Ryan
Hampe

An offense first backstop who is improving behind the dish, Hampe has good pull side pop and takes consistent, quality at-bats. The transfer from John A. Logan JC (IL) has a little length to his swing, but has good balance and a quiet approach. And, he has always hit, including a .351/.401/.524 slash as a true freshman for U Illinois-Chicago in 2019. Behind the dish he has strong intangibles with the ability to manage the game, call pitches and works well with the pitching staff. He also shows improving arm strength and a 2.09 game POP (2.00 between innings), but has a longer release as he tends to stand up to throw. With that said his present average arm strength and release were, from my looks, at all-time highs this fall as his ball showed 4-seam backspin with on-line accuracy to the bag. Hampe also has some adjustments to make with his receiving/framing skills, but with already at least average blocking skills there is a foundation in place for a near average ML-caliber catcher in the future. Whether he makes the needed adjustments in time for the 2021 draft, or needs some more seasoning preparing for 2022, Hampe looks poised to become another in a long line of Illini catching prospects dating back to former Major Leaguer Darin Fletcher (Illinois- 1985-87, MLB- 1989-2002).

Currently hitting .317 with a .512 SLG% through 41 at-bats. There is some length to his swing, but he takes quality at-bats with good balance and a quiet approach.Behind the dish he has strong intangibles with the ability to control the game, call pitches and works well with the pitching staff. He also shows near average arm strength and a 2.09 game POP, but has a longer release and tends to stand up to throw. With better than average blocking skills, Hampe has some adjustments to make with his receiving/framing skills.

5/31/18 - Illinois-Chicago commit. 6-foot, 200-pound catcher,strong sturdy build. Durable backstop, hands stay soft and shows big arm with carry out of the crouch. Popped as low as 1.97 between innings. Right-handed hitter, hits three-hole, balanced and quiet in the box. Strong hands, ball will jump off the bat at times, bat strength hitter with feel for the barrel, can spray gap to gap with hard contact to both sides of the field. Path has slight lift, works well for him, will create airborn contact more often than not with double to home run pop.

3.28.18 - Illinois-Chicago commit, currently ranked No. 37 in the Illinois’ 2018 class. 6-foot, 200-pound, durable, well-proportioned, right-handed hitting catcher. One of the best all-around catchers in the state. Had a big day with the bat going 3-for-3 with a double and a run scored. Advanced approach, stays within himself and uses the whole field. His first two hits were line-drives into the right-center field gap. Good feel for the barrel and consistently makes hard contact. Bat stays flat through the zone, gets extension through contact. Defensively, quiet receiver, squared setup, flexible in the hips and willing blocker. Strong arm, throws are true and carry, consistently on the bag at second base in between innings; 2.0 pop times.

9.15.17 - Illinois-Chicago recruit on Cangelosi, has a strong, durable lower half on a 6-foot, 200-pound frame. He has a fast bat, generating strength through contact. He smoked a line drive back up the middle in his first at-bat and then flew out to deep left-center field in his second. He stays short and quick to the baseball, keeping within himself and maintaining balance through contact. Defensively, he has a strong, accurate arm from the crouch and his throws stay true. He’s a quiet receiver and sticks pitches in the zone.

5.19.17 - Verbally committed to the University of Illinois-Chicago.

5.13.17 - Uncommitted, currently ranked No. 54 in Illinois’ 2018 class. Solidly built 6-foot, 200-pound right-handed hitting catcher, proportionally strong with defined lower half. Turned in stellar all-around performance against Homewood-Flossmoor, finishing 2-for-3 with a two-run homer to centerfield and a run-scoring double to right-center. Drove in three runs as Sandburg’s 4-hole hitter. Aggressive approach in the box, above-average bat speed with strength in hands. Showed equally well behind the plate. Arm is strong and highly accurate with quick, clean release. In game, gunned down a high-level athlete with a 2.04 thigh-high strike on the bag. Consistently ranged in the 1.97-2.05 range between innings. Overall solid receiver, handled upper-80s velocity and 78-80 mph slider fine. Overall, looks to be one of the top uncommitted catchers in Illinois’ 2018 class.

4.25.17 - Currently ranked No. 54 in the Illinois’ 2018 class. 6-foot, 200-pound, durable, strong, right-handed hitting catcher. Impressed behind the plate. Presents a good target, able to get low in his setup, can stick the pitch at the bottom of the zone, soft, quiet hands. In between innings, showed off a strong, accurate arm, throws stayed on a line, 2.00-2.07 pop times. Confident in his arm, looked to back pick in game. Offensively, wide, slightly crouched setup, stays balanced. Flashed a quick bat, just missed a ball on a fly-out to deep left field. Finished the day 0-for-2 with a walk.

2.19.17 - 6-foot, 200-pound catcher, solid build. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, slightly crouched setup, toe tap stride, solid balance. Long loose bat, gap to gap type approach, shows bat speed, 87 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm action is short and over the top, loose arm with carry, 76 mph arm. Soft hands, blocks well, active and agile out of the crouch. 2.00-2.14 pop times. Ran the 60 at 7.56, laser timed.

7.20.16 - 6-foot, 200-pound right-handed hitting catcher. At the plate hits from a balanced setup with a smooth load and short stride. Gap to gap hitter with an uphill path and fast bat. Showed strength thru contact with 91 mph exit velocity from a tee. Ran the 60 at 7.77. Defensively has a short arm action from an over the top slot. Quick footwork with solid actions behind the plate. Active blocker in bullpens. Popped 2.08-2.12 and threw 79 mph from the crouch.

7.20.15 - 5-foot-11, 185-pound catcher, strong solid build. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, reverse toe tap stride, lower half works, maintains balance. Showed bat strength, level path, 84 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm plays short and over the top, showed occasional carry, 74 mph. 2.07-2.19 pop times, exchange is clean, showed softness in hands.

1.18.15 - 5-foot-10, 180-pound right-handed hitting freshman catcher. Above average bat for age, balanced stance, reverse stride loading action, bat wrap load, level path , gets extension, gap to gap with more pull tendencies. 79 mph exit velocity from the tee. Good path, solid follow with the bat. Defensively arm plays short and over the top, 71 mph out of the crouch. Pop times at 2.19-2.26, deliberate footwork out of the crouch, solid glove work and hands. Similar actions at third base, hands played, heavier footwork. 8.48 runner in the 60.