I beleive that Erik Lis is without a dought the best hitter in the MVC right now - hes gunna be a sophmore and after his junior year the Sky is his limit

best local kid i personally know...jeff duncan, cf, new york mets. Attended Lincoln Way central and lemont high school. Played at the college level at Iowa State. After their baseball team folded, he started at Arizona State. Great individual too

Best local pro...Scott Speizio from Morris High School; the University of Illinois; and, then the Oakland A's and the Anaheim Angels.

He's a free agent now and I hope that the Cubs get him to play 1st base.

With the bandbox of a field, he'd likely hit 106 home runs next year as a Cubbie.

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Best college player...Grant Johnson, rhp, from Lyons Township and the University of Notre Dame.

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Huge...Erik Lis is on my list as one of the top local hitters of the past 20 years.

From our neck of the woods, young players I am personally familar with are:

Florida Marlins farm system, Greensboro Bats (A): Scott Olsen (LHP)

University of Arkansas: Scott Hode, JR (SS)

Although the well traveled lefty veteran reliever, Mike Myers, hails from this area

Ryan Kochen from batavia then to western michagen now hes with the Astros i believe

Matt Weber RHP
Boylan HS
Chicago Cubs Org. will start next season at Class A Lansing

Branden Sing, Joliet TownShip i herd will be invited to spring traning with the Cubs 2004,Hit 18 Homeruns 2002, was injured all of this past year. Justin Olsen form Oak Park,Twnis AA has hit 99 on the gun in fall league,Jay Shelley signed by the Brewers, from Berwyn.Bo Flowers Tigers a ball.

Current local players to keep-an-eye-on.....

Justin Olson - Minnesota Twins AA, Univ. of Illinois, OPRF
Threw 99mph a few weeks ago. Part-time instructor at
Strikes.

Jason Shelley - Milwaukee Brewers AA (2003 Independent League "Player of
the Year"), OPRF, Don't know which college. Throws 92mph.
Part-time instructor at Strikes.

Bo Flowers - Detroit Tigers A, Walter Lutheran H.S. (signed out of high
school). Part time instructor at Strikes.

"You observe a lot by watching."

Just a question...

How does a guy who hits under .180 in under 40 games be considered one of the top local players in the minors or college?

Bo's Stats
http://www.baseballamerica.com/cgi-bin/statsfindplayer.pl?player=Flowers

"I throw the ball right down the middle. The high-ball hitters swing over it and the low ball hitters swing under it" ---Saul Ragovin

Lewis...Because of his "tools" and the round in the draft, he'll get a much longer look-see in pro ball than anyone else might as a result of putting up such poor numbers.

He's likely seen what he has to do now to do well in the pros and he'll have to make major adjustments.

In my opinion, because of where he played in high school (the level of competition where he was a man playing against little boys), his national exposure with UDC and the national level of competition really helped him and helped get him drafted as high as he did.

HE needs to learn the strike zone and adjust from one at bat to the next. He can run, throw and hit with power. He'll have to work on plate discipline (not swinging at pitches over his head or sliders in the dirt). If he works hard over the winter, he should have a fine second season. They likely will assign him to a low A ball league.

He is just a baseball "puppy"...Pro ball is going to give him plenty of time to learn or to fail.

I agree with Lewis. .180=not so good, even if he has time to improve.

Boomer...Where are you?

You are supposed to be defending your selection of Bo Flowers...

BeenthereIL.....

O.K., since you want to play "devils advocate", here goes!!!

What does the topic say? "Best Local KID in College / Pros". So I mentioned several players I thought are the best???? I also stated that you should "keep an eye" on them.

Now, having said that, your post probably was the most accurate and descriptive of the other posts....Best Local College / Pro.

Justify Bo Flowers, why???? He is with the Tigers, and he isn't hitting well, BUT based upon all of the hype regarding "projectability", i.e., Joe Dunnigan (please, please, please.....I don't have it "in" for JD), pro scouts and teams obviously have better means of seeing into the future than we do.

If everyone wants to start "picking chicken poop with the chickens", then step-right-up, because until you have accomplished what Flowers, Spezio, Olsen, Shelley, Honel, Sing, Johnson, or whom ever, you can't just throw names out there.

Your post really summed-it-up-in-a-nutshell!!!

"You observe a lot by watching."

Not trying to diminish Bo or anything but all of the other guys you listed have actually had long strings of success at their level Bo hasn't. Spiezo, Honel, and Johnson all have earned the title best local player by playing well consistently, I'm just saying it's not fair to Spiezo and Honel to have Bo's name there just yet.

"I throw the ball right down the middle. The high-ball hitters swing over it and the low ball hitters swing under it" ---Saul Ragovin

Is this topic about who is in college/pro ball or is this the best local player? Let me know, because several people are missing VICTOR DIAZ.......go take a look at his stats..........especially the 2002 season. Mark Mulder mean anything to you people? Anyone know who he is?

myself being a providence grad ill have to say carmen pignatiello and kris honel

Lewis....

You make a good point, and it makes sense, thanks!

"You observe a lot by watching."

I think everyone has forgot about Dan Wilson from Barrington, Cliff Floyd for Thorton

that's Cliff Floyd from Thornwood...
Gorzelanny from Triton now with Pirates
best local pro has to be Mulder though...
College player: Grant Johnson (cross your fingers this year)
Minor Leaguer: Victor Diaz if he loses the weight....
gotta love Jeff Duncan though, he can flat out play

Slide...Saw Duncan for a few games with the Mets at the tail end of last year.

Does he have any "pop" in his bat. All I saw were weak grounders.

Is he just a speed guy who was rushed to the bigs because of the Mets problems?