In the end, everything worked out for St. Charles East’s James Feigleson.
He knew the summer before senior year is pivotal for baseball players looking to play in college.
The 6-foot-2, 180-pound shortstop entered the summer playing with his travel team, Top Pick Academy. He closed things out by committing to play at Illinois-Chicago.
“I went to UIC’s camp and I showed pretty well there,” Feigleson said. “Some of their coaches showed a little bit of interest in me. Then we had the Futures Games, a Prep Baseball Report event in Georgia. That was super fun.
“UIC saw me down there again and decided it was enough to make me an offer.”
Feigleson, a late boomer, has filled out his once-skinny frame. And the Flames, who play at Les Miller Field at Curtis Granderson Stadium, won out.
“It’s a beautiful school,” Feigleson said of UIC. “The field is incredible. They have great facilities. I love the coaches. I thought it was a great fit. It felt like home.”
St. Charles East coach Derek Sutor knows one thing. In addition to getting a quality baseball player, UIC is getting somebody who will be low maintenance.
“Every day you know the things you’re going to get,” Sutor said. “Practice, weight room, games, he’s ready to work. He’s somebody who takes his craft very seriously. He’s somebody who’s always trying to get better, very coachable.
“That’s the kind of player that you want to have.”
People tend to fall in love with exit velocity when it comes to hitters and pitching velocity on the mound. One thing that’s often overlooked is defense.
A shortstop since age 8, Feigleson takes great pride in his glove. It hasn’t gone unnoticed.
“I don’t have to hold my breath,” Sutor said of Feigleson. “Most of the time, it’s a play that’s going to be made. He makes hard plays look easy. He’s only gotten better — that’s the scary thing.
“Last year, he had 65 chances at shortstop and only had five errors. For that spot, that’s hard to do. But he’s somebody that will look at that and say, ‘I can do better.’”
Feigleson knows solid defense up the middle can help all aspects of the team, which is why he takes so much pride in that aspect.
“From a pitching standpoint, if I have a good defense behind me, I’m more likely to throw strikes and want to attack hitters,” Feigleson said. “I know if I get a ground ball, it’s going to be an out.
“Just being able to give your pitchers confidence, and honestly give the offense confidence, keep yourself in games. I think it’s a big part of the game.”
Sutor is impressed with how Feigleson’s bat has developed as well.
He had a big growth spurt going into his sophomore season, then started on varsity at third base and short. It took awhile for his body to catch up, but he hit his first varsity homer this spring.
“He’s turning more into a power hitter that can drive the ball,” Sutor said of Feigleson. “Spring can’t get here soon enough.”
Feigleson also is noticing those tangible differences at the plate.
“Sophomore year, my exit velocity was about 86,” Feigleson said. “At my last showcase, it was 98.1. It’s definitely way up, and you can see it in games.”
Now that Feigleson is reaching his development peak, his goals and aspirations have become clearer. He doesn’t have to look far to see a former Saint go to UIC and get drafted by MLB.
Cole Conn is a 2020 East graduate now playing for Double-A Midland in the Athletics organization.
“I wouldn’t be the first person to do it, but it definitely gives you some hope,” Feigleson said.
Paul Johnson is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
