J.R.
Nelson

Ohio commit, ranked No. 66 overall in the Illinois’ 2023 class. Compact frame standing at 5-foot-9, 175-pounds with strength throughout. Nelson is a vocal leader of the squad and plays with a lot of energy as well as being a high-end competitor. Nelson’s competitive nature transfers over into each at-bat, using his bat-to-ball skills to fight off tough pitches and grind out at-bats. In the field Nelson showed range, being able to cover up the middle effectively throughout the entire game. 

Ohio commit. Stevenson went 5-0 on the week and Nelson played a major role in their impressive week. He went 8-for-14 (.571) with two doubles, 12 RBIs, eight runs scored, two hit-by-pitches, a strikeout, and he had a perfect fielding percentage. In their 11-1 win over Lake Forest, Nelson went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and a run scored. He added two more hits with two RBIs, a run scored and a stolen base in their second win of the week over Lake Forest. In their win over Lake Zurich, Nelson went 3-for-4 with a double, four RBIs and two runs scored. Rounding out the week in Stevenson’s 16-1 win over Fremd, Nelson went a perfect 2-for-2 with a double, two RBIs and two runs scored.

Positional Profile: SS/2B
Body: 5-9, 165-pounds. Compact strong frame.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, smooth load and short stride. Sees the ball deep into the zone. Short, compact swing. Controls the barrel. Hard line-drive contact to all fields.
Power: 93.2 max exit velocity, averaged 88.4 mph. 331’ max distance.
Arm: RH. INF - 88 mph. Short, quick arm action, works from a high 3/4 slot. Ball explodes out of the hand with carry, plays on the move.
Defense: Bouncy defender, moves well laterally, soft hands, quick clean footwork and highly-athletic infield actions.
Run: 7.18 runner in the 60. 

Nelson – who has long been regarded as one of the more reliable, natural middle infielders in the class – has shaved his 60 time down to 7.18, and his arm topped at 88 mph across, up from 84 mph in 2021. He’s also shortened and cleaned up his swing, staying much more direct to contact with a line-drive approach to all fields.

Positional Profile: SS/2B
Body: 5-9, 170-pounds. Athletic build.
Hit: RHH. Athletic base, fluid back hip load. Toe-taps into a short stride.  Highly repeatable. Long, level swing. Hits the ball where it is pitched. Used the whole field.
Power: 92.3 max exit velocity, averaged 88.2 mph. 285’ max distance.
Arm: RH. INF - 86 mph. Advanced arm strength. Athletic release. Throws play with carry. High 3/4 arm slot, arm to stick at SS.
Defense: Plays with athletic actions, high-level hands and advanced glove to hand abilities. Comfortable playing on the move, advanced body control, quick release and can throw from multiple platforms with ease and accuracy.
Run: 4.35 runner home-to-first. 

A top-75-ranked player in Illinois, Nelson has consistently held the reputation as one of the area’s top shortstops. He patrols the position with confidence, moving fluidly to either his forehand or backhand quickly and under control, and we saw more of the same this past weekend at our PBR at The Rock Fall Championships. He’s among the top defenders on the market in the area’s junior class.

Positional Profile: SS/2B
Body: 5-8, 150-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, toe-tap trigger, short stride, barrel sets in front pre-pitch. Short, simple swing, average bat speed of 69.9 MPH, barrel control, ability to use the whole field, gap-to-gap approach, line drives.
Power: 89.91 max exit velocity, averaged 83.67 mph. 265’ max distance.
Arm: RH. INF - 79 mph. Short arm action, high 3/4 arm slot.
Defense: Advanced infield actions, soft hands, fluid feet, quick/clean exchange, advanced double play and body control, plays through ball with proper direction.
Run: 7.35 runner in the 60. 

Positional Profile: SS/2B. High-level infield defender.
Body: 5-foot-8, 150-pounds. Strength in the lower half.
Hit: RHH. Simple, balanced stance, smooth load, short stride. Quick hands, long path, hard contact to all fields, line-drive approach, controls the barrel, fluid rhythm.
Power: 86.81 max exit velocity, averaged 83.17 mph. 249’ max distance.
Arm: RH. INF - 84 mph. Short loose arm action, high 3/4 slot with ability to throw from multiple slots.
Defense: Athletic infield actions, plays with confidence and active feet, gets around the baseball, stays low to the ground, advanced hands, quick clean exchange, plays through the baseball.
Run: 4.25 runner in the 60. Above average runner.

Positional Profile: 2B
Body: 5-8, 150-pounds. Athletic frame.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, steady backwards hand load, short stride to even.  Short and uphill bat path, line drive approach, sprays to all fields.
Power: 80 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. INF - 78 mph. Short arm action, high 3/4 slot. Showed multiple arm angle accuracy, particularly on the move.
Defense: Bouncy pre-pitch rhythm, instinctual first step, fluid footwork, excels on the move. Fields low to the ground, glove plays out front, soft hands, clean funnels to release. Advanced overall infield actions for age, confident defender that will stick up the middle long term.
Run: 7.46 runner in the 60. 

Positional Profile: SS
Body: 5-foot-7, 140-pounds. Athletic build.
Hit: RHH. Crouched, slightly open setup, short stride.  Flashed quick hands, long and uphill path, line drive contact, fluid rhythm.
Power: 77 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. INF - 79 mph. Short, loose arm action, quick draw, high 3/4 slot. Comfortable from multiple angles, throws produced carry.
Defense: Advanced defensive actions, plays fast, fields in rhythm, gets around the baseball, fluid footwork, confident up the middle. Soft hands, clean funnels, smooth double play turn, plays through the baseball.
Run: 7.69 runner in the 60. 

Positional Profile: SS 
Body: 5-foot-7, 140-pounds. Athletic build.
Hit: RHH. Open, crouched setup, short stride, aggressive swing. Quick hands, long bat path, fluid rhythm with a line-drive approach.
Power: 77 mph exit velocity from the tee. 
Arm: RH. INF - 79 mph. Short, loose arm action, high 3/4 arm slot, displayed ability to throw from multiple angles.
Defense: Soft hands, fluid footwork, clean exchanges and plays through the baseball athletically.
Run: 4.65 runner home-to-first. 

Positional Profile: SS/2B
Body: 5-foot-7, 140-pounds. Athletic build.
Hit: SH. Wide balanced set-up, smooth hand load, short stride. Direct and level bat path, extension through the baseball, line drive approach.
Power: 82 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. INF - 77 mph. High 3/4 slot, ball carries across the diamond, accurate.
Defense: Advanced defender, soft hands, smooth exchange, quick feet, plays  through the baseball.
Run: 7.72 runner in the 60. 

Lean, athletic build. Started at shortstop for Pro Player on Friday night. Hit in the leadoff spot for the Canes and went 2-for-3 with two singles and a hit by pitch. Patient at the plate with a quick bat. Natural defender in the field, smooth hands, clean exchange, with an above-average arm. Fielded all the balls hit to him cleanly, including one spectacular play up the middle. Pitched a third of an inning as well. Short, quick arm action from a high ¾ slot. Fastball topped at 75 mph, sat between 72-74 mph. Curveball played at 60-64 mph, 12/6 shape with bite.

5-foot-6, 129-pound, two-way prospect. Offensively, right-handed hitter, wide setup, pre-pitch load and short leg-kick timing trigger. Simple swing, stays short to the ball, consistent hard contact and 72 mph exit velocity from a tee. Defensively, on the infield, active fluid footwork, natural infield actions, soft hands and plays through the baseball. Short, loose arm action and throws topped at 76 mph. 4.92 runner, home-to-first. On the mound, right-handed pitcher, athletic, smooth delivery, works on-line and lands slightly closed. Loose, clean arm action from a high ¾ slot. Fastball works mostly straight, sat 69-70 mph, touched 71. Curveball, thrown aggressively, 11/5 to 12/6 shape, sat 60-62 mph. Changeup, maintains arm speed, feel, 63-67 mph.