Joe
Aeilts

2nd Team All State: Aeilts hit .458 with nine doubles, five triples, one home run, and 29 RBI. The athletic third baseman went 32-for-33 in stolen bases, leading the Maroons to a 32-5 record and a No. 21 final ranking in the PBR Power 25. He also went 2-0 with two saves and a 1.33 ERA on the mound, striking out 27 in 21 innings pitched, allowing only 4 earned runs and 14 hits on the season. The Illinois State-commit was named first team Champaign News-Gazette All-Area, after being named their Player of the Year in 2014, when he hit .512 with 12 doubles and 10 triples a year ago. He is quickly rewriting the record books at Central, with one year of eligibility left remaining for coach John Staab.

5.16.15 - Currently ranked No. 83 in Illinois’ 2016 class. Solid 6-foot-2, 185-pound frame with proportional strength. Versatile athlete; can play third base and catcher well. Seemingly plays more third base on high school team out of necessity, but in second game of doubleheader he threw out Luke Shadid (one of the top athletes in the 2016 class) stealing second, 2.04 pop time, a thigh-high gloveside strike. Throws have easy carry (79 from crouch; 83 from third base at PBR event) and shows athletic feet. Above-average runner for size and positions; ran a 4.37 on infield single, 4.50 on 4-3 putout (6.99 60 at PBR event). Offensively, hits cleanup for team. Balanced setup, high back elbow, above-average bat speed. In the second game, went 2-for-3, which included a line-shot off the pitcher’s hip that knocked him out of the game. Also flew out deep to centerfield in the first game. … Came in to pitch in the second game, fastball ranged between 83-86 for two innings, topping at 87 three times. High-follow prospect in the 2016 class.

4.4.15 - 6-foot-2, 185-pound lean and athletic right-handed hitting 3B/C impressed defensively at both positions and with all around play. Aeilts wasn’t tested behind the plate, but threw 2.00-2.26 in between innings with carry and accuracy. Soft hands receiving, really impressed with glove at third base, made a great play diving to his left on a hard hit one-hopper. Short, athletic, high ¾ arm slot, plenty of carry across the diamond (83 mph in the past). Hits from a spread out stance, wide base, hi back elbow initially, hands load smoothly, long, uphill bat path, fluidity to swing, strength at contact. 3-for-6 on the day with two singles and a double.

8.6.14 6-foot-2, 185-pound right-handed hitting third baseman/catcher currently ranked No. 56 in Illinois’ 2016 class impresses both behind the plate and at the hot corner defensively.  Started as a sophomore at third for Champaign Central’s 35-3 Regional Championship squad.  Hits from a wide, balanced setup, front foot starts closed, utilizes a leg kick getting down late at times during batting practice.  Short, uphill, inside-out bat path drove several pitches to opposite field during BP, with 85 mph exit velocity off the tee.  At shortstop, throws from long, high ¾ arm slot with accuracy 83 mph across the diamond.  Showed average hands, clean exchanges, playing through the baseball.  Shows off similar arm strength behind the dish at 79 mph from the crouch with pop times ranging between 2.00-2.08, with accuracy and shortened arm action.  Quick feet on the transfer, lower half stays open.  Ran a 6.99 60 and 4.68 seconds from home to first.  Aeilts has versatility and should be able to catch and play third in college.

1.19.14 - 6-foot, 170-pound catcher. Offensively this from a balanced stance, athletic setup, excellent balance throughout. Creates some lag in his barrel, bat speed present, 81 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively posted pop times at 2.10-2.22, showed arm strength out of the crouch, 74 mph, slightly longer arm action. Feet work sideways out of the crouch, lacks direction, can improve pop times immensely with improved footwork. At third base showed playable hands, above average body control, 74 mph across the diamond.

8/7/13 - 6-foot 165-pound projectable catcher with a quick catch and release.  Pop times were in the 2.08-2.15 range with carry, and he receives the ball well.  Throws from a ¾ arm slot, with carry at 72 mph.  Offensively, he has a balanced set-up with a smooth load and short stride.  Showed a repeatable, line drive, up the middle approach, and flashed above average bat speed that produced an exit velocity of 80 mph.  He ran a 7.1 60.

5/5/19: Aeilts boasts an athletic-cut 6-foot-2, 200-pound frame with a pro's physique and good raw strength. The junior generates plus raw power in the box that plays all the way to the opposite field gap to go with above average arm strength and plus speed, clocking 4.09-4.16 seconds down the line from the right side. He has solid feel for the barrel and nice natural loft in his swing, while also showing an ability to work the zone and draw a walk. At times there is a little too much east-west movement in his head and core through his weight transfer, which can push him out in front of the ball – especially quality off-speed stuff – and can also leave him behind on quality velocity when he is swinging more defensively behind in the count, in each case leading to a little more swing-and-miss than you'd generally like to see in a top draft selection. In the field, Aeilts began the year on the dirt at the hot corner but transitioned out to right field for the first April series where he has shown a steadier glove and continues to display a strong arm. There's more work for him to do defensively in the infield at the next level and his bat, arm and speed all profile well in right field, making a permanent switch to the outfield a decent possibility. He has shown potential both at third and even behind the plate in the past, so a drafting team may have some flexibility as to how the ultimately utilize his skill set. Overall, Aeilts has plenty of impact potential thanks to three above average-to-plus tools and enough bat-to-ball ability for his raw power to play in-game at the next level. After a .268/.304/.387 slash as a sophomore in 2018, strength gains and improvements to his approach and swing with hitting coach, Wally Crancer, are key reasons for his breakout junior season. At present, he looks the part of a mid-to-late Day Two pick in the 6th-8th round range and given his production (.363/.417/.582 with 9 home runs and 12 stolen bases in 13 attempts) he could come off the board towards the earlier end of that window to a club placing a premium on college performers. (Faleris)