Damian
Valdez

Positional Profile: C/2B
Body: 5-5, 145-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Athletic, relaxed, leg lift trigger, gains ground. Controlled and on balance, short to the ball with slightly uphill path, all fields. 62 mph bat speed with 11 G’s of rotational acceleration.
Power: 86 max exit velocity, averaged 79.9 mph. 275’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 78 mph. Quick, short, one-hop to target, accurate, 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.10-2.19 pop times. Clean, easy actions out of the crouch. Fluid transfer.
Run: 7.43 runner in the 60.

Valdez is a vocal backstop who impressed in fro​​nt of our staff multiple times. Showed advanced arm strength, throwing out a number of runners throughout the weekend. Controlled the game well behind the dish and made a number of impressive blocks to hold runners. At the plate, he used a short, simple swing to repeatedly make hard contact to all fields, covers the plate well and hustles out of the box. High motor athlete who is an exciting rising senior in the Illinois’ 2024 class.

Positional Profile: C/2B
Body: 5-4, 130-pounds. Small, compact frame.
Hit: RHH. Athletic stance, balanced lower half, leg lift trigger.  Short path to contact, sprayed line drives to all fields.
Power: 78 max exit velocity, averaged 70.1 mph. 253’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 73 mph. Short, over-the-top slot, some life out of the hand with throws placed on the bag.
Defense: 2.05 - 2.25 pop times. Steady hands, works directionally out of the crouch.
Run: 7.68 runner in the 60. 

Positional Profile: C/2B
Body: 5-foot-4, 125-pounds. Lean frame.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, hands start and stay back throughout, leg lift timing trigger.  Long and uphill bat path.
Power: 73.5 max exit velocity, averaged 62.4 mph. 194’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 73 mph. Short arm action, high 3/4 slot, accurate around the bag.
Defense: 2.26-2.32 pop times. Athletic stance, feet work in line to target, clean transfer to release.
Run: 7.78 runner in the 60.