Joey
Butler

3/22/16 - Illinois State commit and ranked No. 48 in Illinois. 6-foot-2, 190-pound two-way prospect. Started on the mound and also hit in the three-hole for Minooka. Clean and easy arm action working slightly across his body. Pounded the zone and held a potent Providence lineup to no hits for the first three innings. Used a three-pitch mix throughout. Fastball ranged anywhere from 82-87 mph with downhill tilt when he got extension out front. Also, threw a breaking ball at 73 mph with 10/4 shape. Maintained arm speed and showed feel for a changeup which sat 79-81 mph. At the plate he hits from the right side and went 2-for-3 with an RBI on the day. Both of his hits were sharp line drives.

8/1/14 - While Butler was invited to the event as a pitcher, the 6-foot-3, 185-pound lanky athlete impressed at the plate as well, starting off day one going 4-for-4 with four singles on day one.  Overall, he finished 4-for-6 during the two days of games, with two walks, three stolen bases, three runs scored, and two RBI.  Butler ran a 6.90 60, threw 85 mph across the infield, and produced 91 mph exit velocity off the tee.  On the mound, Butler threw two scoreless innings with a strikeout.  His fastball sat in the 81-83 mph range, touching 85 and 86 one time apiece.  He also threw his curveball for strikes between 69-74 mph.

5.22.14 - Currently ranked No. 49 in Illinois’ 2016 class.  Legitimate two-way potential.Impressive 6-foot-2, 170-pound athletic frame.  Skinny with lots of room for projection.  Also a starter on the varsity basketball team as a sophomore. Right hander works from the far first base side of the rubber, and throws slightly across body, but does not affect command.  Shoulders can get off line at times, but still pounds zone.  Slow, deliberate delivery, with a noticeable pause at balance point.  Stays over the rubber well in load.  High ¾ arm action has some length in back as he drops ball down after breaking hands, but works in a good circle with no stab, hook, or wrap in back.Gets arm back up top creating good downward angle.  Arm action is free and easy, producing velocity with minimal effort.  Fastball ranged from 81-83 in the first few innings, dropped down to 79-82 later on, but held velocity all game. Pitched ahead in the count all day and up in the zone effectively late in counts.  Fastball is generally straight, but had good life on it late in the zone.  Curveball has 12-6 action, thrown at 70-71 mph.  Changeup thrown at 74-75, showing arm side sink, and thrown with same arm action as fastball.  His build is similar to older brother Jake, a two-time All-American pitcher at St. Francis and a potential pick in June’s MLB draft, who operates in the upper 80’s to low 90’s.  Offensively, hits from a balanced set up, with hands held extremely low in pre-pitch with bat facing straight up.  Raises hands quietly in pre-pitch load, keeps hands inside the baseball driving with back elbow.  First single up the middle past second base was impressive keeping hands in, on an inside-out swing.  Grounded a changeup hard past third in last at bat for second single of the day.  Stayed back on change and not fooled.  Looks to be an average runner.