By Phil Kerber
Associate Scout

 The 2020 Underclass Games will be coming to the University of Illinois-Chicago’s all-turf Curtis Granderson Stadium. The invite-only event, now in its fifth year, has become a premier destination for rising sophomores across Illinois and Wisconsin.

Now one year removed from high school, the Class of 2016 Underclass Games featured 31 (out of 52) Division I commits, with five drafts picks in the 2016 MLB Draft, including first-rounder SS Gavin Lux (Indian Trail, WI) and second-rounder C Ben Rortvedt (Verona, WI).

Fresh out of high school, The Class of 2017 Underclass Games featured 19 (out of 56) Division I recruits, including two draft picks, seventh-round pick OF Tyler Esplin (IMG Academy, FL) and 38th-round pick LHP Antonio Saldana (Joliet Catholic, IL).

A total of 40 of the 100 prospects from the 2018 and 2019 Underclass Games have already made commitments to Division I programs.

This year’s roster is shaping up to be one of the best yet. 10 of the top 20 ranked Illinois prospects will be in attendance along with seven of the top 15 in Wisconsin. Countless other prospects in attendance continue to see their stock rise as well.  

Some notable attendees from Illinois include RHP Connor Gill (Oswego East) whop topped out at 84 mph at a showcase in January. A pair of infielders to watch are: Anthony Mangano (Lake Zurich), a 5-foot-11, 165-pound, athletic left-handed hitting middle infielder with present bat speed, as well as Jacob Mote (Normal University), who already stands 6-foot-2, 180-pounds. Mote uses his advanced frame well, offensively and defensively, as he recorded an exit velocity of 90 mph and was 85 mph across the infield last fall.

Some other Illinois prospects poised to break out at the event are LHP/OF Noah DeLuga (Lake Zurich), RHP Connor Best (Coal City), RHP Zach Hise (Joliet Catholic), INF’s Marquis Jackson (Brother Rice), Ed Howard (Mount Carmel), Tony Livermore (Mount Carmel), Jack Mahoney (St. Viator) C Trevor Davis (Danville) and RHP/OF Eben Heine (Plainfield North) among others.

Trevor Davis 2.20.17

Making the trip down from Wisconsin will be the athletic LHP/OF Luke Fox (Catholic Memorial), who most recently was up to 85 mph at the Badger State Battle in early July and is an athletic left-handed hitting outfielder. At 6-foot-3, 185-pounds 3B Colton Coca (Case) will be one of the more physically intriguing prospects in attendance. Another top ten ranked 2020 in Wisconsin is left-handed hitting OF Gunnar Doyle (Oak Creek). Over the winter Doyle recorded a 91 mph exit velocity in addition to being clocked at 80 mph from the outfield.

The 2020 Ranking in Wisconsin were last updated in May, and since then several high end prospects have emerged and will raise some eyebrows at the Underclass Games. RHP George Klassen (Port Washington) has shown a potentially electric arm this summer. SS Michael Seegers (Home School) is emerging as one of the top middle infield prospects in the Midwest. RHP/OF Tyler Chadwick (Marshall) has one of the more projectable frames in attendance and showed an 82-84 mph fastball just two weeks prior. Alex Ryan (Lakeside Lutheran) is poised to see a big jump as well, an athletic outfielder who can really handle the bat.

3B Colton Coca (Case)

For complete roster CLICK HERE

CURRENT TEAMS

*Teams are subject to change*

TEAM 1	TEAM 2	TEAM 3	TEAM 4
George Klassen (WI)	Noah Deluga (IL)	Eric Erato (WI)	Tyler Chadwick (WI)
Patrick Straub (IL)	Connor Gill (IL)	Henry Schuler (IL)	Eben Heine (IL)
Drew Masset (IL)	Jake Margolick (IL)	Rohan Shah (IL)	Ben Gerl (IL)
Nolan Fasel (IL)	Cody Horon (WI)	Zach Hise (IL)	Jack Kuchel (IL)
Drew Henrikson (IL)	Will Tenuta (IL)	Alex Rohrer (IL)	Caden Carr (IL)
Johnny Kubin (IL)	Danny Doheny (IL)	Vince Borrelli (IL)	Chris Seropian (IL)
Tyler Heidkamp (IL)	Carter Endisch (WI)	Sean McLaughlin (IL)	Thomas Otto (WI)
Cole Bhardwaj (IL)	Connor Best (IL)	Tommy Kelly (IL)	Cameron Dupont (WI)
Isaac Crabb (IL)	Trevor Davis (IL)	Lucas Ryan - (IL)	Colin Bohanek (IL)
Ryan Maloney (IL)	Jake Masini (IL)	Bryce Peth (WI)	Michael Seegers (WI)
James Harris (IL)	Vincent Esposito (IL)	Nick Smith (WI)	Jack Mahoney (IL)
Colton Coca (WI)	TJ Mantueffel (WI)	Tony Livermore (IL)	Ed Howard (IL)
Anthony Mangano (IL)	Marquis Jackson (IL)	Mitchell Alba (WI)	Marc Babicz (IL)
Jacob Mote (IL)	Will Semb (WI)	Mason Hsieh-Bailey (IL)	Sam Buduris (IL)
Alex Ryan (WI)	Jacob Ferry (IL)	Tyler Call Verlanic (WI)	Nathan Gehrke (IL)
Gunnar Doyle (WI)	Luke Fox (WI)	Will Ross (WI)
Brandon Micetich (IL)		Nicholas Nielson (WI)

ITINERARY

MONDAY, JULY 25
All teams Position Players Check-In
 8:15 - 8:45 am - Position Players Check-In
 8:45 - 9:00 am - Stretch/Intro
 9:00 - 10:00 am - Team Batting Practice
 10:00 - 11:00 am - Defensive Workouts

Pitcher Only’s will check-in one hour before their first schedule game time.

Game Play
11:15 am - Team 1 vs. Team 2
 1:15 pm - Team 3 v Team 4

*NOTE: Games are simulated to regulate pitch counts and innings played

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