Simon
Skroch

Minnesota commit. Ranked No. 46 in the Illinois’ class of 2024. 6-foot-1, 175-pound, projectable left-handed pitcher. Got the start on the mound in the first game of a three game conference series. Skroch had an impressive outing, striking out 11 batters over six innings; allowed one run on three hits and one walk. Deliberate from the windup with a smooth and controlled rhythm. Healthy fastball/curveball mix throughout while mixing in a few changeups as well. Went to a four and two seam fastball, working both sides of the plate at 81-84 mph throughout the entire outing. Showed confidence in his 68-72 mph curveball, throwing it in any count, to any batter working off a 1/7 plane with depth. The changeup was shown mostly in warmups with some arm-side sink and sat 71-73 mph. At the plate, Skroch batted sixth and hit a double to the opposite gap in his first at-bat. 

Uncommitted. Wiry, 6-foot-1, 165-pound frame, highly projectable with room to fill out. Impressed on the mound against a talented Joliet West club on Tuesday; going six innings with eight strikeouts, three walks, four hits and just one earned run. The left-hander’s arm plays with a clean arm-circle out of the glove, moving into a high ¾ release. Skroch moves efficiently down the mound with an up-tempo pace; reaching balance point and driving off his back leg with a slight drop/drive lower-half, staying over the rubber with his back knee while striding out and remaining in-line with the plate throughout. His fastball worked 82-84 mph and reached up to 85 mph; playing with sink into the zone and setting up his other offering effectively. His go-to secondary pitch was a sharp 1/7 curveball in which he showed tremendous control for; spotting around the zone while also burying in the dirt when he was ahead in the count. Sure-fire 2024 follow for the coming years. 

Positional Profile: LHP/OF
Body: 6-1, 165-pounds. Lean build.
Delivery: Pitched exclusively from the stretch, starts with feet staggered, moves into a powerful drop and drive lower half while remaining in line to the plate, front foot lands square.
Arm Action: LH. Long arm circle out of the glove into a loose, high 3/4 slot.
FB: T84.1, 78.8-84.1 mph. Arm side run. Above average feel. T1916, 1720 average rpm.
CB: 66.8-67.7 mph. 1/7 shape. T1789, 1735 average rpm.
CH: 74.7-76.4 mph. Slight fading action, maintains arm speed. T1845, 1750 average rpm.

5-foot-10, 135-pound left/left outfielder/pitcher. Lean, wiry, projectable frame. Long and loose arm action, over-the-top slot. Works exclusively out of the stretch, deceptive drop and drive delivery, high front side, athletic finish, throws with some effort. Quick, fluid tempo throughout his start. Fastball sat 78-80 mph, touching 81 mph multiple times, played with natural late arm-side run, consistently pumped the zone. Held velocity deep into his outing sitting 77-79 mph in the sixth inning. Curveball sat 65-66 mph, 12/6 shape, swing-and-miss potential. Strung together the most impressive pitching performance of the weekend, throwing a complete game 11-strikeout no-hitter on Saturday. A high-follow in Illinois’ 2024 class.

Positional Profile: LHP/OF
Body: 5-10, 135-pounds. Athletic frame with plenty of room for continued physical development.
Defense: Attacks the baseball at times, steady hands and plays through.
Arm: LH. OF - 80 mph. Short arm action, high 3/4 slot and throws carried.
Hit: LH. Balanced setup, minimal load and leg-kick timing trigger. Quick hands, stays inside the baseball, flashed bat speed, line-drive approach.
Power: 80 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Run: 8.01 runner in the 60. 

Delivery: Stretch-only, tall and fall delivery, works on-line, highly-repeatable.
Arm Action: LH. Short compact arm action, works quick out of a high 3/4 slot.
FB: T82, 80-81 mph. Controlled the zone, works straight, late finish.
CB: 62-64 mph. Feel for the zone, flashed sharp action, depth, 12/6 shape.
CH: 69-71 mph. Maintains arm speed, straight action.