After an all-state senior baseball season at Streamwood, Nick Weaver wasn’t getting the looks he was hoping for and felt that he deserved from the Division I level.
Elgin Community College coach Bill Angelo believed that he had the perfect home for the emerging catcher, however, and Weaver ended up at ECC.
Weaver just completed his second spring with the Spartans, earning the Illinois Skyway Collegiate Conference’s player of the year and a scholarship to Eastern Michigan.
In hindsight, according to Weaver, it has been a perfect match.
“I made sure the whole coaching staff knew that because it couldn’t have gone any better for me or the program,” he said. “I feel like (Angelo’s) the type of coach everybody would like to play for.
“He’s exactly who he says he is. Everything he told me was how everything panned out.”
Angelo knew he had a top prospect on his hands when he pursued Weaver in high school. What he received over two seasons was everything he could have hoped for and then some.
In 103 career games, Weaver totaled 130 runs, 138 hits, 29 doubles, seven triples, four home runs and 93 RBIs. He hit .408 with an eye-popping .510 on-base percentage.
This season, Weaver improved behind the plate defensively, throwing out a shade under half of would-be base stealers and also cut his passed balls allowed from over 20 to four.
“He probably will go down and one of the best players I’ve ever coached,” Angelo said of Weaver. “What he did behind the plate and for the pitching staff, and then offensively, just a super smart player that truly cares about his teammates and wants to help them get better
“Guys like him don’t come around very often. I’m thankful I got to an opportunity to be a little part of his journey.”
In the fall, Weaver finally got his Division I scholarship offer from Eastern Michigan, which came as no surprise to Angelo. The numbers speak for themselves.
It’s what he’s seen behind the scenes that stand out even more to Angelo.
“He’s special,” Angelo said. “There’s no doubt. Having to get him on your team for two years, you see how special he is and how different he is than the rest. It’s so awesome having a guy like him.”
Weaver played last summer for the Illinois Valley Pistol Shrimp, a summer college team in the Prospect League. While Weaver hit only .221, he was exposed to pitching at the highest level.
Brody Brecht and J.J. Wetherholt, two players from the league, were first-round picks in last year’s MLB draft.
Streamwood coach Dan Jennings and his son, Charlie, were able to see a few of those games.
“I think that summer really helped him, seeing that Division I pitching,” Jennings said of Weaver. “He’s going to go on to play a lot of high-level baseball.”
Weaver confirmed it opened his eyes but also made him realize he belonged with those players.
“It was better pitching than I ever saw before,” Weaver said. “The struggles last year helped me. It was a super fun experience with us winning the league.
“Going into the fall, it helped me keep working and stay where my feet are.”
Eastern Michigan also took notice. The opportunity he felt he was ready for in high school is now at hand. And Weaver hopes it’s the next step toward his own draft day.
“I know I can hang with the big guys,” Weaver said. “Now it’s kind of like, ‘I told you so.’ It’s nice to know that I’m so close to the end goal of getting drafted and playing pro ball.”
After what Angelo saw the past two seasons, he won’t put anything past Weaver.
“I am not surprised that he is playing Division I baseball,” Angelo said. “And I will not be surprised when he gets drafted at some point in his career.”
Paul Johnson is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
