Illinois State Games: 2026 Takeaways

On Aug. 6 and 7, the Prep Baseball Illinois staff hosted the third annual Illinois State Games at the Rantoul Family Sports Complex in Rantoul, an event featuring the top players in the state, spanning grad classes 2025 through 2027.

For everything you need to know about the event, like stat leaders, historical context, commits, and more, click HERE. To see a full list of the players that attended, click HERE.

Shortly after the event, our staff published a full data dive at this event, where we analyzed several standouts from Tuesday's workout day, as well as the arms who took the mound in Rantoul. You can find both of those here: Position Players | Pitchers.

Now, at the event's conclusion, our staff has compiled our scout notes from our two-day trip, and we'll begin to roll out takeaways pieces over the next few days, starting with the 2025s to be followed by the 2026s and 2027s. Below you'll find scout notes and videos on an abundance of soon-to-be juniors from the event, broken down by teams.

TEAM 1 - RED

+ INF Layten Gerdes (Fieldcrest) owns a strong, 6-foot, 175-pound frame with athleticism to pair. During gameplay, the right-handed hitter barreled multiple baseballs, including a triple to the left-center gap. Gerdes posted a max exit velocity of 92.9 mph during the showcase, and he showed a strong arm during defense, firing a ball 86 mph across the infield. Uncommitted follow in Illinois.

+ RHP Blake Heyer (Montini Catholic) had a quality two-inning outing during his time at the State Games, finishing the day with four strikeouts and one hit allowed. He stands in a strong 6-foot-1, 196-pound frame with some projection still to come. On the mound, Heyer worked with pace, displaying a clean, over-the-top arm path, working fastballs up to 85.8 mph, but sitting mostly 82-85 mph. He threw two separate breaking balls in this outing; a curveball in the upper-60s with an average of -18.4 inches of horizontal movement and a slider at 68-74 mph with an average of -14 inches of horizontal movement. Heyer also threw a splitter with minimal spin, and a cutter at 79-82 mph. Uncommitted name-to-know.

+ LHP Brady Turner (Routt Catholic) stands in an upside 6-foot-3, 185-pound frame with plenty of room for added strength. He showed well in his two-inning stint, striking out two and allowing no walks, runs or hits. He has simple movement patterns with little perceived effort, and a compact arm action out of a high ¾ slot. His fastball sat in the low-80s and topped out at 83.9 mph with some arm-side run. He turned to a curveball that sat 67-70 mph, while also mixing in a change-up at 69 mph with slight fade.

+ RHP John Rudnick (Huntley) gave a quality look over his two innings of work, striking out one. Listed at 6-foot-1, 160-pounds, the upside right-hander has a quick arm out front that creates a fastball in the low-80s (T83 mph; 2,302 rpm), though we’ve seen him up to 85 mph in the past. To pair off the fastball he went to a slider in the 71-73 mph range with 10/4 shape, landing it for some strikes.

TEAM 2 - KELLY GREEN

+ RHP Isaac Wendler (Father McGivney) showed off some of the better arm-strength for his age in the entire event, working his fastball up to 87 mph while cruising 83-86 mph. He showed to have some feel for a curveball and slider, landing both for strikes in the 67-70 mph range. His final offering was a straight changeup in the mid-70s. He was lights out over his two innings of work, only allowing one hit with no runs or walks and striking out five.

+ INF Griffin Meeker (Tremont) is an uncommitted infield prospect to know from the event. He’s a natural defender with smooth, easy actions to both sides of his glove, pairing with confident hands. He took a quality round of BP in the workout while displaying an upside swing, reaching up to 94.5 mph for his max EV to pair with a smooth and balanced operation.

TEAM 3 - ROYAL BLUE

+ OF Tommy Georgelos (Lyons) is currently ranked No. 67 in Illinois’ now junior class. He’s an athletic prospect in a 5-foot-9, 162-pound frame with room for growth. Throughout gameplay, Georgelos showed some power in his left-handed bat, running hard down the line, while finishing the week 2-for-5 with a triple, one run and a walk. He posted a max exit velocity of 94.8 mph during his round of batting practice and an average bat speed of 73.3 mph, and defensively, showed athletic actions and a quality arm on throws to home, topping out at 84 mph.

+ There’s a lot to like about RHP Martin Kinnane (Lockport), who stands in an upside 6-foot-4, 170-pound frame with plenty of room for development still to come. He lacked some control during his outing, but still showed intrigue on the mound with his loose, easy actions down the mound, also showing a clean arm path with acceleration out front. His fastball sat 84-86 mph, topping out at 87.2 mph with clear ride through the zone (avg. 17.4” IVB), and he also mixed in a mid-70s curveball with short actions. Kinnane finished the day striking out three in 1 ⅔ innings of work, allowing one hit and three walks. A must-know arm in Illinois.

+ LHP Callum Morrison (Lake Forest) gave a strong look over his two innings of work, scattering three hits while not allowing a run, also striking out two against one walk. The southpaw delivers his arsenal from a loose ¾ slot, getting natural sink on both his fastball (80-84 mph) and his changeup (74-76 mph). To round out his repertoire he went to a downer curveball with 1/7 shape, flashing sharp action at 72-73 mph.

TEAM 4 - BURNT ORANGE

+ LHP Anthony Perez (O’Fallon) is a high-upside uncommitted arm, standing in a wiry 6-foot-2, 166-pound frame. Finishing his day with four strikeouts in two innings of work, Perez’s fastball sat 83-85 mph (T85.7) with clear arm-side run (avg. -15.3” HM), and he also mixed in a slider at 75-78 mph with tight spin. An easy mover on the mound with a long, clean arm path, Perez showed the ability to throw strikes with both his fastball and slider, garnering swings-and-misses with both pitches. A Southern Illinois arm-to-follow.

+ C Jacob Szpiganowicz (Conant) stands in a 6-foot, 180-pound frame with room for strength to come. He showed well during gameplay, going 3-for-6 with a home run, RBI, run scored and one walk. A right-handed hitter, Szpigaowicz has fluid pre-pitch movement with a slightly uphill bat path that looks to elevate the baseball. He posted a max exit velocity of 97.2 mph and a max batted distance of 349 feet during the showcase portion of the event. An uncommitted follow in Illinois.

+ RHP Austin Borries (Teutopolis) is a sturdy and durable 6-foot-1, 206-pound arm to follow. Borries features a simple and controlled delivery down the mound, filling the strike zone with all three of his offerings. His fastball sat 83-85 mph (T86) with 12.6” of arm-side run on average, as well as an average of 14” of induced vertical break - landing in the zone 67% of the time. His curveball had 12/6 shape to it at 72-73 mph, being thrown for strikes 71% of the time. Borries would then turn to a 75-76 mph changeup that had heavy sink to the arm-side (avg. 17.7” HM) and showed out-pitch capabilities. The uncommitted junior is another arm to follow out of the southern part of the state.

+ LHP Blake Hoffer (Glenbrook South) is an intriguing 6-foot-5, 200-pound southpaw to know. He is a clean and athletic mover downhill with a two-pitch mix. His fastball is clean and lively out of the hand at 83-85 mph (T86) with carry through the zone at an average of 16” of induced vertical break. Playing off the fastball was a short 69-73 mph slider that showed 1/7 shape.

TEAM 5 - SILVER

+ RHP Jeremy Thompson (Romeoville) provided one of his better looks of the summer at the Illinois State Games. A physical 6-foot, 196-pound frame, Thompson has a minimal effort delivery with a compact and quick arm out of a ¾ slot. His fastball sat 84-87 mph, and topped out at 89 mph with quality spin (avg. 2392 rpm). He showed feel to land an upper-60s curveball for strikes, producing an average of -17.2 inches of horizontal movement, and a slider that sat 70-73 mph with an average of -17.6 inches of horizontal movement. Thompson rounded out his four-pitch repertoire with an upper-70s splitter that had minimal spin. Ranked No. 50 in the state, Thompson is an uncommitted follow.

+ OF James Dooman (Glenbrook South) was all over the barrel during both the workout and gameplay portions of the event. A strong, well-proportioned 5-foot-10, 180-pound right-handed hitter, Dooman began the event by posting a max exit velocity of 96.6 mph during the workout. He has an intentful swing that looks to elevate the ball, while he made hard contact to the middle/pull-side parts of the field during batting practice. The barrel strength translated over to gameplay where he was consistently on the barrel, even when he made outs. Defensively, he showed comfortable actions in the outfield and should be able to stick out there at the next level.

+ LHP Braydon McKendrick (Brother Rice, 2026) showed a fluid/deliberate delivery on the mound. He’s a quick mover down the mound with a loose and long arm swing out of a 3/4 slot. McKendrick showed the ability to throw strikes with an advanced feel for a four-pitch arsenal. His fastball was firm, sitting in the mid-80s, and touching 87.3 mph with late life, creating consistent late swings. His curveball covered the entire strike zone with 11/5 break, looking like his best pitch over his three innings, spun efficiently (avg. 2366 rpm). He also mixed in a slider with tight horizontal break, playing with slightly different actions than his curveball. To round out his arsenal, Mckendrick threw a change-up with arm-side fade. Illinois’ No. 33 overall ranked 2026 prospect.

TEAM 6 - BLACK

+ INF Lucas Simulick (Joliet Catholic) continues to improve his overall game with every look. An athletic 5-foot-10, 167-pounds, Simulick began the event by posting strong numbers all-around during the workout. He ran a 6.73 60, tossed an 87 mph bullet across the infield, while also posting a max EV of 93.6 mph. Simulick’s tools continued to be loud during gameplay where he made play after play up the middle, both at shortstop and at second base. He swung a flat, direct path that produced consistent hard contact - including a double and a homer during gameplay. Simulick is a must-know uncommitted name to follow in the state.

+ C/UTL Adam Swanson (Ottawa) really stood out behind the plate at the State Games. Fresh off a Future Games appearance, the athletic 5-foot-10, 181-pound Swanson continued to show off his speed tool - running a 6.66 60 during the workout, while also posting a 4.66 run time in-game. He is quick and athletic out of the crouch, evidenced by his 1.89 pop time paired with the event’s second-highest velocity for the position at 81 mph. In-game he showed comfortable and natural actions when receiving both with his soft glove and overall attempt to present pitches on the edges of the plate. Offensively, he showed a patient approach and worked deep counts on numerous occasions. Swanson is a versatile uncommitted name to follow in the state.

TEAM 7 - CAMO

+ INF Luke Martin (Mount Pulaski) is a well-proportioned 5-foot-9, 178-pound prospect who showed well on both sides of the ball. Offensively, the right-handed hitter found barrels on numerous occasions, resulting in two doubles during gameplay. Martin showed a flat path with a direct approach that also resulted in a loud showing during batting practice including a max EV of 96.2 mph (avg. 88.8). Defensively, he flashed the leather most notably at the hot corner; looking more than comfortable at the position paired with an accurate arm across the diamond.

+ INF/RHP Jory Crocker (Willowbrook) continues to show to be one of the top players in the state. Boasting a projectable, high-waisted frame at 6-foot-1, 175-pounds. Crocker started the event by running a 6.74 60, then tossed an 87 mph bullet during the infield workout, while also having a loud showing with the bat during batting practice - evidenced by a max EV of 99.5 mph (avg. 90). During gameplay, he displayed the ability to go the other way with it from the right side with loose hands and a direct path. Defensively, he uses his long levers to his advantage and can glove it up the middle. On the mound, he has a long-levered operation that gets clear extension out front, delivering his fastball in the 83-86 mph range with carry and heavy run (T21.2 IVB; T18.9’ HM). He was able to land his slider for strikes consistently, playing with sharp 10/4 shape at 74-75 mph. He also flashed a sharp curveball at 72-75 mph and changeup in the mid-70s.

+ 3B/RHP Jackson Schlott (Plainfield North) is a strong RHH that made some noise in the workout. Boasting at 6-foot, 228-pound frame with strength throughout, he worked his max EV up to 94.2 mph, averaging 85 mph with a max distance of 374’. He also showed some intrigue on the mound, working his fastball into the low-80s to pair with a sharp 11/5 curveball with over 2,300 rpm.

TEAM 8 - PURPLE

+ LHP Samuel Chin (St. Laurence) is a highly intriguing 6-foot, 148-pound southpaw with much more in the tank. He has an easy, simple delivery in which he can repeat with ease, pairing with a loose/whippy arm from a ¾ release. His fastball plays easy out of the hand with natural run in the 79-81 mph range (T2483 rpm), filling up the zone with ease. He has an innate feel to spin the breaking ball, with his curveball playing with sharp 1/7 action and over 2,600 rpm - while his slider plays with more lateral movement around 2,500 rpm, both with feel for the zone. He kills spin on his changeup and can land it around the zone, playing at 75-77 mph with similar run to his fastball. High-ceiling southpaw with his best days still ahead.

+ C Drew Stevens (Normal Community) stands in a strong 5-foot-11, 183-pound frame. His right-handed bat showed well in-game, going 2-for-5 with a double, walk and a stolen base. He posted a loud 96.6 mph max exit velocity during the showcase, averaging 85.8 mph throughout his round of batting practice. His defensive numbers are slowly ticking up, posting a 2.02 pop time at this event, including a 77 mph catcher velocity on his best ball down to second base.

TEAM 9 - PINK

+ INF Logan Nordentoft (Prospect) is an athletic prospect with upside in his 6-foot-2, 165-pound frame. During gameplay, Nordentoft barreled a double off the right-field wall, showing a simple approach at the plate from the right-side. He’s also a clean defender up the middle, showing range to both sides with soft hands and a quality arm on throws across the diamond. A 6.99 runner, Nordentoft posted a max exit velocity of 95 mph (avg. 87.8 mph) during his round of batting practice, including an average bat speed of 72.5 mph. Ranked No. 80 in the state’s 2026 class, Nordentoft remains an uncommitted name-to-follow.

+ RHP Ronan Owens (Lane Tech) stands in an upside 6-foot-2, 183-pound frame with room for growth. He’s an easy mover down the mound with minimal effort, showing a fastball that sat 82-84 mph, and topped out at 86 mph. Owens also mixed in both a curveball and a slider - his curveball sitting in the low-70s with an average spin of 2216 rpm, and his slider sitting 72-75 mph with an average spin of 2340 rpm. In 1 ⅔ innings of work, Owens tallied four strikeouts and walked none. Uncommitted arm in Illinois.

+ INF/OF Daniel Coyle (St. Laurence) was all over the barrel during the workout and throughout gameplay. Coyle swings with a direct, flat path that produces consistent line drive contact, paired with a whole field approach. The athletic 5-foot-8, 154-pound right-handed hitter put up a max EV of 90.4 mph during batting practice, while continuing to be on the barrel during gameplay evidenced by his three hits - including a double. Defensively, Coyle seemed to be comfortable playing wherever on the diamond; spending time both at the hot corner and in the outfield, and playing the game hard at both spots.

TEAM 10 - YELLOW

+ RHP Andrew Dawson (Oak Forest) showed some intrigue over his two innings of work. Listed at 6-foot-1, 174-pounds, the right-hander consistently was able to land his slider for strikes at the bottom of the zone, getting some ugly swings from opposing hitters while playing in the low-70s. His fastball helped set up his slider, playing with life out of a similar release window in the 81-85 mph range, topping out at 86 mph.

+ RHP Chase Rhodes (Tremont) is an upside right-hander to know from the event. Listed at a highly projectable 6-foot-3, 170-pounds, Rhodes has a high-waist with plenty of room to fill out. He has an easy, long-levered operation that gets extension out front, creating an easy fastball in the 83-85 mph range (T86). His curveball is still developing with gradual 11/5 shape, playing in the low-60s. High-ceiling right-hander to know.

+ OF Logan Rosenthal (St. Joseph-Ogden) is a toolsy prospect that showed well in gameplay throughout the week, finishing 2-for-5 at the plate with a double, three RBIs and two stolen bases. The left-handed hitter has a quick, direct swing that stays flat through the zone, showing the ability to go the other way with a double down the opposite field line. He’s quick out of the box and aggressive on the basepaths, backed by his 6.86 in the 60. He can go get it in the outfield, taking accurate routes to the ball with a quick first step and easy range.

+ RHP Brandon Pelz (Bartlett) continues to look the part as one of the top uncommitted arms in the state. Listed at 6-foot, 173-pounds with more room to add strength, the right-hander fired two clean innings of work with one strikeout against two walks. His fastball played in the 85-88 mph range, showing some carry traits through the zone. He has a knack to spin the breaking ball, with his curveball coming in over 2,700 rpm and the slider over 2,300, both displaying sharp action with some feel for the zone. He also has a changeup that he will use to mix up the pace, playing at 75-76 mph with run to the arm-side.

+ RHP Henry Humes (Homewood-Flossmoor) stands in at 6-foot-5, 175-pounds, and there is much more in the tank for this uncommitted right-hander. He showed an intriguing fastball/changeup combination, with the fastball playing at 84-87 mph with run, and the changeup playing off a similar release with fading action and feel to his arm-side, 73-76 mph. His third offering was a gradual 11/5 curveball that showed some depth, 68-71 mph. Over his two innings of work, Humes did not allow a single run, hit or walk, striking out one. High-ceiling arm to know.

+ INF Cory Les (St. Laurence) is fresh off a commitment to Louisville, and its easy to see why the Cardinals like him. Listed at a strong-bodied yet athletic 6-foot-1, 205-pounds, Les is extremely athletic for his size with a 6.92 in the 60 and 33.1” vertical jump. The left-handed hitter continuously shows well in front of our staff, and this week was no different, taking one of the better rounds of BP in the workout with a max EV of 99 mph and average of 90 mph (T361’). He has a polished approach at the plate, and was on the barrel multiple times in gameplay for some loud outs.

+ CIF/RHP Jason Phillips (Plano) is an intriguing two-way prospect to know from the event. On the mound, the right-hander has a simple, up-tempo delivery that gets down the mound quickly, paired with a loose/quick arm from a ¾ slot. His fastball played comfortably in the 82-85 mph range with natural sink, while setting up a SL/CH combination in the mid-70s. At the plate, the right-handed hitter creates easy bat-speed with whip and extension through the zone, working on the barrel to his pull-side routinely, finishing 2-for-6 on the week with a double, RBI and a run scored.

TEAM 11 - MAROON

+ C Caleb Hornbrook (Normal University) showed well throughout the entire event, finishing gameplay 3-for-4 with a double, one RBI and a walk. He also showed well behind the dish, showing clean receiving actions, soft blocks and a strong arm on throws down to second. During the showcase, he produced a max exit velocity of 97.4 mph (90 mph avg.) and a max batted distance of 350 feet. During defense, Hornbrook posted a 2.02 pop time, and he also ran a 7.26 60 time. An uncommitted follow in the state’s 2026 class.

TEAM 12 - FOREST GREEN

+ OF Johnny Andretich (Plainfield North) stands in an athletic and upside frame at 5-foot-9, 165-pounds. He had impressive in-game performances, going 5-for-6 with a triple, double, four RBIs, one run scored, a walk and two stolen bases, earning himself Illinois State Games Most Valuable Player honors. A left-handed hitter, Andretich posted a max exit velocity of 91.6 mph, ran a 6.89 60 time, and recorded an 87 mph bullet on his best ball to home during the showcase portion of the event. An uncommitted prospect in Illinois.

+ MIF Brett Tucker (Lemont) is an upside prospect in Illinois that’s coming off a State Runner-Up run this past spring. A wiry athlete in a 6-foot-1, 177-pound frame, Tucker is a strong defender up the middle with soft hands, range and a strong arm on throws across the diamond (T88 mph). His footspeed continues to improve, running a 7.10 60 time at this event, which is a big jump since his last 60 time with us (7.60). A right-handed hitter at the plate, Tucker has an athletic and easy swing, recording a max exit velocity of 95.3 mph. He finished gameplay 2-for-5 with three runs, two walks and three stolen bases. An uncommitted name-to-know, ranked No. 58 in Illinois’ 2026 ranked.

+ RHP/INF Kaeden Schatsiek (Brimfield) continued to build off his summer emergence at the State Games. Fresh off an impressive performance down at the Future Games, Schatsiek had another impressive performance in Rantoul - this time as a two-way prospect. During the workout, the projectable 6-foot-3, 191-pound right-handed hitter had one of the louder rounds of batting practice - evidenced by his max EV of 100.1 mph (top-15 for the event) and average EV of 95.2 mph (4th best for the event). His bat also showed well in-game, collecting a loud double in one of the games. Defensively at the hot corner, Schatsiek showed confident hands and a strong arm (86 mph INF velo) during the workout portion of the event. That strong arm carried over into gameplay when Schatsiek hopped on the bump. The long-levered righty is an easy and efficient mover downhill paired with a loose, quick arm path. His fastball sat 84-86 mph (T88) with some of the best induced vertical break for the event at an average of 18.7 inches. He also showed a slider that played with 10/4 shape at 72-77 mph to make for his go-to secondary.

+ RHP Owyn Edwards (Oak Park-River Forest) is an uncommitted arm that stands in a wiry and projectable 6-foot-3, 175-pound frame with room for added strength. He’s a loose and easy mover on the mound with a long and clean arm path with little perceived effort. His fastball was up to 81.8 mph with slight arm-side run, and he mixed in a curveball with an average of -15.1 inches of horizontal movement. Rounding out this three-pitch mix, Edwards threw a change-up at 74 mph. He finished his outing with three strikeouts, one hit and one run allowed in 1 ⅔ innings.

+ RHP Sam McCollum (O’Fallon) is a well-proportioned 5-foot-11, 177-pound arm-to-know. McCollum punched out three batters over his two innings of work, while showcasing a well-rounded three-pitch mix. His fastball sat 83-85 mph (T86) with occasional arm-side run and carry through the zone. He had feel to spin a 72-75 mph slider at an average of 2395 rpm, while landing it in the zone 55% of the time. McCollum rounded out his mix with a 79-80 mph changeup that showed slight arm-side fade.

OF/RHP Niko Villacci (Oswego East, 2026) stands in an athletic 5-foot-10, 162-pound frame, and the rising junior showed quality actions throughout the event. At the plate, the right-handed hitter showed a standard setup with minimal wasted movements and pull-side tendencies. Defensively, Villacci showed a strong arm from the outfield that was clocked at up to 91 mph. On the mound, he showed athletic movements coming from an overhead arm slot. The fastball sat in the low-80s (T85) with carry up in the zone and was paired with a 12/6 shaped curveball and a change-up with mostly straight actions.

TEAM 13 - CAROLINA BLUE

+ INF Luke Shuckenbrock (Gillespie) showed to be an athletic prospect on both sides of the ball. He presents a lean 5-foot-8, 150-pound frame with room to fill in the coming years. The right-handed hitter displayed a loose, handsy swing that utilizes a flat path for line drive contact. Defensively, what stood out the most about Schuckenbrock’s game were his overall actions up the middle paired with evident athleticism and motor for the shortstop position.

+ LHP Sean McNair (Deerfield) had one of the better outings for the entire event - working two innings of one-hit ball with five strikeouts. Standing in a well-proportioned 5-foot-8, 163-pound frame. McNair attacked the zone with his three-pitch mix, while using a steady dose of each. His fastball played in the low-80’s (T84) with an average spin of 2220 rpm. He would then turn to a 75-76 mph slider with feel for the zone, before rounding his arsenal out with a quality splitter at 75-76 mph with heavy sink (avg. 0.8” IVB) and arm-side fade.

+ OF/INF Michael Arroyo (Plainfield Central) is a lean and athletic 5-foot-11, 167-pound right-handed hitter who showed the ability to be on the barrel to all fields. Arroyo displayed his barrel ability in batting practice also; posting an average EV of 85 mph, to add to an 88% sweet spot percentage. He utilizes a slightly uphill path with intent to lift the ball and collected two hits during the gameplay portion of the event.

+ RHP Joe Kelly (Loyola Academy) is an arm to know in the state’s incoming-junior class. Standing at a sturdy 6-foot-1, 191-pound frame. Kelly featured a lively arm-side running fastball in this look at 82-85 mph that missed bats and induced chase out of the zone. He had feel to spin a 72-73 mph slider with 2397 rpm (T2521) on average. He would then round out his mix by turning over a changeup at 69-73 mph with arm-side fade (avg. 15.1” HM). Kelly would go on to punch out three batters over his two innings of work.

TEAM 14 - NEON ORANGE

+ RHP Collin Burns (Morton) gave a dominant look over his three innings of work, striking out three along the way to go with no runs. The 6-foot-2, 190-pound right-hander attacked the zone with his fastball, cruising around 84-86 mph with slight run/sink to his arm-side. His go-to weapon to pair off the fastball was his sharp slider, showing 10/4 action with depth and feel to his glove side.

+ OF Clancy Rogers (Glenbrook South) is an imposing right-handed bat to note at 6-foot-2, 188-pounds. Rogers showed off impressive tools both during the workout and throughout gameplay of the event. He started things off by running a 7.03 60, posting one of the higher outfield velocities for the event at 89 mph, while also putting together a loud showing during batting practice. Rogers put up one of the higher average exit velocities for the event at 94.8 mph (T100.4) paired with a max distance of 378 feet (top-10 for the event). His BLAST numbers were loud as well, with some of the quicker hands for the event with a max hand speed of 24.1 mph, paired with an average bat speed of 72.8 mph. These tools translated over into gameplay as he was on the barrel throughout - including a homer. The strong arm showed that way in-game too, as he made impressive throws from the corner outfield, to make for a strong all-around showing for the event.

+ OF Cole Latimer (DeKalb) stands out physically at 6-foot-3, 180-pounds and there’s still more room for added strength in the future. A QB1 on the football field, his arm-strength easily translates to the outfield where he can deliver accurate strikes all across the diamond, even when off-platform (T87 mph). At the plate, the right-handed hitter finished the week 2-for-6 with a triple, RBI, run scored and a stolen base. He has a simple right-handed swing with strength, also showing the ability to sit back on spin.

+ LHP Carsen DeKeyrel (Rockridge) is an athletic southpaw to follow. He punched out four over his two pitch-efficient innings, only scattering two hits as well. DeKeyrel hides the ball well down the mound, which helps create deception and late life to his 78-80 mph (T81) fastball. DeKeyrel would show feel for a 12/6 downer curve at 72-74 mph, while pairing that with a 75-76 mph changeup with downer fade. DeKeyrel is certainly a name to monitor in the western part of the state.

+ C/INF Peter Corthinos (Maine South) was a standout both with his workout performance and his showing throughout gameplay. The right-handed bat started the event with a strong showing during batting practice with a max exit velocity of 94.7 mph, showing a direct and flat path that was on the barrel throughout. His knack for finding the barrel carried over into gameplay where he tallied two doubles and also impressed with his overall motor on the field.

+ OF Arjun Patel (Conant) is a left-left prospect who impressed with the bat and with his legs. The athletic 5-foot-9, 163-pound prospect showed a feel to hit to all fields - collecting three hits during gameplay, including a triple. He had a strong showing during the workout portion of the event as well; running a 6.99 60, as well as posting a max EV of 95.6 mph.

+ INF James Feigleson (St. Charles East) impressed throughout gameplay with his ability to defend at the hot corner, making plays with ease to both sides of his glove to pair with confident hands and a strong arm (T85 mph). He looks to have some upside at the plate with some whip in the barrel and loose wrists.

TEAM 15 - CHARCOAL

+ OF Dominic Battista (Oswego East) continues to solidify himself as one of the state’s top prospects. An athletic build with more to come, Battista stands in a 5-foot-11, 168-pound frame. Ranked No. 27 in the state’s 2026 class, he began the event running a 6.75 60 time, a significant improvement since his last event. He had an impressive round of batting practice, showcasing a quiet approach with fluid pre-pitch movement, staying direct to the ball with a slightly uphill bat path. He recorded a max exit velocity of 97.6 mph (avg. 87.5 mph), while sending his farthest hit ball 381 feet. A strong defender in the outfield, Battista also displayed a strong arm on throws to home (T90 mph). He finished gameplay 4-for-7 with a home run, triple, two RBIs, three runs scored and two stolen bases. A high-level uncommitted prospect in the state’s incoming-junior class.

+ C Andrew Satunas (Lockport) stands in a compact, 5-foot-9, 178-pound frame with some current athleticism. He impressed during gameplay, tallying three hits in seven at-bats, including two-RBIs. A left-handed hitter, Satunas has a simple and easy load with quality movement patterns.

+ RHP Andrew Dawson (Tremont) is an uncommitted arm in Illinois’ 2026 class. Standing in a strong 6-foot, 183-pound frame, Dawson has a compact arm with clean acceleration out front. His fastball sat 82-86 mph, topping out at 87.7 mph, with some ride through the zone. He also mixed in a slider at 71-76 mph with tight spin, and a change-up at 76 mph with minimal spin.

TEAM 16 - WHITE

+ RHP Josh Jones (Normal University) had a strong two-inning stint, not allowing a single run on just one hit, one walk and three strikeouts. The 6-foot-1, 176-pound right-hander cruised in the 82-85 mph range with the fastball, topping out at 86 mph with some control over the zone. His go-to secondary was a curveball at 73-76 mph, playing just under 2,300 rpm at times with tight, sharp 11/5 action.

+ RHP Jake Matise (Mt. Carmel) had a lights out showing over his two innings of work, allowing just one hit with no runs or walks, also striking out five. He filled up the zone with his three-pitch mix, starting with his fastball that played around 82-84 mph, topping out at 85 mph with some carry. He has confidence in both of his breaking balls, starting with his big-breaking over the top curveball that he can land for strikes at 65-68 mph. He also is comfortable throwing his slider often, playing with more horizontal break at 71-73 mph with feel for the zone.

+ 1B Cole Sisti (Plainfield Central) is an upside RHH to note, standing in at 6-foot, 178-pounds with more room to fill out. He had a strong week at the plate, finishing 3-for-5 in gameplay. He has a comfortable and calm look in the box, working uphill through the zone with some feel for the barrel.

+ RHP Ryan Harris (Stevenson) gave arguably the loudest look in the entire event. His fastball exploded out of his hand in the 87-91 mph range, topping out at 92-93 mph early with nearly 2,500 rpm on it, playing with finish and carry through the zone. He throws his slider with fastball intent at 73-77 mph, flashing sharp 10/4 action at times. Some of the best raw arm-strength in the state, high-level 2026.

TEAM 17 - LIME GREEN

+ INF/RHP Caden Kendall (Andrew) impressed with his defense during gameplay. He made a diving play at third base, making a throw across the diamond to first for an out, and he continued to show quality defense throughout. An athletic and projectable frame at 5-foot-10, 165-pounds, Kendall tallied two hits, one being a double, with two RBIs and two walks. During the showcase portion of the event, he posted a max exit velocity of 96.3 mph, 90 mph infield velocity (tied for second best at the event), and he ran a 7.16 60 time. He also showed well on the mound, cruising in the mid-80s (T86 mph) while also showing confidence in a sharp low-60s curveball. Uncommitted prospect to follow in Illinois.

+ C Nolan Kendall (Andrew) is an upside backstop to note from the event. Listed at 5-foot-10, 158-pounds, he has a lean, wiry frame with all sorts of room to add on strength in the coming years. A left-handed hitter, he boasts some well above-average BLAST metrics with an average hand-speed of 24.1 mph, average bat-speed of 68.3 mph and an average rotational acceleration of 27.7 Gs. He has a quick, flat swing that stays on-plane, looking to keep the ball on a line while proving to be comfortable using the whole field. He’s an athletic defender behind the plate, actively blocking up the baseball and showing the ability to limit the run game.

+ OF Kamran Alikhan (Nazareth) had a strong all-around showing at this year’s event. He stands in a strong 5-foot-11, 181-pounds with some projection still to come. At the plate, Alikhan is a right-handed hitter with some fluidity in his load that moves into a short stroke with a slight uphill path. He finished game play 4-for-5 with a double, one RBI and a stolen base. He showcased well at the event, posting some impressive athletic metrics during his 60 (6.95) and vertical jump (32.2”). During his round of batting practice, Alikhan posted a max exit velocity of 88.9 mph and a 70.4 mph average bat speed, and he finished his showcase with a quality round of defense with an above-average arm on throws to home (T85 mph). Another uncommitted prospect-to-know.

+ RHP Colin Chung (Lake Zurich) impressed with a high-spin arsenal and strong arm throughout his two innings of work. The right-hander cruised in the 84-86 mph range, topping out at 87 mph with carry and run through the zone. He showed an innate feel to spin the breaking ball, with both his curveball and slider coming in over 2,400 rpm, both playing at 69-71 mph with sharp action. He showed a quality fourth offering in a changeup, playing at 72-75 mph with arm-side run.

+ LHP Zane Caves (Minooka) was far and away one of the event’s biggest winners. In his two innings of work, the southpaw only allowed one hit with no runs, one walk and five strikeouts. He attacked the zone with his fastball, playing in the low-mid 80s, topping out at 87 mph with heavy arm-side run. His curveball has wipeout potential, playing consistently over 2,700 rpm around 70 mph with sharp downward action. He also showed a changeup that played in the low-70’s, playing with heavy arm-side fade with a similar profile to his fastball. High-level uncommitted arm.

TEAM 18 - BROWN

+ CIF Jonathan Osornio (Mount Carmel) stands in a strong and athletic 6-foot-1, 203-pound frame. He displayed an impressive round of batting practice, blasting his hardest hit ball 95.1 mph and 355 feet, while staying on the barrel for an average of 88.3 mph. The right-handed hitter looks to elevate the ball, producing an average bat speed of 73.3 mph (T84.5 mph). A 7.12 runner, Osornio recorded a double to the left-center gap in-game.

+ OF Chase Butler (Bunker Hill) swung the bat well at the event. Presenting a lean 6-foot-1, 187-pound frame, the right-handed hitter was on the barrel during gameplay. He swings a flat path with line drive feel and a middle/pull-side approach. Butler also looked comfortable against some of the better arms at the event, where he showed the ability to handle high-velo arms.

+ LHP Lance Cuddy (Coal City) stood out as an athletic arm with a knack to spin the breaking ball. He cruised comfortably in the 79-81 mph range with his fastball, playing with heavy arm-side run and some carry; setting up his curveball with over 2,300 rpm on average, playing at 66-69 mph and landing it for strikes. His final offering was a changeup around 75 mph that he could dump in for strikes.

+ INF Mason Netcel (St. Charles North) showed extremely well on both sides of the ball throughout gameplay. He’s an athletic defender with easy range to both sides of his glove, pairing with soft/confident hands that work in sync with his feet through the ball. At the plate, the right-handed hitter took pitches out of the zone with confidence, also appearing extremely comfortable in the box. There’s some whip in his barrel as he gets through the zone with a flat path and extension out front, reaching up to 95 mph for his max EV in the workout.

TEAM 19 - NAVY

+ LHP/OF Gabe Perez (Illinois Valley Central) showed well on the mound, tossing two innings with four strikeouts, one walk and no hits or runs allowed. He’s a simple mover on the mound with a long arm path and acceleration out front. His fastball sat 83-86 mph, topping out at 86 mph, with quality spin (avg. 2346 rpm) and mostly straight actions. He spun his slider at an average of 2245 rpm, playing with short horizontal movement at 75-77 mph. Perez rounded out his arsenal with a 79-82 mph change-up with fade to the arm-side (avg. -15.8” HM). A right-handed hitter, Perez barreled a ball 93.8 mph and 355 feet during his round of batting practice, while also showing a strong arm from the outfield on throws to home (T88 mph). A strong 5-foot-8, 183-pound prospect-to-know.

+ C Trey Webster (Brother Rice) is an intriguing prospect in the state’s 2026 class. A study and strong 5-foot-8, 195-pound frame, Webster tallied three hits, including two doubles and two RBIs during game play. He’s a right-handed hitter with a calm approach, recording a 92.2 mph max exit velocity and a max batted ball distance of 346 feet, per TrackMan. Also a 7.08 runner, Webster is a name-to-follow.

+ RHP Trevor Ames (St. Joseph-Ogden) stands in a wiry 6-foot-2, 163-pound frame with athleticism and upside. He showed intrigue on the mound with loose, easy levers and a long and clean arm path out of a high ¾ slot. His fastball sat 82-85 mph and topped out at 86 mph with mostly straight actions. Ames turned to a 68-71 mph curveball with quality spin (2450 avg. rpm), playing with 11/5 shape, and a low-70s change-up slight fade to the arm-side. An uncommitted arm in the state’s rising junior class.

PROCASE TEAM

+ RHP Paddy Roth (St. Patrick) continues to throw the ball well in front of our staff. After a strong performance at the recent Future Games, Roth didn’t miss a beat at the State Games. The loose and easy mover at 6-foot-3, 212-pounds worked two scoreless innings where he did not surrender a hit or a walk, while punching out three. Roth’s mix was headlined by an 86-89 mph (T89.7) fastball with arm-side run, paired with a slurve-type breaking ball at 72-75 mph. Roth would also turn over an 81 mph changeup that showed downer and arm-side fade (avg. 18.3” HM). Roth is an uncommitted name to continue to follow in Illinois.

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