Back in May, after a few months of the high school season, we released our inaugural 2026 class rankings, which included 20 of the top 2026s in Illinois, that we had seen to-date. After a handful of months and a number of big summer events we have updated and expanded the incoming sophomores in Illinois once again. The list expanded to a Top-60 with a number of prospects left off the list that will be sure to impact it in years to come. At this early stage in their high school career the depth of knowledge on each and every prospect varies greatly. A number of the players who earned their spot in the rankings are players we have seen multiple times and have had more than one look at them. 

With three full high school seasons left, the rankings are sure to shuffle over the next several years as prospects separate themselves and physically mature.

At The Top

The top three in this update remain unchanged, though in a slightly different order. MIF Ethan Bass (Glenbrook North; Illinois commit) now sits atop the class, followed by RHP Callaghan O’Connor (Bishop McNamara; Notre Dame commit) and CIF TJ McQuillan (Mount Carmel; Louisville commit) remaining in the No. 3 position.

+ Bass has been making steady strides to his game all year long. A standout for Glenbrook North this past spring, Bass kept his strong play flowing into the summer, showing well on the PBR circuit numerous times. The 6-foot-2, 160-pound two-way standout seemingly improved each time we laid eyes on him, continuing to cement himself as one of the top prospects in the Midwest. 

“... the Illinois commit is a versatile athlete that can play the infield, outfield and also jump on the mound and show well above-average stuff. Listed at 6-foot-1, 165-pounds with more lean strength to come down the road, Bass ran a 6.97 60, was 88 mph across the infield, T97 exit velocity, 361’ max distance and topped at 88 mph on the mound as well. The right-handed hitter has a knack for hard, lifted contact working with an uphill swing and averaged 91.9 mph off the bat, well above-average for his age. Defensively, he is a natural athlete that moves with all kinds of pace and bounce to his step. Even with his impressive showcase performance, Bass tends to elevate and show even better in a game setting where his baseball IQ, athleticism, pitch recognition and multiple other attributes shine. On the mound, Bass showed off a long and loose arm that played well, topping his fastball at 87.9 mph, and sitting 85-87 mph. He mixed in two separate breaking balls. His curveball showed 11/5 shape, with tighter action, and his slider showed 10/4 shape, and was thrown from a slightly lower slot. Bass is a big name to follow in the coming years in Illinois’ 2026 class”.

(Ethan Bass)

+ O’Connor turns heads immediately thanks to his towering 6-foot-6, 195-pound frame. The big right-hander moves extraordinarily well, especially for his size, giving him some of the highest upside in the entire class. His fastball can climb into the upper-80s, playing with life and noticeable arm-speed. He also has a knack to spin the breaking ball, going to a sharp 11/5 breaking ball in the upper-70s with out-pitch potential. 

+ McQuillan, a Louisville commit, has done nothing but continue to hit in front of our scouting staff. The 6-foot-1, 210-pound slugger has premier raw power from the left side, and his polished approach makes him one of the more dangerous bats in the Midwest. Here’s what our scouting staff had to say about McQuillan and his showing at the Illinois State Games:

 “...left-handed slugger showed noticeable raw power in BP. McQuillan’s firmest ball jumped off his ball at 100.5 mph, averaging 92.7 mph per batted ball, and he did so while routinely elevating the baseball (330 ft. avg), swatting his furthest an estimated 392 feet, per TrackMan. On top of that, McQuillan ran a 7.01 60-yard dash and was 83 mph across the infield”.

(TJ McQuillan)

+ After a highly impressive look in Rantoul last month, RHP Paddy Roth (St. Patrick; Illinois commit) emerged a major winner from the Illinois State Games, earning the event’s Most Valuable Pitcher honors as well as climbing to fourth overall in these updated rankings. The 6-foot-3, 195-pound right-hander is a clean mover with a loose/whippy arm, looking to have much more in the tank as he continues to mature physically. 

“...was arguably the top performer on the mound at the Illinois State Games. Roth, who stands at 6-foot-3, 195 pounds, threw three innings, struck out seven, walked one, allowed no earned runs, and two hits. He features a loose arm with acceleration out front and athletic actions down the mound. Roth’s fastball sat in the mid-80s, topping out at 88.7 mph. Sitting in the upper-70s, his changeup had an average of 16.4 in. of horizontal movement, and he showed the ability to use it effectively and land it for strikes. He rounded out his arsenal with a slider that sat 69-72 mph. Roth looks every bit the part of a high-end follow on the hill in the 2026 class”.

(Paddy Roth) 

+ MIF Landon Thome (Nazareth) checks in at fifth overall in these updated rankings. The 5-foot-10, 155-pound middle-infielder still has some filling out to do, which will only benefit his already powerful left-handed swing. As only a freshman, Thome was a key piece for the Roadrunners as they captured their second 3A State Championship in as many years. 

“​​…started at second base for the state champion Roadrunners. Calm, collected presence at the plate, advanced and mature approach for age. Simple and direct left-handed swing with little swing-and-miss in our looks. Limits zone expansion and selective in hitters counts. Advanced bat-to-ball skills for age, fluid hands that stay through the zone on a level plane, controls the barrel. Knack for consistent contact, will start to hit for more power as he mature physically. Soft glove that works out front, rhythmic feet, comfortable mover on the dirt. A high-end prospect in the Illinois’ 2026 class, currently No. 4 overall, who’s skill-set is seemingly capable of positively impacting the game in multiple ways”.

(Landon Thome)

+ Making his rankings debut at sixth overall, OF Nolan Ramoley (Brother Rice) has some of the loudest tools in the entire state. A 6.54 runner in the 60-yard dash, Ramoley has game-changing speed which plays both on the bases as well as the outfield - where he can also reach up to 89 mph from a crow hop. Listed at 6-foot-1, 190-pounds, he has some present strength throughout his frame while still holding room to add on muscle as he matures. The right-handed hitter has a loose and rhythmic swing, staying routinely on the barrel and reaching up to 98.4 mph for his max EV. He was also a winner from the Illinois State Games this past August, finding a number of barrels in gameplay against mostly older competition. 

“...looks the part as a potential top prospect in the state for the 2026 class, standing in at 6-foot, 185-pounds with present strength throughout. The RHH found consistent barrels in gameplay, and showed tools on both sides of the ball. Ramoley was a big winner during the workout portion of the event as well; running a 6.54 60-yard dash, displaying a strong arm (89 mph) from the outfield, and posting a max exit velocity of 94 mph during batting practice.”

(Nolan Ramoley)

+ 1B Brody Landgraf (Columbia, 2026) and C Addison Latko (DePaul College Prep; Illinois commit) secure the No. 7 and No. 8 spots, and were both key factors in their teams success this spring that ultimately led them to Peoria for the IHSA Class 2A State Series. 

+ Landgraf jumped up the board a few slots, finding himself at No. 7 in this update. He is sure to catch the attention of coaches with his 6-foot-5, 200-pound build that still shows signs of development on the way. Last year for the Eagles, Landgraf hit .367 with two home runs, 33 RBIs, and 10 extra base hits, including going 2-for-2 with a triple and two RBIs in the Class 2A State Semifinal. The left-handed hitter has a simple swing that creates hard contact off the barrel. Landraf projects as a power threat as he continues to mature physically. 

“...Physical 6-foot-5, 200-pound athlete with a body capable of further filling out as he gets older. Left-handed bat that started at first base and hit in the six-hole for the Eagles. Generates easy bat and hand speed from the left side, staying flat and in the zone throughout. Found the barrel with authority twice in this look - a deep line out to the opposite field and a no-doubt line drive home run over the right field fence in a key situation. Runs well for his size, moves around the bag comfortably in I/O. Also played varsity basketball this winter as a freshman. A name-to-know prospect in the Illinois’ 2026 class.”

(Brody Landgraf)

+ Latko has continued to solidify himself as one of the state’s best backstops, now sitting at No. 8 in the class. A standout at the Illinois State Games in August, Latko impressed with his confidence and vocal leader traits as well as an equally impressive gameplay and showcase performance. The right-handed hitter has an intenful swing that shows a knack for getting extra base hits. A high-level defender, too, Latko’s quickest pop time is a 1.99 with a 79 mph velocity on his best throw down to second. 

“...continued to show why he is one of the top ranked players in Illinois’ 2026 class. A confident player and vocal leader, Latko impressed all-around during his time in Rantoul. He has clear athleticism and strength in his 5-foot-8, 157-pound build. He posted a max exit velocity of 92.8 mph and a max distance of 363 ft while consistently working on the barrel to the pull-side from a fast, intentful right-handed swing. Defensively, his athleticism played well where he produced his quickest pop time of 2.02 with his best throw being recorded at 78 mph. He continued to stand out in gameplay as his power was on full display. He barreled the baseball to all parts of the field, working mostly gap-to-gap. From the crouch, Latko showed soft hands with an ease to block the baseball, and a strong arm as he threw out multiple runners trying to steal second. The Illinois commit has all the makings of a high-end prospect in the state’s sophomore class.”

(Addison Latko)

+ Anthony Eberlin (Edwardsville; TCU commit) and Gavin Swartz (Normal University; Indiana commit) are two right-handed pitchers from the Southern and Central parts of the state that occupy the No. 9 and No. 10 position, respectively. 

+ Eberlin stands in a lanky 5-foot-10, 160-pounds build with room to add more physical strength as he matures. Still fully learning how to control his body downhill, Eberlin saw brief time on the mound for the 4A state champion Tigers. Eberlin’s ceiling will only continue to rise as he continues to mature physically and he figures to be the next name-to-know arm from the state’s southern region. 

“...TCU commit and one of the top arms in the Illinois’ 2026 class. Lanky, high-waisted 5-foot-10, 160-pound athlete with plenty of room for physical projection. Started on the mound for the Tigers in a tough matchup against Columbia. Quick upright worker, front hip creates forward momentum down the mound, decelerates quickly onto a firm lead leg, finishes towards the first base side. Still learning how to consistently control his body downhill. Short, compact, and tight arm path, finishes out of a loose high ¾ slot. Fastball backspun up in the zone with life at times, holding 84-86 mph throughout with more to come. Spun his curveball at 73-76 mph, flashed to land it for strikes, gradual action. A high-ceiling arm that should continue to trend upward as he physically matures and gains more control of his levers.”

(Anthony Eberlin)

+ Swartz, who has Division I bloodlines, is a high-follow prospect in his own right, standing at 6-foot-2, 160-pounds with plenty of room to add strength. He dominated in a look this summer at Creekside, attacking hitters consistently with a mid-80s fastball, touching 87 mph, and getting whiffs at the top of the zone with his heater. Off that, he spins a low-70s curveball that he’s plenty confident in and will throw in all counts, landing it for strikes in our looks. Swartz should only keep trending in the right direction as he continues to add strength and further polish up his arsenal. 

(Gavin Swartz) 

UPDATED Top 10

RANK	NAME	STATE	SCHOOL	CLASS	POS	COMMITMENT
1	Ethan Bass	IL	Glenbrook North	2026	SS	Illinois
2	Callaghan O'Connor	IL	Bishop McNamara	2026	SS	Notre Dame
3	TJ McQuillan	IL	Mount Carmel	2026	3B	Louisville
4	Paddy Roth	IL	St. Patrick	2026	RHP	Illinois
5	Landon Thome	IL	Nazareth	2026	SS
6	Nolan Ramoley	IL	Brother Rice	2026	OF
7	Brody Landgraf	IL	Columbia	2026	1B
8	Addison Latko	IL	DePaul College Prep	2026	C	Illinois
9	Anthony Eberlin	IL	Edwardsville	2026	RHP	Texas Christian
10	Gavin Swartz	IL	Normal University	2026	RHP	Indiana

 

**Click here for the full 2026 rankings**

 

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