Connor
Blue

Cincinnati commit, 6-foot-2, 205-pound frame that holds lean strength throughout. Ranked No. 17 overall in the state’s junior class and No. 491 overall nationally. Tossed six innings of one run ball for the Panthers in a regional win, scattering three hits with three walks and five strikeouts. Simple, stretch-only operation, leans into his backside and rides it downhill, lead leg swings to front footstrike. Strong glove arm, drifts towards the first base side through release. Clean and continuous path on the backside, gets into scap retraction and fires out of a high ¾ slot. Fastball played at 90-91 mph in the first inning, pitched anywhere from 86-89 mph as he went on, but did reach back for 89 mph in each of the final two frames of his outing. Showed a low-70s curveball as his main secondary offering, sharp spin at times. Served as more of a change-of-pace in this look, kept hitters off balance and stayed off the barrel; did induce three ground ball double plays with his breaking ball. One of the top arms in the state’s soon-to-be senior class.

Cincinnati commit, ranked No. 28 overall in the state’s junior class though set to rise in our upcoming update. Strong, well-proportioned frame. Started on the mound for the Panthers in their matchup with top-ranked Brother Rice. Simple, stretch-only delivery. Stacks onto his backside early and rides it down the mound to front footstrike; efficient mover, excels at staying connected to the rubber. Athletic in-line finish, drifts towards the first base side after release. Long arm action, high ¾ finish, loose out front. Fastball touched 91 twice, held 88-90 mph, late life and jump at times. Spins one of the best breaking balls in Illinois; sharp swing-and-miss bite in the low-to-mid-70s. Consistently grabbed whiffs out of the strike zone, feel to land it for strikes when needed. Power arm with swing-and-miss stuff that’s one of the top arms in the Illinois’ 2025 class.

Verbally committed to Cincinnati.

RHP Connor Blue (O’Fallon, 2025) was impressive in his lone inning of work, punching out a pair in Saturday’s outing. At 6-foot-1, 190-pounds, Blue’s fastball played in the upper-80s, touching 89 mph, from a fast ¾ slot. His aptitude to spin is his calling card and Blue ripped off several swing-and-miss mid-70s sliders with tight, late break that grabbed chase out of the zone, particularly to right-handed hitters. He also mixed in a low spin changeup (1500 RPM) at 74-75 mph to left-handed bats, showing a true three-pitch mix in his brief stint. Like his counterparts, Blue also came away from this event as a name-to-know arm in the state’s 2025 group. 

Well-proportioned 6-foot-1, 185-pound athlete with present strength and room to add more as he continues to physically mature. Took the mound against a potent Edwardsville offense and held his own through four innings, showing his loudest stuff to date. Worked exclusively out of the stretch, stacks onto his backside from a simple start, drop/drive mover downhill, stays connected to the rubber and rotates onto his lead leg at front footstrike. Works slightly across body, momentum carries out front and throws with some effort through release. Short arm stroke, high ¾ slot with arm speed out front. Fastball touched 89 in the first, held 85-88 mph throughout with carry up in the zone and late upper-quadrant arm-side life on occasion. Continues to spin his breaking ball at an advanced rate, showing sharp, downer action at 70-73 mph off an 11/5 plane with swing-and-miss upside at the next level. Progressively impressed over three live looks as the spring went on and remains one of the top prospects in the Illinois’ 2025 class. 

Strong, well-proportioned 6-foot-1, 185-pound athlete with room for continued physical maturity. Took the mound for the Panthers in a conference matchup and was excellent - scattered three hits over six shutout innings, punching out seven in a win. Stretch only, works fairly upright throughout his delivery, stays connected with the rubber and rotates at front footstrike. Easy operation without much effort. Short and compact arm action that finishes from a ¾ slot with arm speed and acceleration out front. Fastball touched 87 early, holding 84-86 mph throughout with late life and sizzle at times. Continues to show advanced feel to spin the baseball, ripping off a 70-73 mph breaking ball that flashed sharp, late swing-and-miss action, grabbing whiffs to the glove-side in particular. A high-end sophomore arm in the state.

RHP/1B Connor Blue (O’Fallon, 2025) intrigued our staff on both sides of the ball at this event. A strong 5-foot-11, 170-pound athlete, Blue worked gap-to-gap with ease in BP, generating deep, elevated contact (259 ft.) on average and clobbering his furthest batted ball 341 feet, per TrackMan. He hopped on the mound Tuesday night and showcased loud stuff for his age, pumping his fastball at 83-86 mph while spinning a sharp low-70s slider at 2,372 RPM on average, peaking at 2,547 RPM. Headed into his sophomore year at O’Fallon, Blue is certainly a name-to-know prospect from Southern Illinois. 

Positional Profile: RHP/1B
Body: 6-0, 180-pounds. Wide-shouldered, strong overall build.
Delivery: Easy effort, medium leg-lift into balance point, drop/drive lower-half that remains in-line with the plate, shoulders stay level throughout stride.
Arm Action: RH. Long out of the glove into a loose 3/4 slot, quick arm.
FB: T85.7, 83-85 mph. Explodes through the zone with arm-side run, showed some feel for the corners. T2318, 2182 average rpm.
SL: 70-72 mph. Sharp 10/4 shape with sweeping action. T2547, 2372 average rpm.
CH: 71-74 mph. Fades heavily at times to the arm-side, maintains arm-speed. T1408, 1347 average rpm.

Positional Profile: RHP/1B
Body: 6-0, 180-pounds. Wide-shouldered, strong overall build.
Hits: RHH. Tall, balanced setup, early short stride. Short path, uphill tendencies, strong hands, on the barrel.
Power: 91 max exit velocity, averaged 86.4 MPH. 341' max distance.
Arm: RH. INF-79 mph.Long arm action, high 3/4 slot, plays accurate.
Defense: Bouncy defender, athletic for his age and position. Soft hands and feel for the position.
Run: 7.19 runner in the 60.
Vizual Edge: 70.35 Edge Score

Positional Profile: RHP/1B
Body: 6-0, 180-pounds. Wide-shouldered, strong overall build.
Delivery: Easy effort, medium leg-lift into balance point, drop/drive lower-half that remains in-line with the plate, shoulders stay level throughout stride.
Arm Action: RH. Long out of the glove into a loose 3/4 slot, quick arm.
FB: T85.7, 83-85 mph. Explodes through the zone with arm-side run, showed some feel for the corners. T2318, 2182 average rpm.
SL: 70-72 mph. Sharp 10/4 shape with sweeping action. T2547, 2372 average rpm.
CH: 71-74 mph. Fades heavily at times to the arm-side, maintains arm-speed. T1408, 1347 average rpm.

Positional Profile: RHP/1B
Body: 6-0, 180-pounds. Wide-shouldered, strong overall build.
Hits: RHH. Tall, balanced setup, early short stride. Short path, uphill tendencies, strong hands, on the barrel.
Power: 91 max exit velocity, averaged 86.4 MPH. 341' max distance.
Arm: RH. INF-79 mph.Long arm action, high 3/4 slot, plays accurate.
Defense: Bouncy defender, athletic for his age and position. Soft hands and feel for the position.
Run: 7.19 runner in the 60.
Vizual Edge: 70.35 Edge Score