Christian
Holmes

Kansas State commit, currently ranked No. 14 in Illinois, No. 393 overall. Strong-looking frame, 6-foot-2, 190-pounds with long limbs. The shortstop showed off soft/fluid hands routinely with a clean transfer on double-play turns, moving side-to-side well with easy range and covering ground. His arm plays with noticeable velocity, carrying across the diamond and playing from multiple slots on the move. The right-handed hitter has a tall setup in the box, moving with a synced load into footstrike; his hands are quick to the ball and stay level through the zone, using his levers well and looking to put the ball on a line to the gaps. 

Kansas State commit, ranked No. 21 in the state. 6-foot-2, 190-pounds; athletic, strong frame. Defensively, Holmes works through the baseball with smooth, athletic footwork. Fields out in front with soft hands and a short, easy arm action. Right-handed hitter, hit in the four-hole, simple, balanced stance with a smooth, controlled load. Bat starts in an upright position, has strong, athletic hands, drives the ball to all fields. Displayed speed and athleticism turning a long single into a double and stealing three bags, including third base. Holmes went 2-for-2 on the day with two doubles, two runs scored, two RBIs and one walk. 

6-foot-2, 190-pounds; athletic, well-proportioned, high-level frame; has grown a few inches since we last saw him. Quiet in the box, tall setup, controlled load and stays in sync, excellent balance and rhythm throughout. Loose athletic hands, level path to contact with gap-to-gap leverage and repeats. Natural feel for the barrel, consistently made hard contact. Looks to be even more power to tap into given projectability in frame, ability to elevate, and barrel feel. Defensively, impressed despite still not being 100% coming off a leg injury that he dealt with throughout 2021. Showed the same instincts on the infield that we’ve seen from him for some time now. Athletic feet with present body control, soft hands that work out front of body, smooth glove-to-hand funnels, comfortable on the move. Short loose arm action that works out of a high ¾ slot and topped at 90 across the infield. Easily one of the day’s biggest winners and a name-to-know heading into the spring season for the Crusaders.

Verbally commits to Kansas State.

Positional Profile: SS
Body: 6-foot, 180-pounds. Strong, athletic build, proportional frame.
Hit: RHH. Balanced, relaxed setup, smooth load, short stride, strong balance through contact.  Confident at the plate, clear bat speed, bat stays short and level to the ball, consistent hard contact, line drive type hitter.
Power: 92 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. INF - 82 mph. Short, loose draw, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Advanced actions, attacks the baseball, athletic feet work in rhythm, maintains body control up the middle, fields out in front. Soft hands, clean exchange, quick release, plays through the baseball, capable of sticking up the middle.
Run: 6.85 runner in the 60. 

Positional Profile: SS/2B One of the top 2022 infield prospects in Illinois.
Body: 5-foot-11, 170-pounds. Athletic frame, carries strength throughout.
Hit: RHH. Athletic, balanced setup, confident look, smooth load and short leg-kick trigger.  Quick hands, advanced bat speed, highly repeatable swing. Stays short to the ball, extension through contact, consistent, hard, gap-to-gap contact.
Power: 86 mph exit velocity from the tee. Ball jumps off the barrel.
Arm: RH. INF - 82 mph. Short, athletic arm action, high 3/4 slot. Throws carried and were accurate across the infield.
Defense: Advanced infield actions, confident, sure-hands, fluid footwork, plays well on the move and works through the baseball. Quick, clean release and plays with rhythm.
Run: 4.25 runner home to first. 

Strong, athletic build. 5-foot-10,160 pound right-handed hitting middle infielder. Hit out of the leadoff spot for Prairie Gravel. Balanced setup, smooth load, short stride, slight leg kick. Quick hands, level path to the baseball, hands stay in a strong hitting position throughout, fluid rhythm in swing. Defensively, active feet, steady hands, quick and clean transfer, strong arm. Played athletically in the field, showcasing a strong body control play and the ability to range to both sides of his glove. Hustle player, turned should-be singles into doubles multiple times throughout the tournament.

5-foot-10, 155-pound, wiry-strong, right-handed hitting infielder. One of the top 2022 shortstops we have seen to date in Illinois. Carries himself well beyond his freshman status. Athletic defender, ranges well to both sides and has natural infield actions. Arm is already plenty strong enough to play the left side of the diamond. Arm works short, clean with the ability to throw from multiple angles. Offensively, open setup, pre-pitch rhythm and confident look in the box. Short, uphill bat path with present twitch in swing. Went 0-for-3 but two of his outs were hit right on the barrel. Grounded out sharply to third base in his second at-bat and flew out to medium-deep right-center field in his third at-bat. High-follow 2022 middle infielder.  

5-foot-10, 155-pound, athletically-built, right-handed hitting infielder. Continues to prove he is one of the better 2022 middle infielders in the state. At the plate, athletic slightly open setup, pre-pitch rhythm, smooth load, short stride and stays balanced throughout. Confident look, simple swing, fast bat, short uphill path, hard gap-to-gap contact; 90 mph exit velocity from a tee. Defensively, advanced infield actions, fluid footwork, can play on the move, starts below the baseball, clean quick release. Athletic arm action, can throw from multiple angles, accurate arm, clocked at 75 mph across the diamond. 7.27 runner in the 60, laser-timed.

(Junior Future Games) - 5-foot-8, 150-pound, athletically-built, right-handed hitting, middle infielder. Defensively, smooth and athletic actions, soft glove, fluid footwork, quick on exchanges. Arm action is loose, utilizing multiple angles, 76 mph across the infield. Offensively, confident in the box, balanced setup, smooth load back, short stride, maintains good balance. Line drive approach, hands work, barrel path remains level. On Day 2, squared up to two balls. The first a hard hit single after extending the at-bat by fouling off numerous pitches and the second a double, driven into right-center. Played a factor on the basepath, stole multiple bases on the weekend.

5-foot-7, 145-pound infielder. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, smooth loading action, short stride. Path is level, showed ability to drive the baseball, backspin contact. 86 mph exit velocity from the tee. 7.36 runner in the 60. Defensively arm showed carry, short over the top slot, 74 mph across the diamond. Athletic actions play through the baseball. 

5-foot-3, 115-pound, athletic infielder. On the infield, uses long arm action, high 3/4 slot, 62 mph from across the infield. Fields his position athletically, plays through the ball, soft hands, quick, fluid footwork, clean on exchanges. Offensively, balanced setup, slightly open, maintains balance throughout, fluid rhythm. Pull hitter, uphill barrel path, recorded a 69 mph exit velocity. Ran an 8.21 laser-timed 60.