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Top-10 Stories of 2022: No. 7 Former Illinois HS Products Debut In The MLB

December 22, 2022
By Drew Locascio
Illinois Scouting Director

Illinois made waves this past summer during the MLB Draft when two Illinois HS products; RHP Owen Murphy (Riverside-Brookfield; No. 20 Braves) and LHP Noah Schultz (Oswego East; No. 26 White Sox) got drafted in the first round and signed for the first time in history, since the inception of PBR. Alongside such a monumental 2022 draft, a number of players who hail from Illinois made their big league debut for the first time. On top of that, a number of other prospects who came out of Illinois High Schools, made impacts for their major league clubs throughout the year, with INF Nick (2015; Phillies) and RHP Phil Maton (2011; Astros), brothers from Glenwood HS, teams facing each other in the World Series.

Glenwood, located on the southside of Springfield, also produced LHP Reid Detmers (2017) who was a first-round pick (No. 10 overall) by the Angels in the 2020 MLB draft out of the University of Louisville. Detmers ascended quickly to the big leagues and on May 10th of this year, twirled a no-hitter against the Tampa Bay Rays at the age of 22, making him the youngest pitcher to throw a no-hitter since 2006.

In total, eight players who hail from Illinois high schools made their big league debut in 2022 with OF Alek Thomas (Mount Carmel; 2018), arguably making the biggest splash. Thomas was the No. 1 player in the Illinois 2018 class and passed on his commitment to play both football and baseball at TCU after getting drafted in the second round (No. 63 overall) by the Arizona Diamondbacks. Thomas was another quick riser to the MLB, winning the 2021 Diamondback Minor League Player of the Year en-route. Thomas played an elite level center field once getting promoted to the majors on May 8th and was selected as a NL Centerfield Gold Glove Finalist. Thomas has quickly been considered one of the best center fielders in baseball and his +6 defensive runs saved in centerfield was tied for fourth best in the NL despite starting just 102 games this season.

Below is a look at all of the other former Illinois HS products who made their first major league appearance this season (Listed Alphabetically):

Rylan Bannon INF / Joliet Catholic, IL / 2014

Bannon, a 2014 Joliet Catholic graduate, made his debut for the Baltimore Orioles on May 12th. Bannon was a top-100 prospect coming out of high school and really came into his own while in college at Xavier. Bannon received a host of awards following a big junior season, earning Big East Player of the Year, ABCA/Rawlings Northeast All-Region First Team and was selected in the eighth round of the 2017 draft by the Los Angeles Dodgers. 

Bannon, ended up getting 14 at-bats in 2022 and became the first Orioles player since 2000 to record a hit on the first pitch of his first at-bat in the big leagues. Bannon is currently with the Houston Astros.

2.18.2013

Colin Holderman RHP / Bradley-Bourbonnais, IL / 2014

Holderman was the No. 36 ranked prospect coming out of Bradley-Bourbannais in 2014 and originally attended Southern Illinois out of high school, but transferred to Heartland for the 2016 season. While at Heartland Holderman showed a mid 90s fastball and in turn committed to Mississippi State before being drafted in the ninth round by the New York Mets in the 2016 Draft, ultimately signing. Holderman, now with the Pittsburgh Pirates, made his major league debut for the New York Mets on May 15th.

The 6-foot-7, 240-pound hard-throwing reliever saw action in 24 games on the season (split between the Mets and the Pirates), sporting a 3.81 ERA in 28.1 innings pitched. Holderman struck out 24 with a 1.20 WHIP and batters hit just .206 off of him with no home runs.

Mike Massey 2B / Brother Rice, IL / 2016

Massey, a standout at Brother Rice, was the No. 21 ranked prospect in the 2016 class and attended the University of Illinois. While at Illinois, Massey was a starter since his freshman year, playing in over 50 games every season with a career average of .324 with 43 doubles and 110 RBIs in 159 total games. 

Massey was ultimately selected in the fourth round of the 2019 MLB draft by the Kansas City Royals and made his MLB debut this summer on July 15th. In 52 games this season, Massey hit .243 with nine doubles, a triple, four home runs and 17 RBIs. This summer PBR College Crosschecker David Seifert did a look back on Massey in his "Then & Now" piece. 


6.23.15

Michael Papierski C / Lemont, IL / 2014

Papierski, ranked No. 5 in the Illinois 2014 class out of Lemont HS, earned PBR Illinois Second-Team All-State Honors his senior season:

The 6-foot-3, 210-pound LSU recruit was a dominant force behind the plate and at the plate. The switch-hitter tallied 12 doubles, three triples, eight home runs, 30 RBI and 42 runs scored. Papierski, who has one of the strongest arms in the state, was walked 29 times and finished with an amazing .543 on-base percentage. Drafted in the 16th round by the Toronto Blue Jays.

Papierski was drafted in the 16th round out of high school but turned it down to attend LSU where as junior he hit .256/.401/.477 with 11 home runs and 39 RBIs in 65 games, and was named to the SEC All-Defensive team after throwing out 23 baserunners. Papierski made two College World Series appearances (2015 and 2017) while at LSU.

Papierski was ultimately selected in the ninth round in the 2017 by the Houston Astros and made his major league debut with the San Francisco Giants on May 21st. Papierski ended the season with the Cincinatti Reds and collected his first home run on August 7th.


2.2.2014

Chuckie Robinson C / Danville, IL / 2013

Robinson was a highly-sought after prospect in the 2013 class, committing to Southern Mississippi out of high school. Here is what Executive Director Sean Duncan had to say about Robinson before the Super 60 his senior season in 2013:

Robinson has garnered considerable buzz thanks to his arm strength and raw power. No doubting Robinson’s physical prowess: he’s a hulking 6-foot-2, 220 pounds with wide shoulders and a strong lower half. His arm strength, too, is undeniable, along with his athleticism (7.20 60 time). The Southern Mississippi recruit registered a top pop time of 1.93, with a velocity of 82 mph from the crouch. His receiving skills and offensive abilities are raw, though he possesses impressive bat speed and strong hands.

Robinson played at Southern Miss for three seasons and was drafted by the Houston Astros in the 21st round of the 2016 MLB Draft. Robinson had only played 22 games at the Triple A level before he was called up by the Cincinnati Reds on August 24th this year.

Chuckie picked up two home runs on the year in 59 at-bats. 


2.3.2013

Cody Sedlock RHP / Rock Island Alleman, IL / 2013

Like Massey, featured above, Sedlock was another University of Illinois product who made their major league debut in 2022. Sedlock was ranked No. 10 in the Illinois 2013 class coming out of Rock Island Alleman. In his junior season the hard-throwing RHP, led Alleman to a 2012 IHSA Class 2A state championship runner-up finish.

In Sedlock's junior season for the Illini he compiled a 2.49 ERA, throwing 101.1 innings, striking out 116 and scattering 80 hits. He went on to be selected No. 27 overall in the 2016 draft by the Baltimore Orioles. Sedlock had to overcome injuries in the minor leagues and finally made his long-awaited debut this year on May 29th for the Baltimore Orioles.

 

Jack Suwinski OF / Taft, IL / 2016

Suwinski was known as one of the top bats in the 2016 Illinois class, ranked No. 7 overall in the state and No. 146 nationally. The Indiana commit put up big numbers his senior season at Taft, earning PBR Illinois Second Team All-State Honors. He was later selected in the 15th round by the San Diego Padres in the 2016 draft, ultimately choosing to sign and enter pro ball. In 155 minor league games over 2021 and 2022 Suwinski hit 28 home runs, 30 doubles and 89 RBIs.

Suwinski was called up on April 26th by the Pittsburgh Pirates and delivered an opposite-field single in his first game. In total, Suwinski played in 106 big league games for the Pirates in 2022 and hit 19 home runs, 11 doubles and drove in 38. 

On June 19th, Suwinski became the first rookie in major league history to have a three-homer game that included a walk-off home run, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.


Super 60: 2.7.16

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