Cy
Craft

We got another look at RHP Cy Craft (Du Quoin, 2027) after last seeing him at our Super Sophomore Games, last August. Craft has put on noticeable strength into his 5-foot-10, 166-pound frame, specifically in the lower-half. His fastball has also ticked up, sitting 86-88 mph (T89) now, with sinking action. He had quality feel for the zone with his slider on this day, throwing it for a strike every single time at 78-80 mph with late dart. Craft completed his mix with an 81-82 mph changeup that played with fade and tumble. Look for Craft to have a big spring in 2025.

MIF/RHP Cy Craft (Du Quoin, 2027) has been steadily trending up, and his performance this past weekend showed no difference. A polished and mature approach during his bullpen, Craft owns a 5-foot-10, 166-pound frame, and showed confidence with three-pitches. His fastball sat 84-85 mph, while topping out at 85.9 mph. He mixed in a sharp, mid-70s slider, maintaining the same slot and arm-speed as his fastball, as well as a changeup that sat 77-79 mph with slight arm-side fade. At the plate, the right-handed hitter showcased loose hands that stay through the zone with extension out front, consistently working on the barrel back up the middle of the field with a max EV of 91.8 mph. Upside swing as he continues to fill out.

Sunday gave us an up-to-date look at one of the top prospects in the Illinois’ 2027 class, currently slotted at No. 12 overall in RHP/INF Cy Craft (Du Quoin, IL). There’s plenty of physical development yet to come with Craft, who presently stands in at a lean, square-shouldered 5-foot-11, 150-pounds. Craft looked the part at the plate, repeating line drive contact to the middle of the field from a loose, athletic right-handed swing. His highest ceiling may ultimately be on the mound, however, where Craft is a clean, free-flowing mover with a loose arm to pair. His fastball played at 85-86 mph in this look and he spun a 76-78 mph slider off it that he landed for strikes to the arm-side on occasion. Craft’s projection, present stuff, and athleticism all equate to one of the more intriguing ceilings in the state’s current freshman class.

RHP/INF Cy Craft (DuQuoin) and OF/RHP Wade Ozment (Crystal Lake Central, 2027) were two other two-way prospects that have bright futures all across the diamond moving forward. Craft touched 82 mph with his fastball and swung a quick, aggressive right-handed bat. Ozment has an advanced 6-foot, 150-pound, well-proportioned frame and he swings a whippy, intentful right-handed bat that stays through the zone a long time. He topped at 80 mph from the outfield, as well as on the mound, sitting 78-79 with a polished three-pitch mix for his age and starter profile.

Positional Profile: SS/RHP
Body: 5-10, 150-pounds. Well-proportioned build, athletic with room to fill.
Hit: RHH. Tall setup, leg-kick timing trigger. Quick bat, strong hands, aggressive swing and approach, jump off the barrel.
Power: 88 max exit velocity, averaged 84.2 mph. 300’ max distance.
Arm: RH. INF - 80 mph. Loose, 3/4 slot.
Defense: Clean, athletic actions, soft hands,
Run: 4.36 30-yard split. 

Delivery: Stretch-only delivery, plays in-line and up-tempo.
Arm Action: RH. Loose, whippy, quick arm high 3/4 slot.
FB: T82, 79-81 mph. Clean out of the hand, late life, mostly straight. T2116, 1835 average rpm.
CB: 67-69 mph. Tight spin, late depth, 12/6 shape. T1966, 1897 average rpm.
CH: 70-72 mph. Sells the pitch, works at the bottom of the zone, late fade. T1590, 1451 average rpm.