Illinois 2017 Rankings: Newcomers

November 23, 2015

By Drew Locascio
Illinois Scouting Director

The Illinois updated 2017 rankings were released last week and a couple of days ago we took a deeper look inside. We highlighted a handful of prospects who elevated their games this fall and in turn rose in the rankings. Today we take a gander at some guys who stood out since the last update and now find themselves in the rankings for the first time. Many of the newcomers were new to the PBR circuit or players we had been trying to get our eyeballs on for a while and finally were able too. A total of 25 prospects are newcomers to the Top 125 and below we will highlight a handful of them. All of the prospects listed below are currently uncommitted and should be high follows moving forward.

Two right-handed pitchers made a strong statement at the Class of 2017 Showcase in October and catapulted themselves into the Top 25 of the rankings. RHP’s Ken Brokop (Bradley-Bourbonnais) and Jeffrey Zack (Romeoville) now come in at No. 23 and No.25 respectively. 6-foot-3 Brokop sat 86-87 mph, touching 89 with his fastball, flashed the ability to repeat his delivery and throw three pitches for a strike. 6-foot-3, 200-pound Zack on the other hand looked to be more of a two-pitch reliever as of right now. He sat a heavy, 89-90 mph, down in the zone with his fastball and proved he could spin a breaking ball with depth to it. Both RHP’s made the top overall prospect list from the event.

SS Lee Musgraves (Von Steuben) impressed two separate times this fall and is now ranked in the Top 50. Everything Musgraves does on the baseball field is fluid and he always seems to be under control. He flashes athletic defensive actions, soft hands and enough arm strength to play shortstop at the next level. Offensively, loose, quick hands that create whip and bat speed. He was one of the top performers at both of the showcases he attended this fall and came in as the No. 3 overall prospect at the Chicagoland Open. Musgraves recently registered for the Preseason All-State event, strictly for 2017 prospects, held on February 14^th at The MAX which is shaping up to be a big-time event. Any 2017 graduate interested CLICK HERE to request an invite.

SS/RHP Jordan Mikel (Plainfield South) was another prospect the PBR scouting staff had never seen before this October’s Class of 2017 Showcase. 6-foot-4 Mikel shined at the event and is ranked 50^th in Illinois. He is an extremely interesting, projectable prospect on the infield and on the mound. As a position player he features athletic actions, a strong arm from multiple arm angles and moves well laterally given his frame. At the plate he generates easy bat speed and registered a 93 mph exit velocity. On the mound, the long limbed right hander sat 82-85 mph, touching 86. Four-pitch repertoire with two distinct breaking balls and throws all of his pitches with conviction.

Another position player who made a statement at the Class of 2017 Showcase in October was catcher Matt King (Downers Grove North). Solid bodied King now ranked No. 58 was one of the top backstops at the event. Smooth swinging switch-hitter has good catcher actions behind the plate and registered pop times ranging between 2.03-2.15.

Coming in at No. 61 in the state is lean and athletic 6-foot-2, 180-pound RHP Michael Lasiewicz (McHenry). Lasiewicz threw a fastball for strikes with arm-side-run, sitting 84-85 mph, touching 86 from a high ¾ slot at the Class of 2017 Showcase. Also, flashed a changeup with plus action at times, good feel and sat 70-72 mph.

Keep your eyes peeled the next couple of days to find out how Illinois shapes up in the Overall 2017 Rankings that was revealed last week.

CLICK HERE for a look at the updated rankings.

Illinois 2017 Rankings: Newcomers

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