Nicholas
Bestrick

Verbally committed to Southwestern Illinois JC.

Uncommitted. Bestrick played a big role in Sandburg’s 3-2 week, helping lead the Eagles to a 4-0 win over Bolingbrook, tossing a complete-game shutout, allowing three hits and three walks, while recording seven punchouts.

Season Stats: 5-0, 32.2 IP, 4 ER, 51 K

RHP Nick Bestrick (Sandburg, 2024) is an uncommitted right-hander to know within the state. 5-foot-10, 180-pounds with some strength throughout. Bestrick worked his fastball in the 85-87 mph range while spinning it over 2400 RPM at times. He showed confidence in a mid-70s breaking ball, spinning around 2300 RPM with feel to land for a strike and to put hitters away.

+ RHP Nick Bestrick (Sandburg, 2024) stands in at 5-foot-10, 180-pounds with strength in his lower half. On the mound Bestrick impressed with his ability to attack hitters and comfortably turn to any offering regardless of count. Bestrick’s fastball played at 86-88 mph, touching 89 mph, and he consistently threw it in the zone. Off that, Bestrick showed a true power cutter that he throws with intent (T85 mph) and he consistently threw it to the glove-side, too. He spun two different breaking balls, a low-to-mid 70s curveball with tight downer movement that he throws for strikes and an upper-70s slider that plays with sweeping action, and he threw a changeup with hard-running action (T18.8” HM) at 78-80 mph. Bestrick is a high follow uncommitted arm in the state’s 2024 class. 

Positional Profile: RHP/RHP
Body: 5-10, 180-pounds.
Delivery: Controlled tempo, high leg kick into a drop and drive lower half, works in-line to home.
Arm Action: RH. Short arm action into a high 3/4 slot.
FB: T89, 86-88 mph. Plays with life out of the hand with feel for the zone. T2414, 2259 average rpm.
CB: 74-76 mph. Short downer action, can land for strikes. T2443, 2352 average rpm.
SL: 77-79 mph. Tight sweeping action. T2377, 2255 average rpm.
CH: 78-80 mph. Plays with fading action and hard running movement. T1877, 1735 average rpm.
CUT: 84-85 mph. Works glove side with gradual cut.

Uncommitted. Listed at 5-foot-11, 185-pounds with some strength throughout and round shoulders. Started on the mound on Sandburg and impressed despite receiving the loss. Short and to the ear out of the glove into a high ¾ slot. The right-hander has some effort in his delivery but held velocity well, working 87-90 mph throughout his outing with sinking action at times. Went to a short lateral cutter at 82-85 mph to pair off the fastball, as well as an 11/5 breaking ball at 70-75 mph, manipulating shape between tighter break and bigger action. Flashed a straight changeup at 81 mph. Uncommitted arm to follow closely moving forward. 

Positional Profile: RHP/OF
Body: 5-10, 180-pounds. Well proportioned with strength.
Delivery: Smooth tall and fall delivery, lands square and finishes upright.
Arm Action: RH. Short, quick arm action, high 3/4 slot.
FB: T88, 85-87 mph. Life out of the hand, plays straight with finish through the zone. T2307, 2119 average rpm.
CB: 70-71 mph. Sharp spin, 12/6 shape, flashed depth. T2115, 2024 average rpm.
SL: 71-73 mph. Similar shape and action to curveball, thrown with intent. T2229, 2166 average rpm.

One of the biggest winners on the mound from Sunday was RHP Nick Bestrick (Sandburg). 5-foot-10, 175-pounds with an athletic build. The right-hander works with a controlled tempo throughout his delivery; coiling into balance point before moving into a drop/drive lower-half, striding in-line with the plate. His arm is short of the glove and plays from a high ¾ slot; creating a fastball up to 86.8 mph, sitting right at 86 mph throughout his entire ‘pen with a max IVB of 19.4. He showed some feel for both his breaking balls; with the curveball sitting at 71-73 mph and playing with 11/5 downer shape. While his slider sat 74-75 mph with shorter 10/4 action.  

Positional Profile: RHP/OF
Body: 5-10, 175-pounds. Compact frame, strong lower half.
Delivery: Controlled tempo throughout, coils into balance point, drop/drive lower-half, remains in-line with the plate.
Arm Action: RH. Short arm out of the glove into an over-the-top slot.
FB: T86.8, 86-87 mph. Life through the zone. T2287, 2188 average rpm.
CB: 72-73 mph. Downer 11/5 shape. T1902, 1884 average rpm.
SL: 74-75 mph. Short 10/4 shape. T2341, 2244 average rpm.