Nathan
Chapman

RHP Nathan Chapman (Jacobs): The Jacobs junior sat 85-86 mph – up from the 82-84 range in August – with a well-above-average curveball, 75-76 mph, featuring sharp 11/5 action.

Eastern Illinois commit, currently ranked No. 56 in the Illinois 2022 class. Lanky, strong 6-foot-3, 192-pound frame with room to fill out. Started on the mound and was lights out against the No. 3 team in the state; going six innings while scattering just four hits, no earned runs, eight strikeouts and two walks. The right-hander’s arm works short out of the glove into a high ¾ slot, playing quick to release. Down the mound, Chapman works quickly from balance point into a drop/drive lower-half, striding in-line to the plate while landing square. HIs fastball sat mostly in the 87-89 mph range early on, topping out at 90 mph with finish through the zone. His curveball was his go-to secondary offering, playing off a sharp 11/5 plane with tight spin, thrown in any count with depth and feel for the bottom of the zone, 71-76 mph with manipulated shape at times for strikes. 

6-foot-3, 192-pounds; long-limbed with room for added strength. Stretch-only delivery, starts with front foot closer to first-base, utilizes a drop/drive lower-half down the mound, reaching balance point and then moving into an up-tempo stride down the mound while remaining in-line. Arm works quick from a short, over-the-top slot, creating a tough downhill angle for hitters. Fastball sat 86-88 mph with running action into right-handed hitters (20.7 inches of max IVB; 15.9 inches of average IVB). The right-hander showed off a tight slider with an average spin rate of 2,317 rpm (T2407 rpm) that sat in the 76-78 mph range, showing short 10/4 shape and thrown with fastball arm-speed. He utilized a tumbling 11/5 curveball in the 74-76 mph range with depth and  advanced feel for the zone, landing it for a strike 75% of the time. He rounds out his four-pitch mix with a firm changeup in the 80-82 mph range, diving to his arm side and killing spin, landing it for a strike 40% of the time while routinely keeping it low in the zone.

Built at a sturdy 6-foot-2, 200 pounds; got the start for the Golden Eagles against Barrington on Saturday. Attacks the strike zone with a three-pitch mix, which helped him strike out 10 batters in four innings. He allowed four hits – though even fewer barrels – walked only one. Stretch-only. Touched 87 mph a couple times in the first two innings; sat mostly 83-85 otherwise. Fastball runs/carries out of a short, quick high ¾ slot. Curveball is aggressive, 71-74 mph, flashed late 11/5 action; demonstrated confidence to use it in any count, regardless of the handedness of the batter. Some over-reliance on it, hung some that led to some scattered trouble. Threw a few changeups, 78-79 mph, at arm speed with sink/fade; quality third pitch.

Positional Profile: RHP/
Body: 6-2, 200-pounds. Strong, athletic build.
Delivery: Pitched exclusively from the stretch, front foot closer to third base, showed some rhythm in the delivery, strides in-line with the plate, lands slightly closed.
Arm Action: RH. Arm works quick and from a short, high 3/4 slot.
FB: T89, 86-89 mph. Creates angle on the fastball, jumps out of his hand. T2174, 2061 average rpm.
CB: 78-79 mph. Thrown with aggression, same arm-speed as his fastball, sharp 11/5 shape, thrown for strikes as well as at the bottom of the zone to put hitters away.  T2460, 2346 average rpm.
CH: 81-83 mph. Thrown with similar arm-speed as his fastball, flashed fade, kept down in the zone. T1541, 1495 average rpm. 

Positional Profile: RHP
Body: 6-foot-2, 200-pounds. Sturdy build.
Delivery: Stretch only delivery, simple lift and go, tall and fall type, works in line and lands square.
Arm Action: RH. Short, loose arm action, quick arm out of high 3/4 slot.
FB: T86, 85-86 mph. Plays with run to arm side. T2102, 2005 average rpm.
CB: 76-77 mph. Sharp action 11/5 plane, lands for strikes. T2281, 2226 average rpm.
CH: 78-79 mph. Thrown with arm speed, sink and fade action to arm side. T1438, 1370 average rpm.

Positional Profile: RHP
Body: 6-2, 185-pounds. Proportional frame with more room for projection.
Delivery: Stretch only, slight drop/drive type delivery, tall posture at balance point, lead leg swings to footstrike, level shoulders, stays in line with his target.
Arm Action: . Compact arm action, high 3/4 slot.
FB: T84, 82-83 mph. Plays with some downhill angle from an elevated arm action, straight action. Mixes north to south. Averages 17.7 inches of induced vertical break, maxing at 20.7 inches.
CB: 69-71 mph. 11/5 shape, flashed sharp action with some depth.
CH: 75-77 mph. Near fastball arm speed, slight arm-side action and sink at times. 

Positional Profile: OF 
Body: 6-foot-2, 185-pounds. Athletic, strong build.
Hit: RHH. Quiet, balanced setup, minimal load, short stride and maintains balance through contact. Strong hands, present bat speed, long uphill path and gap-to-gap approach.
Power: 83 mph exit velocity from the tee. 
Arm: RH. OF - 84 mph. Short, quick arm action, over-the-top slot.
Defense: Profiles as a corner outfielder; attacks the baseball at times, steady hands.
Run: 4.5 runner home-to-first. 

Delivery: Stretch-only delivery, repeatable, works on-line and lands front toe closed at times.
Arm Action: RH. Long draw out of the glove, over-the-top slot, quick out front.
FB: T81, 79-81 mph. Works mostly straight, occasional arm-side-run.
CB: 68-69 mph. Best secondary offering. 11/5 plane, sharp action and thrown with intent.
CH: 71-72 mph. Works the bottom of the zone, sinking action, potential swing-and-miss offering.

6-foot-1, 185-pound, right-handed hitting/throwing two-way player, present strength and athleticism, advanced for age. At the plate, balanced, crouched setup, minimal load, short stride, maintains control. Fluid path works long and uphill with strong hands, hard gap to gap contact, power potential. Easy, fast bat speed, exit velocity topped 85 mph from a tee. Defensively long strides, squats to field, long to release. Short arm action, over the top slot, throws topped 75 mph from the outfield. 4.75 runner, home to first. Stretch only on the mound, low hanging balance, strides in-line, toe lands closed, spins to third at release. Long arm action, shoulders open early, over the top slot. Fastball, 2-seam run down, 74-76 mph. Slider, 10/4 shape, 66-68 mph. Changeup, occasional fade, 68-71 mph.