By Sean Duncan
Executive Director

Although it’s still very early in the process, Illinois’ 2016 class is shaping up to be a special group of prospects. More so than other classes, this crop of rising sophomores looks to have more positional balance throughout, including several high-level middle infield prospects – something that has particularly lacked in past years.

Over the last three months we’ve seen hundreds more 2016 prospects, with many new names emerging. The Prep Baseball Report Class of 2016 Top Prospect Games, held at UIC’s Les Miller Field in late July, helped put this talented class into sharper focus.

Tyler Fitzgerald, an athletic SS from Rochester HS, jumps to the No. 1 spot after he earned top prospect honors at the Top Prospect Games and had a strong showing at the Midwest Future Games. The 6-foot-1, 165-pound Fitzgerald is a 6.8 runner, possesses tremendous bat speed at the plate, is a top-level defender, and plays the game with intensity, yet with easy athleticism.

Fitzgerald narrowly edges out SS Nick Derr (Geneva HS), a Florida State recruit who is also a top-level athlete. RHP Anthony Holubecki (Kaneland HS) jumps to the No. 3 spot after he topped at 89 mph, sitting in the 86-87 range, at the 2016 Top Prospect Games. RHP Drake Fellows (Joliet Catholic Academy HS), 3B/RHP Cal Coughlin (Carmel HS), SS Jeremy Houston (Mount Carmel HS), and C Sam Ferri (Niles Notre Dame HS) are all high-level prospects as well.

C/1B/RHP Joe Polak (Quincy Notre Dame HS), who features big power potential at the plate, athletic SS Luke Shadid (Peoria Notre Dame HS), and 3B/RHP Mitch Owens (Moline HS) are new names in top 10 rankings.

Other big risers in the 2016 class include OF/3B Josh Shaw (Morgan Park HS), OF Andrew Dyke (Brother Rice HS), LHP Justin Vivar (St. Rita HS), 3B/OF Jordan McFarland (Gibault HS), RHP Brad Littleton (Coal City HS), LHP/OF Drew DeMumbrum (Plainfield East HS), and switch-hitting SS Mike Madej (Providence HS), to name a few.

Rank	Name	State	School	Class	Pos	Commitment
1	Tyler Fitzgerald	IL	Rochester	2016	SS
2	Nick Derr	IL	Geneva	2016	SS	Florida State
3	Anthony Holubecki	IL	Kaneland	2016	RHP
4	Drake Fellows	IL	Joliet Catholic Academy	2016	RHP
5	Cal Coughlin	IL	Carmel	2016	3B
6	Jeremy Houston	IL	Mount Carmel	2016	SS
7	Sam Ferri	IL	Notre Dame	2016	C
8	Joe Polak	IL	Quincy Notre Dame	2016	C
9	Luke Shadid	IL	Peoria Notre Dame	2016	SS
10	Mitch Owens	IL	Moline	2016	3B

Complete Top 50 Class of 2016 Rankings