Jake
Godfrey

1.4.16 - Verbally committed to Arizona State for the 2017 season.

5/3/14 - As one of the top draft prospects in the state, we’ve seen Godfrey multiple times this year (scroll through blog for more). In Saturday’s outing he pitched at 88-90 mph and touched 91 mph, his fastball showed life to his arm side but lacked command. Breaking ball varied in shape, ranging from 76-81 mph, also showed advanced action with a lack of command. Changeup showed excellent action to his arm side with sink, 80-83 mph. Godfrey pitched primarily off of his off –speed pitches, clearly not his best outing of the year worked 1.1 innings, struck out two and allowed nine runs.

4/5/14 - The LSU commit held velocity longer into the game in his second start of 2014.  Came out sitting 90-91 in the first inning.  In the third, dipped down and flashed a few 87's before reaching back and touching 93 twice. In the fifth and sixth worked at 85-88 touching 89. Fastball stayed mostly straight, and struggled to command down in the zone early in the game. Settled down later and commanded fastballl down in the zone better, albeit at lower velocity. Maintained velocity on 75-78 breaking ball all game. Flashed vertical 12-6 break occasionally, eight of nine strikeouts came on the breaking ball. Actually showed more sweeping slider action on strikeouts to right handed hitters, possibly throwing curveball and slider, although velocities are similar. Change flashed plus action at 80-81 and showed swing and miss potential. Godfrey struck out nine, walked two, hit two, with seven wild pitch/passed balls in six innings of work. The first run scored on a wild pitch, from third after being balked to second. The second two runs scored on sac-flies after base runners moved from first to third on consecutive wild pitches. Struggled with command out of the stretch. Sets hands higher than where they started in the windup, breaking his hands earlier in his delivery, leading to curve and change bouncing before home plate at times. Has a better rhythm in the windup,  “bumping” his hands up and down before they break.  Athleticism shows the ability to make adjustments and clean up things as the season progresses.

Originally committed to Notre Dame, Godfrey opened up his recruitment in March, 2014.

5/24/13 - Notre Dame recruit. No. 3 prospect in Illinois, No. 10 overall. Strudy pitchers build, 6-foot-3, 220-pound right handed pitcher, solid lower half, strong upper body. Delivery is repeatable and athletic, shows direction to his target, stays intact for long stretches. Arm works from a high ¾ slot, clean loose arm action with extension, quick strong arm. Fastball showed command, has late life through the hitting zone, mostly arm side run, works down in the zone, misses were mostly down, pitched at 87-90 mph, touching 91 and 93 mph in the first inning. Showed the ability to hold on to his velocity at 88 mph in his final inning. Curveball shows advanced action, works on an 11/5 plane, 74-75 mph, occasionally touching 77 mph, shows advanced depth and control.  Flashed a changeup at 78 mph with some sink and arm side run. Godfrey clearly proved why he is one of the top prospects in his class. His strong arm coupled with a plus potential breaking ball shows he has the tools to pitch at a very high level. His strudy build and command of the baseball also proves that he will be on the radar of many pro scouts in 2014. 7 IP, 7 K, 2 H, 0 R.

The 6-foot-3, 170-pound Godfrey will no doubt be one of the most coveted Class of 2014 right-handers in the Midwest. Long and loose, Godfrey is one of several top-level arms on Team Illinois in the Prep Baseball Report Midwest Future Games on August 4-5 at the University of Illinois.

Godfrey proved in the spring he can compete with the best, as he posted an impressive 6-1 record for Providence against top-level competition in the Chicago Catholic League. Godfrey’s fastball comfortably sits in the upper-80s, and we’ve seen him up to 91 on occasion. He also throws a harder curveball that has the chance to be a wipeout pitch.

As Godfrey continues to physically develop, he has the talent to become one of the premier arms in the country.