Eric
Erato

Northern Illinois commit. 6-foot, 170 pound left handed hitter. Ripped a 2 RBI triple into left field during his team’s Friday night matchup against GRB Green. Has a balanced setup with a short leg lift stride and a smooth load. He has a slightly uphill path to the baseball and a gap-to-gap approach at the plate. His loose hands and fast bat speed provide him with easy power behind his swing. Showed it again on championship Sunday with four hits in two games, two for extra bases. 

Body: 5-foot-11, 170-pounds. Lean frame, loose levers.
Positional Profile: INF 
Run: 6.89 runner in the 60. Above average rum, high stepper.
Hit: LHH. Balanced stance, tall and relaxed setup, short stride, good balance through contact. Easy swing, path finishes slightly uphill, above average bat speed, loose hands. 
Power: 88 mph exit velocity from the tee. Should develop with added strength.
Defense: Hands play soft, advanced actions work through the baseball, plays tall at times.
Arm: RH. INF - 88 mph. Loose arm action, over the top slot, multiple slot release when on the move.

11/10/18 - Verbally committed to Northern Illinois.

7/31/18 - Erato was on time almost all day at the plate, and had a couple doubles to show for it. High-waisted with longer strides, he may also be able to play a corner outfield position in the future along with his current third base spot. Still thin and wiry, his current gap power will likely get a jolt when he fills out. The load works naturally down and back, and he remains balanced against both left and right-handed arms. He also hopped on the mound, and closed out the win for the Hitters utilizing a three pitch mix.

7/30/18 - Erato finally broke through in his final at-bat of Game 1 at OK Limited Series for the Hitters when he roped a line drive single through the right. Still adding strength to a wiry frame, the left-handed hitter sets up balanced in a slight crouch rocking his weight back with a short stride that separates his hands down and back with a minor coil. He works uphill through the zone with a two-handed finish that allows him to spray line drives to all fields.

6/19/18 - Uncommitted. Erato worked 84-85 with his fastball while exhibiting a short, quick arm, and creating a downward plane to the plate. He had a clean delivery, which he repeated with ease, and made some big pitches throughout his outing. HIs 70-71 slider took some shape, but was thrown with slower hand speed out front. The shape of the pitch varied between 11/5 and more of a sweeping slurve. Wide-shouldered at 5-foot-11, 170-pounds, Erato has lean, wiry-athleticism, and may have a chance to throw even harder in the future. The left-handed hitter was balanced at the plate on day 2 showing an easy load and flat path. He’s a player to follow given his athleticism and easy stroke, and with the potential of being a two-way player, he may become even more valuable to a program at the next level at some point in the future.

2/25/18 - 5-foot-11, 160-pound left-handed hitting two-way player, lean projectable frame, shows upside a legitimate two-way prospect. Hits from an open setup, smooth loading action, short quiet stride to even, maintains good balance. Little effort creating bat speed, path is short and level stays on top of the baseball, strength will continue to come. Contact consistently on a line, 80 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively actions play through the baseball athletically, soft hands cushion to release, plays tall at times, good body control, attacks the slow roller. Arm action plays over the top, carries across, 86 mph. 7.11 runner in the 60. On the mound delivery is simple and repeats, mechanically sound. Full arm circle, works quick out of high ¾ slot. Fastball slightly sinks, 83-86 mph, touched 87 mph. Curveball has 11/5 shape, near fastball arm speed, 70-73 mph. Changeup fades, showed above average feel, 74-76 mph.

7/24/17 - 5-foot-11, 155-pound, athletically built, lean, highly-projectable, two-way prospect. High-ceiling position player with a smooth left-handed bat. Offensively, confident look in the box, balanced setup, fluid pre-pitch rhythm, loads into backside, short stride and maintains good balance through contact. Short bat path, stays level through the hitting zone, line-drive approach; 83 mph exit velocity from a tee. Defensively, natural fluid actions, plays under control, soft receptive hands, fields athletically and plays through the baseball. Clean transfer, loose, athletic arm action, throws were accurate and carried at 80 mph across the infield. Also, ran a 4.44 home-to-first in game. On the mound, right-handed pitcher, smooth, tall and fall delivery, stays on-line, regular effort throughout. Clean, uninterrupted arm action from an over-the-top slot. Did not allow a hit in his one inning of work. Fastball, downhill tilt, 78-80 mph. Curveball works 12/6, tight spin and depth, 66-68 mph. Changeup was 74 mph.

5/9/17 - 5-foot-11, 155-pound, athletic right-handed pitcher. On the mound, high ¾ arm slot, short arm action, lands square, works across body, falls towards first base. Fastball, flashed run, 72-74 mph. Curveball, 11/5 shape, 60-64 mph.

4/9/17 - 5-foot-10, 155-pound, athletic two-way prospect. Loose arm action. Fastball sat 75-78 mph, works mostly straight. Curveball, plus feel, kept down in the zone, 11/5 shape 67-69 mph. Changeup was 71-73 mph. Velo started to fall in the third inning of work.

2/26/17 - Projectable frame, lanky with wide shoulders, 5-foot-8, 150-pound left-handed hitting two-way player, projects best as a position player. Balanced setup, short stride, excellent balance through contact. Repeats well with loose hands, simple approach to the middle of the field, line drive gap to gap type hitter. 80 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively showed actions and body control, hands play, exchange is quick and clean, plays through the baseball, stays tall some. Arm action is loose, over the top slot, accurate across with carry, 77 mph. 7.25 runner in the 60. Arm action is short, high ¾ slot. Fastball topped at 80 mph, 77-79 mph. Curveball has 11/5 shape, showed depth, has feel of the strikezone, 66-68 mph. Changeup flashed cut, 68-71 mph.