Jim Sakas

Jim Sakas has been coaching baseball for over 25 years and is the son of legendary local pitching coach Steve Sakas. After his playing days as a pitcher at Illinois State University, at age 23, he was named the head baseball coach at Niles North H.S. After 17 years as a head coach Jim resigned to spend more time with his family. He retired as the winningest coach in school history which included conference and regional championship teams including his 1991 team which finished with 28 wins to only 6 losses and earning the Vikings a #2 state ranking. During his tenure at Niles North, 6 pitchers were drafted & scores more played in college.

Jim has been one of the most successful and sought after pitching coaches in the Chicagoland area for many years. He has coached pitchers as young as 7 up to the Major League level. He is also the pitching coach for Christian Friedrich, a 2008 1st round draft pick by the Colorado Rockies and former college Division 1 All-American and 2010 Minor League Futures All-Star Game participant last July in Anaheim. Jim also serves as an Associate Scout for the Baltimore Orioles. Jim currently has 11 pitchers on Division 1 rosters and had 2 players in the minor leagues: Christian Friedrich and Scott Kelley (KC Royals, Hersey HS).

2010-11 Division 1 players include: Matt Murphy (Southern Illinois Univ), Jesse O'Connor (Air Force Academy), Dan Kelley (Tennessee Martin Univ) and Tyler Schweigert (Eastern Illinois Univ).

Slammers Training Academy product is currently ranked # 1 Baseball America MLB Top Prospect

Chrisitan Friedrich (pictured below) is currently listed in the Top 50 Prospects in the Major Leagues. Christian, who works with Slammers Pitching Coach Jim Sakas, was a 2008 1st Round Draft Pick by the Colorado Rockies. Christian completed his 1st professional season in 2009 in Class A Levels notching 159 strikeouts with only 43 walks while posting a 2.41 ERA.

Christian Friedrich

CLICK HERE FOR RECENT PRESS RELEASE ON CHRISTIAN

Jim's Training Costs:

Private Lesson (1/2 hour/each)

Members: $50.00

Non-Members: $55.00

Member Packages (1/2 hour/each)

20 Lesson Package: $900.00 (Members ONLY)

Jim's Group or Team Pitching Workouts

Contact Slammers for Jim's current availability/scheduling

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