Keegan
Waters

Verbally committed to Lewis University.

Decommitted from Illinois-Springfield.

Uncommitted, 6-foot-5, 2105-pound, right-handed pitcher continues to add quality strength to his frame. Got the start for Morris and intrigued in his three-inning stint despite getting tagged with the loss. Waters showed off a quality three-pitch mix throughout. Ran his fastball up to 87 mph a couple of times, mostly sitting 84-85. He showed control of the fastball working mostly straight and to his glove side with occasional ride through the zone. His favorite secondary looked to be a firm slider 78-79 mph that he has the ability to manipulate depending on count and situation. Landed for strikes early in the count a number of times and broke it off the plate or below the zone with two strikes. Also flashed an above-average changeup with feel and late running action. Waters went three innings (68% strikes), scattered three hits, four runs, one earned, struck out six and walked one. Uncommitted junior arm to follow moving forward.

One of the top uncommitted prospects in attendance was RHP Keegan Waters (Morris, 2024). Currently ranked No. 66 in the state, the 6-foot-5, 205-pound right-hander showed off a big arm, sitting right in the 86-88 mph range throughout his ‘pen with two different fastballs; the first being a four seam that played generally straight, while the second was a sinker with heavy downward action and dive. He went to a short, gyro slider at 75-79 mph and a changeup at 80-81 mph to fill out his mix, developing the command of the pitches as of now but still flashing as above-average offerings.   

Positional Profile: RHP/1B
Body: 6-5, 205-pounds. Strong build, well proportioned.
Delivery: Uptempo, high leg lift with tuck, tall and fall delivery.
Arm Action: RH. Long, clean arm action, high 3/4 slot.
FB: T88, 86-88 mph. Lively, rides through the zone, flashes arm-side run at times. T2110, 1934 average rpm.
SL: 75-78 mph. Short, 10/4 horizontal shape. T2025, 1906 average rpm.
CH: 80-82 mph. Fade to the arm side, maintains arm speed. T1889, 1618 average rpm.

Uncommitted. Attended our Underclass Preseason All-State event back in February. Big frame, strong upper body, 6-foot-3, 185-pounds. Drew the start for Morris and batted sixth. Uptempo tall and fall delivery with some effort, slightly closes off to home, athletic balance point, works down hill, lands squared to home. Short arm action, hides the baseball until release, 3/4 slot. Waters’ fastball played with late arm-side run, creating difficulty with a 3/4 release slot, sat 83-86 mph and topped at 87. The curveball sat 73-75 mph and played with multiple breaks, flashed slurvey-type action. Changeup played with sink at 78-79 mph. Looked the part of a follow uncommitted prospect in the state's sophomore class.

Positional Profile: RHP/C
Body: 6-3, 185-pounds. Tall, lean build.
Delivery: Side saddle. Loose, tall and fall delivery. Coil through front hip at balance point. Works on line to target. Front side opens early at times.
Arm Action: RH. Loose, clean arm action. 3/4 slot.
FB: T85.4, 82.3-85.2 mph. Heavy. Hard sinking action. T1962, 1750 average rpm.
CB: 70.3-72.6 mph. Slurve type action. Some lateral movement at times. Thrown from same arm slot as fastball. T2108, 1954 average rpm.
SL: 71.4-74.0 mph. 10/4 shape. Gets around it. Back up action at times. T1714, 1642 average rpm.
CH: 75.0-77.8 mph. Fading and sinking action. T1589, 1538 average rpm.

Waters, on the other hand, is a big-bodied 6-foot-3, 185 pounds with a heavy sinking fastball out of a ¾ slot, sitting 82-85 mph. Waters also showed some of the better zone feel of the day, controlling four pitches for strikes, creating a unique starter profile. 

Positional Profile: RHP/C
Body: 6-3, 185-pounds.
Delivery: Tall and fall delivery, strong at balance point, high front side and some effort throughout.
Arm Action: RH. Compact, clean arm action, over-the-top slot.
FB: T82.3, 81.00-82.30 mph. Lively out of the hand, creates tilt and late run. T2075, 1866 average rpm.
CB: 62.36-64.31 mph. 11/5 to 12/6 shape, tight spin at times. T2052, 1795 average rpm.
SL: 69.32-71.90 mph. Thrown aggressively, late horizontal action. T2020, 1860 average rpm.
CH: 70.46-73.10 mph. Late sink and run. T2014, 1569 average rpm.