2 mph. Some life out of the hand, plays at the top of the zone.  T2367, 2318 average rpm.
CB: 68.0-71.9 mph. Sharp 11/5 shape, slurvy action with depth, kept down. T2534, 2353 average rpm.
CH: 74.2-77.6 mph. Thrown with intent; miss was to the glove-side. T2171, 2037 average rpm.

Positional Profile: C
Hit: RHH. Wide setup, fluid pre-pitch actions. Strong hands, flat through the zone, works on top of the baseball. Occasionally back spun line drives to all fields.
Power: 93.6 max exit velocity, averaged 79.4 mph. 319’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 85 mph. High 3/4 slot, life and carry on throws, quick/athletic arm.
Defense: 2.02-2.19 pop times. Athletic actions, quick feet, quick exchange, good feel, some rhythm
Run: 7.15 runner in the 60. 

C/RHP Blaine Williams (Tremont) was perhaps the most impressive member of the 2025 class in attendance on Sunday, possessing one of the stronger arms our scouting staff has seen from a freshman in recent memory. From behind the plate, Williams first showed off his arm by reaching up to 85 mph on throws down to second, pairing with quick feet and athletic actions to produce a pop-time as low as 2.02. On the mound, the right-hander boasts above-average athleticism, a live arm and the ability to spin the baseball. Williams ran his fastball up to 86 mph playing with finish through the zone. He also showed above-average action and some feel for his breaking ball, playing off 11/5 shape at 68-72 mph (2354 average rpm). Offensively, the right-handed hitter moves through the zone with strong hands and a flat path, working on top of the baseball while back spinning balls to all fields. Williams led all 2025s in exit velocity on Sunday with 93.6 mph, also reaching a max distance of 319’. 

Positional Profile: C
Body: 5-11, 165-pounds. 
Hit: RHH. Wide setup, fluid pre-pitch actions. Strong hands, flat through the zone, works on top of the baseball. Occasionally back spun line drives to all fields.
Power: 93.6 max exit velocity, averaged 79.4 mph. 319’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 85 mph. High 3/4 slot, life and carry on throws, quick/athletic arm.
Defense: 2.02-2.19 pop times. Athletic actions, quick feet, quick exchange, good feel, some rhythm.
Run: 7.15 runner in the 60.

Positional Profile: RHP
Arm Action: RH. Long arm swing out of the glove, quick to release from a 3/4 slot, present arm-strength.
Delivery: Uptempo delivery, athletic mover down the mound, coils into a leg-lift to create power in the front hip, slight drop/drive lower-half that remains in-line to the plate.
FB: T86.4, 85.0-86.2 mph. Some life out of the hand, plays at the top of the zone. T2367, 2318 average rpm.
CB: 68.0-71.9 mph. Sharp 11/5 shape, slurvy action with depth, kept down. T2534, 2353 average rpm.
CH: 74.2-77.6 mph. Thrown with intent; miss was to the glove-side. T2171, 2037 average rpm.

C/RHP Blaine Williams (Tremont) was perhaps the most impressive member of the 2025 class in attendance on Sunday, possessing one of the stronger arms our scouting staff has seen from a freshman in recent memory. From behind the plate, Williams first showed off his arm by reaching up to 85 mph on throws down to second, pairing with quick feet and athletic actions to produce a pop-time as low as 2.02. On the mound, the right-hander boasts above-average athleticism, a live arm and the ability to spin the baseball. Williams ran his fastball up to 86 mph playing with finish through the zone. He also showed above-average action and some feel for his breaking ball, playing off 11/5 shape at 68-72 mph (2354 average rpm). Offensively, the right-handed hitter moves through the zone with strong hands and a flat path, working on top of the baseball while back spinning balls to all fields. Williams led all 2025s in exit velocity on Sunday with 93.6 mph, also reaching a max distance of 319’.