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Illinois Prospects in the Pros: National League

November 1, 2024
By: Josh Schoenberg
Illinois Staff

The Land of Lincoln has become a hotbed for baseball talent in recent years. Prospects from the state are littered throughout professional baseball and across all levels. With the 2024 Minor League Baseball season concluding recently, we wanted to highlight a variety of players from Illinois that put together impressive campaigns this season.

NL EAST

There are a handful of prospects from Illinois in the farm systems of the NL East. The Miami Marlins have a pair of prospects from the state that made noise during the 2024 season: C/INF Ryan Ignoffo (Cary-Grove, 2018; Eastern Illinois) and LHP Emmett Olson (Maine West, 2020; Nebraska). Ignoffo, who was selected in the 20th round of last year’s draft, saw plenty of success in his first professional season. He slashed .324/.374/.469 in 386 ABs across two different levels. Ignoffo was named the Florida State League Player of the Week from July 22nd-28th, and was rewarded with Florida State League All-Star honors following the season. Similar to Ignoffo and Head, Olson was also a 2023 draft pick. The southpaw pitched to a 3.16 ERA in 102.2 innings pitched across the A and High-A levels. Olson earned Midwest League Pitcher of the Week honors for the week of August 20th-25th after tossing five no-hit frames and racking up nine strikeouts in his August 23rd appearance.

The New York Mets have a pair of arms from the state of Illinois in their farm system, RHP Eric Orze (Glenbard North, 2015; New Orleans) and RHP Jack Wenninger (Cary-Grove, 2020; Illinois), Orze, a 2020 draft pick, put together a stellar campaign in AAA this season. The Glenbard North alum pitched to a 2.92 ERA in 61.2 IP while punching out 32.7% of the hitters he faced. His success during the first half of the season earned him a call to the big leagues on July 6th and debuted two days later. Wenninger, a member of New York’s 2023 draft class, tossed 115 innings across the A and High-A levels this season. During his first professional campaign, he recorded 10.96 K/9.

The Atlanta Braves used their 2022 first round draft pick on two-time Prep Baseball Illinois Player of the Year RHP Owen Murphy (Riverside-Brookfield). Despite his 2024 campaign being cut short by an injury, Murphy dazzled when he was healthy. Across 41 innings pitched this year, he pitched to a 1.54 ERA while striking out 38.7% of opposing hitters. Despite missing most of the season, Murphy still was named South Atlantic League Pitcher of the Week twice within the first six weeks of the season. He dominated the month of April, recording a 1.13 ERA with 37 strikeouts in 24 innings en route to South Atlantic League Pitcher of the Month honors.

Here's what our staff had to say about Murphy in the spring of 2022:
"Notre Dame commit, currently ranked No. 2 in Illinois and No. 32 in the country. Lean frame, round shoulders with an athletic build, 6-foot-1, 195-pounds. Started on the mound for Riverside-Brookfield and went six innings with 14 strikeouts, no walks, two hits allowed and didn’t allow a single run. The right-hander’s arm plays short and clean throughout his arm circle, moving into a consistent ¾ slot with above-average arm-speed, repeating with ease. Murphy utilizes a controlled pace throughout his entire delivery; coiling into a flexible leg-kick before moving athletically down the mound from a slightly bent back-knee at balance point, remaining in-line to the plate with his stride and landing with a slightly closed front foot. The Notre Dame commit was in control the entire time he was on the mound, controlling the glove side of the plate to righties with his fastball throughout his outing; cruising at 91-93 mph while reaching back for 94 mph multiple times, also showcasing exceptional control over the zone - playing with noticeable life out of the hand and running action to the arm-side. Murphy hardly needed a second pitch, going to the breaking ball only a few times throughout his start but flashing it when necessary; playing at 77-80 mph with tight spin, acting slurvy at times off a sharp 11/5 plane with depth. He flashed a slider/cutter in warmups at 84 mph, entering the zone from a short 10/4 plane and playing with late action. Murphy also showcased his knack for handling the bat; hitting out of the two-hole and finishing the day 2-for-4 with two home runs, four RBIs, a walk and a stolen base. His approach at the plate is highly mature for his age, controls the zone, sees the ball deep and is selectively aggressive. Minimal wasted movement, moving with a fluid load into a repeatable/short stride; coils slightly before footplant and flashes quick, strong hands and a direct swing that stays flat through the zone. Murphy is one of the premier two-way athletes in the entire state, and has a legitimate chance to see time on both the mound and at the plate at the next level, the only question is what the next level will be."

NL CENTRAL

The Pittsburgh Pirates have a trio of prospects that are from Illinois. INF Jack Brannigan (Marist, 2019; Notre Dame), RHP Zander Mueth (Belleville East, 2023), and RHP Mike Walsh (Lyons Township, 2019; Yale) all put together strong seasons in 2024. Brannigan spent the season in High-A, launching 18 home runs en route to a .490 slugging percentage and an .834 OPS. Mueth pitched 74 innings across two levels this season. He was absolutely phenomenal during his time in the Florida Complex League, pitching to a 1.58 ERA in 51.1 innings before his promotion. Following the season, he was named an FCL All-Star and the league’s Pitcher of the Year. Walsh also pitched across two different levels this season. In 40.2 innings pitched across A and High-A, he pitched to a 1.11 ERA with a 0.86 WHIP. He stifled opposing hitters as they hit just .168 against him.

Our staff first saw Mueth at the Underclass Invitational back in 2021, and here's what we had to say about him:
"The hands-down favorite was the total package of Mississippi commit RHP Zander Meuth (Belleville East, 2023). At 6-foot-4, 170 pounds, the righty looks every bit the part of a frontline arm. He works clean and easy from a ¾ slot, surgically working through his ‘pen. Yes, Mueth sat an impressive 89-91 mph with little effort, but it's more than velocity that separates him from anyone else in the class. Mueth showed impeccable command of three plus pitches for his age that included a slider and changeup, invoking Executive Director Sean Duncan to compare his ceiling to the likes of a pair of big leaguers who passed through the early days of Prep Baseball Report events."

INF Luke Adams (Hinsdale Central, 2022) joined the Milwaukee Brewers organization as a member of their draft class in 2022. Adams, a former Future Games and Super 60 participant, spent his age-20 season in the High-A Midwest League. Despite being over two years younger than the average player in the league, Adams did more than hold his own. According to Fangraphs, Adams led all of High-A in wOBA (.409) and BB% (18.7%), while being tied for the lead in wRC+ (154). He also set a Midwest League record for number of hit-by-pitches in a season (40) and was named the league’s Player of the Month for July.

The Cincinnati Reds used their 18th round selection in 2023 on RHP Drew Pestka (Carterville, 2022; John A. Logan). Pestka, who was our top-ranked JUCO prospect in last year’s draft, signed this spring and made his professional debut shortly after. He pitched to a 2.91 ERA in 21.2 innings across two different levels, recording 10.8 K/9. Pestka spent a majority of the season at Single-A Daytona of the Florida State League, where he held opponents to a mere .323 SLG.

NL WEST

The Colorado Rockies farm system is littered with Land of Lincoln natives. RHP Jack Mahoney (St. Viator, 2020; South Carolina), LHP Michael Prosecky (Nazareth, 2019; Louisville), MIF Ryan Ritter (Lincoln-Way East, 2019; Kentucky), RHP Collin Baumgartner (Southwestern, 2017; Kansas), and LHP Isaiah Coupet (Homewood-Flossmoor, 2020; Ohio State) are all from Illinois. In his first full season of professional baseball, Mahoney pitched to a sub-4 ERA in 120 innings across two levels. Prosecky recorded a 36.1% strikeout rate, the best mark in the organization (min. 100 batters faced). Each of them were members of the squad that won the High-A Northwest League title. Ryan Ritter put together a successful campaign in AA, slashing .270/.370/.403 in 318 AB. Ritter’s strong start to his professional career earned him an invite to this year’s Arizona Fall League. Collin Baumgartner signed with the Rockies last summer as an undrafted free agent. In his first full season, he pitched to a phenomenal 1.92 ERA in 56.2 IP across two different levels. His campaign was nothing short of dominant, as he recorded a 1.07 WHIP, a 33.3% strikeout rate, and a .190 batting average against. Lastly, southpaw Isaiah Coupet racked up 119 strikeouts in 86 innings pitched this season. His 31.6% strikeout rate and 12.45 K/9 each ranked second in the California League (minimum 50 innings pitched).

We saw Prosecky pitch at Wrigley Field in 2019, and here's our report:
"Louisville commit. 6-foot-4, 200-pound, left-handed draft prospect, long upside frame with tons of athleticism in actions. Pitches with tempo, gets the ball and goes, repeats delivery, super easy effort, seemingly more in the tank. Competitor on the bump, finished with a line: 5 IP, 8 H (1 XBH), ER, 5 K, 0 BB (63 of 89 for strikes). Sets up on 3rd base side of the rubber, strides in-line to home, lands square, controls body through release, still head. Arm action is clean with some length on back side, loose throughout and gets extension out front, high ¾ slot, maintains arm speed on all offerings, creates deception, jumps on hitters. Fastball command is plus, both sides of the plate, elevates and paints at the knees, slight 2-seam run, occasional cut, comes out easy and finished through the zone, 88-91 mph, touched 92 mph twice, maintained velo. Plus feel for changeup, used in any count to any hitter, vertical depth, seemed to purposely fade and cut it, swing and miss action starts with arm speed, present command of the plate, 78-81 mph. Slider used sparingly, tight wrinkle on 2/8 plane, 81-82 mph. Must watch come draft time."

The San Francisco Giants had a pair of rookies from the state of Illinois that were each contributors at the big league level this season. INF Tyler Fitzgerald (Rochester, 2016; Louisville) and RHP Hayden Birdsong (Mattoon, 2019; Eastern Illinois). Fitzgerald, a Super 60 alum, put together a fantastic rookie campaign. He slashed .280/.334/.497 in 314 ABs. Fitzgerald was towards the top of the rookie leaderboard for both home runs and slugging percentage, tying for 6th in long balls (15) and ranking second in SLG. The Rochester alum earned NL Rookie of the Month honors in July. His teammate and fellow rookie, Birdsong, spent time in both the minors and big leagues this season. In 57.1 MiLB innings this season, he pitched to a 2.51 ERA with 11.77 K/9. In 72 big league innings this season, the rookie recorded 11.0 K/9.

Two more Illinois natives joined the Giants organization as members of their 2023 draft class. INF Charlie Szykowny (Shepard, 2018; Illinois-Chicago) and C Jack Payton (Brother Rice, 2020; Louisville) each put together a successful first full campaign in professional baseball, and each split time between the Single-A and High-A levels. Szykowny slashed .295/.362/.451 in 359 ABs. His 26 doubles and 6 triples each tied for third most among Giants farmhands. Following the season, Szykowny was invited to participate in the Arizona Fall League. Despite Payton battling an injury for parts of the season, Payton still put together a slash line of .253/.388/.380 in 221 ABs. Among prospects in the San Francisco organization, Payton tied for fourth best in on-base percentage (.388) and sixth best in wOBA (.376).

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