Jeff
Hightower

8/9/14 - 6-foot-3, 185-pound lanky and athletic right-handed hitting catcher currently ranked No. 68 in Illinois’ 2015 class.  Committed to St. Joseph’s College.  High level, projectable athlete behind the plate with a professional frame.  Hits from a balanced, slightly open setup, short stride, hands load back smoothly, producing short, level bat path with barrel awareness and extension.  Hit several line drives from gap-to-gap with fluid rhythm and 88 mph exit velocity off the tee.  Advanced catch and throw skills behind the plate, with pop times ranging from 1.93-2.04 at 80 mph from the crouch.  Short, loose, over the top arm action with carry.  Showcased soft hands receiving, quick footwork, and quick, clean exchanges on the transfer.  Ran a 7.79 60, 4.96 seconds from home to first.

7/9/14 - 6-foot-3, 180-pound right-handed hitting catcher impressed as the top catch and throw prospect at the Metro East Open.  Defensively, fired off pop times ranging from 1.95-2.0 with accuracy and carry down to second base from a short, quick, high ¾ arm action.  Showed soft hands receiving during the pitching portion of the showcase, and possesses a large frame/target to throw to.  Hits from a narrow, balanced setup with a short stride, whipping bat through the zone with a short, level bat path producing 86 mph exit velocity and line drives from gap to gap.  Ran a 7.78 60 and 4.75 from home to first.