Jacob
Gimbel

Heartland CC commit, currently ranked No. 137 in the state. The 5-foot-11, 195-pound southpaw got the start for the Hill and kept his team in the game, battling throughout his four innings of work. His fastball sat 84-87 mph with ride through the zone, while he primarily went to a low 70’s breaking ball for the occasional swing and miss. Gimbel punched out six over four frames.

Heartland CC commit, currently ranked No. 137 in the state. The 5-foot-11, 195-pound southpaw showed well once again in front of our staff, taming a talented Providence lineup and firing a complete game (seven innings) with just three hits allowed, no earned runs, one walk and four strikeouts. Gimbel worked with some pace on the mound, attacking hitters with three pitches throughout his entire outing. He has a repeatable delivery that coils slightly into a medium balance point, dropping into his lower-half while working in-line with the plate. High ¾ slot that plays from a lower release height, creating carry on his 82-85 mph fastball up in the zone. He showed clear confidence in his breaking ball, playing in the 71-73 mph range with late break and some sweeping action, thrown for strikes and for swing/miss. He flashed a changeup both in warmups and throughout the game in the 79-80 mph range, showing the ability to control it to his arm-side and playing with some fade at times. Look for Gimbel to help lead a talented Joliet Catholic staff throughout the course of the spring.

Heartland CC commit, currently ranked No. 137 in the Illinois’ 2024 class. 5-foot-11, 195-pound, sturdy, strong build. Got the start on the mound and put together a strong four inning outing. All kinds of pitchability, starter profile and three-pitch repertoire that he can go to at any time and in any count. Fastball plays with ride and sneaky life at 83-86 mph, T87 (2300+ rpm). Got a number of swings and misses at the top of the zone. Routinely manipulated his breaking ball depending on the count. Can soften it up and land it for a strike with more depth. Can also tighten it up and break it out of the zone for swing-and-miss; ranged 71-74 mph. Also showed a changeup at 78-81 mph. Got the win going four innings, scattering two hits, no runs, three walks and struck out eight.

Verbally committed to Heartland CC.

Uncommitted. Currently ranked No. 103 in the state. Gimbel threw it well over his five innings of work, allowing three runs with seven strikeouts and no walks. The southpaw is a quick worker, coiling into a medium balance point before utilizing a drop/drive lower-half that works in-line. His arm plays with a short circle into a ¾ slot, producing a sinking fastball in the 82-85 mph range. He went to his breaking ball often in this outing, dumping it in for strikes in any count and playing with sharp slurvy action, 71-72 mph. He also flashed a fading changeup at 78 mph, thrown from a similar fastball window. 

From the left hand side, three southpaws showed above average fastballs at the Preseason All-State. Frankie Bilecki (Marist, 2024), Ethan Eberle (Normal Community, 2024) and Jacob Gimbel (Joliet, Catholic, 2024) all worked in the mid to upper 80’s. Bilecki sat 84-86 mph with good depth to his curveball. Eberle was up to 87-88 mph with natural arm side run and flashing a sharp breaking ball. Gimbel sat 86-87 mph and showed a four pitch mix highlighted by a sinking changeup with arm speed.

Positional Profile: LHP/1B
Body: 5-10, 190-pounds. Sturdy, strong build.
Delivery: Drop and drive delivery, works to glove side.
Arm Action: LH. High 3/4 slot, short clean path.
FB: T87, 86-87 mph. Firm with carry. T2320, 2203 average rpm.
CB: 71-72 mph. Slurve action, 1/7 shape. T2095, 2028 average rpm.
SL: 76-78 mph. Short lateral action, thrown harder than CB. T2065, 1992 average rpm.
CH: 79-80 mph. Gets sink action, thrown with arm speed. T1947, 1840 average rpm.

Another southpaw to know in the 2024 class is Jacob Gimbel (Joliet Catholic). Gimbel has a strong, compact frame and uninterrupted, clean arm with pitchability. Gimbel struck out one while allowing two hits over his three innings of work while working his fastball in the low-80’s.

Positional Profile: LHP
Body: 5-10, 170-pounds.
Delivery: Athletic delivery, high leg-kick into balance point, drops into back knee before striding with a drop/drive lower-half down the mound, stride works in-line to the plate, changed tempo at-times to mess with timing. In-game stats: 3 IP, 2 H, 1 R, K, HBP.
Arm Action: LH. Short arm circle into a 3/4 slot.
FB: T82.5, 80-82 mph. Slight running action to the arm-side at times. T2285, 2142 average rpm.
CB: 67-69 mph. Sharp 1/7 shape with depth. T2086, 2037 average rpm.
SL: 71-72 mph. Sharp 2/8 action, thrown with intent and for strikes. T2138, 1991 average rpm.
CH: 73-77 mph. Flashed slight fading action, near fastball arm-speed. T2087, 1819 average rpm.

Uncommitted. Wiry, 5-foot-10, 170-pound frame, room to fill out in the lower-half. Started on the mound for Joliet Catholic and was lights out over his five innings of work, scattering just two hits with one earned run and striking out nine. The Southpaw’s arm works with a clean circle out of the glove before moving into a high ¾ slot. On the mound, Gimbel works with a fluid tempo while also actively trying to work quickly, wasting no time between pitches with a confident presence. Mechanically, he loads into his back knee at balance point before moving into an in-line stride towards the plate, landing square. His fastball worked up to 80 mph with life to his arm-side and played at the top of the zone at times, setting up a sharp curveball with 1/7 shape and tight spin, thrown often off a similar fastball plane at 67-69 mph.

Positional Profile: LHP/1B
Body: 5-10, 170-pounds. Athletic build. Muscular upper body.
Hit: LHH. Balanced setup, quiet load and stride. Easy swing, balanced throughout, bat works on-plane through the zone, gap-to-gap approach.
Power: 88.9 max exit velocity, averaged 78.7 mph. 313’ max distance.
Arm: LH. INF - 82 mph. Short, clean arm path. Works from a high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Athletic, quick feet, clean exchange.
Run: 7.86 runner in the 60.

Positional Profile: LHP
Delivery: Up-tempo drop and drive delivery. Works in line. Strong front side. Lands with a closed front toe.
Arm Action: LH. Short arm action, high 3/4 slot.
FB: T82.7, 78.8-81.4 mph. Plays straight. T2051, 1963 average rpm.
CB: 64.0-66.5 mph. 1/7 shape. T1925, 1873 average rpm.
SL: 70.0-74.1 mph. 2/8 shape, short lateral action. Thrown aggressively. T1945, 1886 average rpm.
CH: 68.6-71.6 mph. Fading action. Good feel. T1777, 1414 average rpm.

Positional Profile: LHP/1B
Body: 5-10, 155-pounds.
Delivery: Easy, drop and drive delivery, repeatable, smooth tempo, leg kick works slightly across body, lands square, works in line to target, starts slightly closed out of stretch.
Arm Action: LH. Short, quick arm action, high 3/4 arm slot.
FB: T81, 79-81 mph. Slight arm side run, 2-seam type. T2230, 2148 average rpm.
CB: 60-63 mph. 1/7 shape, gradual action. T1970, 1888 average rpm.
CH: 66-69 mph. Fading action, occasional strikes. T2690, 1715 average rpm.