Matt
McCormick

West Virginia commit, currently ranked No. 5 in Illinois’ 2019 class. 6-foot, 205 pound, strong, durable catcher. Offensively, calm, relaxed setup, advanced approach, consistently finds the barrel and made hard contact to all fields. Electric bat speed, lets the ball get deep and hits it where it’s thrown. Advanced power for age, natural lift in swing, ball jumps off the bat and ability to backspin the baseball with ease. Finished 1-for-3 with a two-run home run to center field. Defensively, stuck pitches in the zone, playable receiving ability.

West Virginia commit. 6-foot, 205-pound durable framed and strong, athletic actions. Hit third and played third for St. Laurence finished with a line: 4QABs, 1-for-2, 2R, RBI, 2BB, SB. Advanced approach at the plate, presence in the box, controls the barrel and stays balanced through contact. Electric bat speed, lets the ball get deep and produces hard contact to all fields, goes where the pitcher pitches it. Power potential is prevalent, can naturally lift the ball to all fields. Reached on an error to his pull side, and slashed a single to his oppo side, flicked his hands for a line drive single, 4.38 on short turn. Was intentionally walked once, teams will pitch around. Came into relief tossing one inning with three hits, one earned, one K with 12 of 22 pitches for strikes. Simple delivery, low hanging knee balance, short stride in-line, closed toe, easy, controlled finish. Short, compact arm action, arm strength type, high ¾ slot, easy effort. Fastball had life late, slight same plane run, put to his glove side, 86-88 mph. Slider flashed tight spin, throws it hard in-game, 11/5 plane with some depth, 71-74 mph.

9.16.18 - West Virginia commit, currently ranked No. 4 in the Illinois’ 2019 class and No. 71 overall. 6-foot, 195-pound, catcher/infielder. One of the top left-handed hitters in the Midwest. Natural hitter, relaxed, confident approach. Sees pitches deep in the zone, advanced understanding of the strike zone, plus hand/eye, control of the barrel and uses the entire field. Loose, whippy hands, electric through the hitting zone.

5.8.18 - West Virginia commit, currently ranked No. 4 in the Illinois’ 2019 class and No. 73 overall. 6-foot, 200-pound, left-handed hitting catcher has shown well multiple times this spring and it continued against St. Rita. Pure hitter in every sense of the word; has tremendous plate coverage, bat-to-ball skills and present pull power. Advanced barrel control, hand-eye coordination and uses the entire field. Extremely tough out, consistent competitive at-bats, battles with two strikes, will spoil pitchers pitches. Balanced, crouched setup, hits from a strong sturdy base, minimal stride and gets separation. Loose, quick hands, bat speed, strong wrists and top hand; backspins the baseball. Finished the game 2-for-3 with a double, two RBI’s, a run scored. Hit a hard run-scoring single to right field in his first at-bat. Lined a two-strike RBI double to left field in his third at-bat and got just underneath a ball for a fly out to right field in his final at-bat. Also, showed off his pull-side power. Hit two pitches for no-doubt home runs that wound up just foul down the right field line. Defensively, clean transfer, short, over-the-top arm action and true ball with carry. Pop times in between innings ranged between 1.97-2.08. One of the top left-handed hitters in the Midwest. For more on McCormick check out his Week 6 and Week 4 scout blog.

4.26.18 - West Virginia commit. 6-foot, 200-pound left-handed hitting catcher, solid build. Premium left-handed bat, easy comfortable setup in the box, loose and on time, easy load and bat speed. Path is flat and gets extension, got on top of a 90 mph fastball for a homerun to right field. Tough out, shows plate discipline, contact jumps off the bat. Hits three-hole. Went 1-for-2, HR-RF, 3U, BB, IBB. 4.43 run down the line. 2.11-2.25 pops between innings.

4.11.18 - West Virginia commit, currently ranked No. 4 in Illinois’ Class of 2019. 6-foot, 200-pound, strong left-handed hitting catcher, athletic, sturdy build. Hits from a balanced setup, quick twitch, athletic hands, maintains balance and strength through contact. Has an approach at the plate, disciplined, sees the zone well. Offensive prowess is well-known, intentionally walked in first at-bat and pitched around in second vs. St. Viator. Used the entire field when given the opportunity, singled through the left side and then pulled a double to right field. Finished, 2-for-2 with a double, two walks and three runs scored. Defensively, quick feet, clean exchanges, over-the-top slot with some length in action. Popped 1.98-2.05 in between innings.

2.11.18 - West Virginia commit. 6-foot, 200-pound left-handed hitting catcher. Advance offensive catcher, balanced setup, short stride. Excellent hand eye, barrell aware, backspin contact, easy bat speed. Flat path with extension, barrel stays through the zone, gap to gap hard contact. 99 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm action has length, over the top slot, showed carry, 79 mph out of the crouch. Exchange has some length, 2.00-2.08 pop times. 7.13 runner in the 60.

7.27.17 - West Virginia Commit. Currently ranked No.2 in the 2019 Illinois class. 6-foot, 195-pound, left-handed hitting catcher with an advanced offensive approach. Squared up multiple balls to the opposite field including a home run and a double off the wall. Simple swing with strong hands, present bat speed. Defensively, popped 2.05-2.08 in between innings. High-level 2019 prospect.

3.28.17 - West Virginia commit. Currently ranked No. 1 in the Illinois’ 2019 class. 6-foot, 200-pound, catcher with a solid lower half. Continues to impress with his left-handed bat. Uses the middle of the field and works gap-to-gap. Seemingly hit every ball on the nose with his hardest hit ball resulting in an out. In his first at bat he drove an 88 mph fastball to deep center field, that despite the wind blowing straight in, still had a chance to leave the yard. In his final two at-bats he drove in three runners with two singles back up the middle. McCormick is rarely fooled, always seems on balance and understands the strike zone. Defensively, continues to improve behind the plate. Present arm strength, could continue to clean up footwork and exchange on throws; pop times in between innings ranged between 2.04-2.09. High level 2019 prospect. Went 2-for-4, with three RBI.

11.30.16 - Verbally committed to West Virginia.

Future Games 2016 - The 6-foot, 190-pound left-handed hitter, strong, sturdy build, solid lower half, wider shoulders. Advanced plate approach, mature beyond his years. Keeps it simple, minimal moving parts, direct, flat path, extremely strong hands which he uses to backspin balls to all fields. The ball jumps off his barrel with ease and carry. Takes pitches extremely well, calm demeanor in the box, high level of barrel awareness and strike zone. Registered 97 mph exit velocity. Although his left-handed bat is certainly his carrying tool, defensively he is solid. He had pop times that ranged between 1.97-2.07 with accuracy, and was 77 mph from the crouch. 

4.23.16 - Currently ranked No. 1 in Illinois’ 2019 class, No. 9 overall. Physically advanced 6-foot, 200-pound frame, strong lower half. High-level national prospect. Freshman hits third for one of the top teams in the state, and has already garnered respect as a premier left-handed power bat, regardless of class. That was evident when he was intentionally walked with two-outs and bases empty in the bottom of the seventh inning with Mount Carmel leading by a run to get to the No. 4 hitter. For his age, he is remarkably quiet and relaxed in the box; takes pitches well. Short and quick to the ball, strong through contact. Overall advanced hitter, has shown power to all fields. Known primarily as a catching prospect, but starts at St. Laurence at third base due to a senior catcher in front of him. Defensively, looked like a natural at third base. Solid lateral footwork, plenty of carry across the infield. In game, made a diving play to his right to rob a hit, popped up and fired a strike to first base. Certainly doesn’t comport himself like a freshman on the field.

9.5.15 - Big body left-handed hitter. Went 2-for-3 with a smashed double to deep center that one-hopped the wall. Presence in the batter’s box, present bat speed and easy pop. Quick stroke, balanced through contact and simple stroke. High follow in the 2019 class.

7.15.15 - 5-foot-11, 185-pound big bodied right-handed pitcher came out of the bullpen. ¾ arm slot. Loose, clean, quick arm; Good direction; Athletic finish. Fastball sat 80-83 mph with late life and arm side run. Flashed a curveball with good spin at 69-71. Throws the curveball with fastball arm speed and showed feel;  Showed a change-up in warm-ups at 72 mph. Had fade and sink. Also, hit three hole and is a left-handed hitter. Quick bat with present bat speed. Had a 91 mph exit velocity at a previous PBR event. High follow in the 2019 class.