Drake
Fellows

4.16.16 - Vanderbilt recruit, currently ranked No. 3 in Illinois’ 2016 class, No. 75 in PBR Draft 100. Athletic 6-foot-5, 205-pound frame, prototypical pitcher’s build, long limbs, proportional strength, plenty of room for continued physical development. Pitched well in his 5.1 innings: struck out eight, walked three, hit one batter, allowed three singles, three runs, none of which were earned. Especially impressive in the first inning, sitting 90-92 (some guns had 93) with arm-side sink, to go along with his trademark 78-82 mph slider that was particularly sharp in the beginning innings. The pitch had late two-plane break and he showed the ability to throw it consistently for strikes and bury it down when he wanted.

2.7.16 Super 60 - Vanderbilt recruit. Athletic 6-foot-5, 205-pound frame, prototypical pitcher’s build, long limbs, proportional strength, plenty of room for continued physical development. Not throwing at 100 percent, fastball sat 90-91 mph every pitch, consistent strikes with slight arm-side run. Throws three pitches for strikes. Slider can be premium out-pitch, ranged between 80-83 mph, with occasional sharp bite. Changeup ranged between 77-79 mph, maintains similar fastball arm speed, late sink down in the zone. Simple side step, coils at balance point, long arm action, slot somewhere between 3/4 and high-3/4, achieves velocity with little effort; clearly more in the tank.

2nd Team All State: Fellows has long been one of the top prospects in the 2016 class, as evidenced by his No. 2 ranking in the state, and selection to the Tournament of the Stars, the qualifier for making Team USA’s 18U National Team. After a dominant sophomore campaign, Joliet Catholic’s ace righthander did more of the same in 2015, going 9-1 with one save, and a 0.58 ERA. He allowed only 44 hits in 73 innings pitched, with a 98:11 strikeout-to-walk ratio. His only loss on the year came in the regional finals to Lemont, a 2-1 nine-inning affair where he allowed only one earned run in an outstanding complete game effort. For his efforts Fellows was named the 2015 ESCC Pitcher of the Year. Known for his low 90’s fastball, late breaking slider, and impeccable command, the Vanderbilt-bound Fellows may have a tough decision to make in one year when the 2016 MLB Draft comes around.

3.26.15 - Vanderbilt recruit. 6-foot-5, 200-pound wide, shouldered, athletic, right-handed pitcher looks to be filling out frame, specifically in noticeable stronger legs. Elite national prospect, ranked No. 2 in Illinois’ 2016 class, No. 11 overall. Fastball sat 89-90 mph touching 91, held velocity for full six innings, only touching 88 in seventh. 79-80 mph slider accounted for five of eight strikeouts. Also flashes 78-80 mph change with arm side run.

3.20.15 - Vanderbilt recruit. 6-foot-5, 200-pound wide, shouldered, athletic, right-handed pitcher looks to be filling out frame, specifically in noticeable stronger legs. Elite national prospect, ranked No. 2 in Illinois’ 2016 class, No. 11 overall. Sat 91-93 mph in first inning of relief, settled in to 90-92 mph range, holding velocity all four innings, low of 89 mph. Extremely impressive in mid-40’s March weather coming out of basketball season. Usually works between a ¾ and high ¾ slot, but today looked a bit higher, in the high ¾ range, which added to two-plane sink on fastball, and vertical plane on breaking ball. Slider is a plus pitch at 80-81 mph. With arm slot a tick higher, slider exhibited more depth than in the past, occasionally flashing a curveball look with 11/5 shape. Ground ball machine with fastball/slider. Mechanically, in windup takes eyes off home plate, lower half swing, loads over the rubber with front toe pointing towards second base, rotational lower half, but does not match it by getting rotational with shoulders. Strike throwing machine, so delivery adds to deception, does not affect command, lands in line with home plate, square at foot strike. Only one three ball count in four innings of work, four strike outs, efficient inducing weak contact early in the count, seven ground ball outs to one fly out.

5/15/14 - Elite national prospect, currently ranked No. 2 in Illinois’ 2016 class and No. 5 overall. Verbally committed to Vanderbilt. Extremely projectable 6-foot-5, 185-pound frame, long limbs with plenty of room for physical development. Opened the first inning sitting at 90 mph, with a few 91s and touched 92 once. Worked at 89-90 in second and settled in at 87-89 through five innings. Slider is a true separator pitch with potential to be a devastating wipeout pitch in the future. Throws his slider regularly at 78-79 mph through five innings, getting up to 81 once. He pitches with very little effort and looks as though he hasn’t come close to reaching his peak, which is a scary proposition. Works between ¾ to high 3/4 slot with a long arm action on the backside.

1.19.14 - In basketball season, threw one of his first bullpens of the year, working at 70%. No. 1 2016 prospect in the state. Excellent frame, 6-foot-5, 185-pound frame, long limbs, highly projectable. Easy delivery, fluid, works online, front side coils, shoulders stay closed, athletic finish. Arm is loose, easy effort, high ¾ slot. Fastball sat easy 84-86 mph, heavy action, showed command, late finish. Slider has sweep, 10/4 action, excellent feel, 73-74 mph. Change up flashed sink, 72-76 mph. Fellows is a Vanderbilt commit. In one of his first preseason bullpens Fellows worked easily with little effort. There is a lot more in the tank for Fellows and we will be sure to follow his first varsity season this spring with the Hiltoppers.

Fellows showcased as one of the premier Class of 2016 players in the state. On the mound, the physically advanced 5-foot-11 Fellows operated from a high-¾ arm slot with a clean arm action. Fellows located three pitches for strikes and displayed rhythm and balance throughout his mechanics. His fastball displayed run and sat at 80-81 mph. His slider showcased late, tight break, and he showcased a feel for his changeup which displayed sink. At the plate, the left-handed hitter continued to impress, showcasing a balanced swing that whipped through the zone. In the field, he played through the ball and exhibited solid hands.

4/27/19: This latest look was similar to that of Week Six, particularly with his fastball velocity (91-94) and the inconsistent quality of his slider. Fellows continues to perform at a high level (9-0, 3.67 ERA, 68.2 IP, 27 BB, 78 SO) and is a likely mid-Day Two pick this June. (Seifert)

4/11/19: Stands 6-foot-5, 235-pounds. Used a quick tempo to his delivery, high knee lift, fluid arm-swing, landed closed with an upright finish. Fastball sat 90-91 mph through his first three frames. Stayed away from hitters mostly utilizing the natural arm-side-run. Fastball peaked 92 in the fifth. Throws a late action slider that sat anywhere between 80-83 mph. (Cevette)

3/20/19: Tall, extra large framed right-hander at 6-foot-5, 240 pounds. Balanced delivery with a low three-quarter release point out front. Does not have ideal arm action with a hooking path and some wrist curl in back. Good hip/shoulder separation at landing. Throws against a firm front side. Although his arm swing was not always on time, it was in sync often enough for Fellows to throw a complete game, five hit shutout on 116 pitches. He attacked the Gator hitters with an 89-92 (T93) sinker and a 79-84 mph spiked slider with sweeping action. On a cool evening and likely due to the feel of a spike grip, the pitch varied in quality from a well below average backup spinner (a.k.a cement mixer) to an above average offering which induced a good amount of swing/miss leading to eight strikeouts. Occasionally, he mixed in a below average 75-80 mph changeup, dropping his hand before release, and the change was a distant third pitch. Overall, Fellows features a sinker/slider mix which could play up in shorter stints at the pro level where he profiles as a reliever. In this role and with improved command, he could move very quickly through a minor league system. (Seifert)

2/15/19: Tall, strong frame. Sinker/slider righty. Heavy fastball at 91-93 mph, struggled with control of it. Slider at 81-83 mph flashed as average at times, yet inconsistent. More depth than horizontal. Change was third pitch by large margin at 79-80 mph. Traditional windup. Stands on 1st base side of rubber. Upright throughout delivery. Held runners well, 1.11-1.23 from stretch. Not much projection left with current frame, but may throw harder as lower half cleans up. (Arnold)

4/3/18: Sophomore right-handed pitcher Drake Fellows. Fellows started on Friday night, sitting 90-91 with his fastball while generating many swing/misses with a hard slurve at 80-81 mph. (Seifert)