On August 6th and 7th, the Prep Baseball Illinois Staff hosted the Illinois State Games at the Rantoul Family Sports Complex in Rantoul, IL. This is the third year we have run this event, and it continues to gain traction as the largest and most competitive showcase in the state. There were 363 players that made the trip to Rantoul, ranging from the 2025-2027 classes, and there were just under 80 colleges of all levels in attendance to scout the event. 

Below you will find scouting reports on every single class of 2027 pitcher from the State Games, along with a ranking of the top overall prospects.

Two right-handers to know that just missed the Top-5 are Brady Cunningham (Brother Rice) and Connor Fox (Mt. Zion).

Cunningham, a physical 6-foot-2, 220-pound workhorse, cruised with his fastball in the 82-86 mph range to pair with a curveball at 69-71 mph and changeup in the upper-70s.

Fox, a slender 5-foot-11, 151-pounds, still holds plenty of room to add on strength, and he also impressed with a mid-80s fastball (T85 mph). To pair off the heater, he showed confidence in a slider at 73-75 mph as well as a changeup at 73-77 mph. 

2027 Pitchers 

1. Kaden Wasniewski, McHenry (IL), 2027
Positional Profile: 3B/RHP
Body: 6-0, 165.4-pounds.
Delivery: Controlled leg kick, utilizes momentum well, purely from the stretch, athletic mover, creates above-average extension, athletic movements throughout.
Arm Action: RH. Clean arm path, quick throughout its' circle into a high 3/4 release.
FB: T91, 87-90 mph. Lively fastball with run, explodes out of hand, got whiffs consistently, 2400+ rpm, carry up in the zone. T2554, 2403 average rpm.
SL: 75-76 mph. Tight break, advanced feel. T2336, 2303 average rpm.
CH: 79-81 mph. Hard changeup with some fade, profiles well with fastball, kills spin.  T1693, 1646 average rpm.

2. Trevor McClure, Mount Vernon (IL), 2027
Positional Profile: SS/RHP
Body: 6-0, 166.9-pounds.
Delivery: Controlled mover, short leg-lift into balance point, tall/fall operation down the mound, works in-line.
Arm Action: RH. Short arm circle into a high 3/4 slot.
FB: T88, 86-88 mph. Plays with some sinking action through the zone.  T2259, 2122 average rpm.
CB: 76-77 mph. sharp 12/6 break, confident, will throw in any count. T2576, 2222 average rpm.
SL: 77-78 mph. Slurvy action with some depth.  T2407, 2329 average rpm.
CH: 81-81 mph. Some arm-side fade. T1494, 1450 average rpm.

3. Chase Reinhart, Normal West (IL), 2027
Positional Profile: LHP/OF
Body: 6-0, 167.8-pounds.
Delivery: Controlled mover into a medium leg-lift, explodes through with an athletic finish, works in-line.
Arm Action: LH. 3/4 slot, quick arm.
FB: T85, 82-85 mph. Plays with running action and horizontal movement.  T2175, 1883 average rpm.
SL: 69-73 mph. Quality offering with depth, 2/8 shape, sharp bite.  T2130, 1959 average rpm.

4. Cullen Schwigen, Rockridge (IL), 2027
Positional Profile: RHP/OF
Body: 6-2, 176-pounds.
Delivery: Quick athletic mover; medium balance point, explodes down the mound, works in-line.
Arm Action: RH. Medium arm circle, clean arm with a high 3/4 release.
FB: T88, 84-87 mph. Lively with ride up in the zone T2380, 2265 average rpm.
CB: 73-75 mph. Hard break, showed confidence in offering, would throw in any count, regularly generated whiffs.  T2311, 2206 average rpm.

T5. Kash VanHouten, Canton (IL), 2027
Positional Profile: SS/RHP
Body: 5-11, 179-pounds.
Delivery: Utilizes momentum well into balance point, athletic mover throughout, quality extension down the mound.
Arm Action: RH. Long reach out of the glove into a high 3/4 release.
FB: T89, 84-88 mph. Runs to his arm-side with life through the zone.  T2383, 2295 average rpm.
SL: 73-76 mph. Showed 10/4 shape.  T2363, 1848 average rpm.
CH: 76-81 mph. Some run; matches well with FB. T1712, 1654 average rpm.

T5. Liam Nash, Westminster Christian (IL), 2027
Positional Profile: RHP/RHP
Body: 6-1, 192-pounds.
Delivery: Simple, easy delivery, works down on the mound well, tall/fall, stays in-line, square landing foot.
Arm Action: RH. 3/4 release, quick arm action.
FB: T87, 85-87 mph. Plays with life and finish through the zone, slight run.  T2253, 2049 average rpm.
CB: 68-69 mph. 11/5 break, sharp. T2264, 2227 average rpm.
SL: 69-72 mph. 10/4 shape, hard biting action.  T2315, 2260 average rpm.

BEST OF THE REST (LISTED ALPHABETICALLY)

Colin Bettenhausen, Lincoln-Way East (IL), 2027
Positional Profile: RHP/3B
Body: 5-10, 150.4-pounds.
Delivery: Quick worker, up-tempo delivery, medium leg-lift, tall/fall lower-half, stays in-line down the mound.
Arm Action: RH. Short arm action, over-the-top release.
FB: T82, 78-82 mph. Straight; plays well down in the zone. T2173, 2026 average rpm.
CB: 71-72 mph. Hard 11/5 bite at times.  T2304, 2216 average rpm.

Charlie Caroselli, Providence Catholic (IL), 2027
Positional Profile: RHP/3B
Body: 5-11, 165.1-pounds.
Delivery: Clean mover, medium leg-lift, shifts weight back and gathers over the rubber, drop/drive lower-half, works in-line.
Arm Action: RH. Compact, 3/4 slot, easy arm.
FB: T78, 75-78 mph. Plays with heavy arm-side run.  T1974, 1893 average rpm.
SL: 64-65 mph. Spins well with horizontal movement.  T2496, 2357 average rpm.
CH: 71-71 mph. Feel for the zone, showed some arm-side fade.  T1675, 1675 average rpm.

Brady Cunningham, Brother Rice (IL), 2027
Positional Profile: RHP/3B
Body: 6-2, 220-pounds.
Delivery: Explosive, high leg-kick that gathers momentum, drop/drive lower-half, gets into his legs, works in-line.
Arm Action: RH. Over-the-top arm action.
FB: T86, 82-85 mph. Lively; explodes out of hand. T2025, 1897 average rpm.
CB: 69-71 mph. 12/6 action; sharp break. T2035, 1973 average rpm.
CH: 79-79 mph. Arm-side fade, kept down in zone. T1649, 1585 average rpm.

Aidan Dillon, Brother Rice (IL), 2027
Positional Profile: LHP/OF
Body: 6-0, 149.5-pounds.
Delivery: Athlete, controlled leg-lift into balance point, tall/fall, simple delivery, works in-line.
Arm Action: LH. Medium arm circle, 3/4 release.
FB: T83, 77-81 mph. Firm with ASR; velocity plays up. T2452, 2129 average rpm.
CB: 65-67 mph. Flashed in game; 1/7 shape.  T2075, 1915 average rpm.
CH: 72-76 mph. Some diving action to the arm-side.  T2163, 1870 average rpm.

Connor Fox, Mt. Zion (IL), 2027
Positional Profile: RHP/SS
Body: 5-11, 151.9-pounds.
Delivery: Stretch only, high quick leg kick, holds pre-bend in the back knee down the mound, long/athletic stride with extension. 
Arm Action: RH. 3/4 arm slot with quick arm action.
FB: T85, 83-85 mph. Plays straight with some finish, lives up in the zone.  T2274, 2178 average rpm.
SL: 73-75 mph. Above average spin, 11/5 shape, throws in any count.  T2081, 2004 average rpm.
CH: 73-77 mph. Plays with downward fade.  T1600, 1434 average rpm.

Chase Golding, Deerfield (IL), 2027
Positional Profile: OF/LHP
Body: 5-7, 175-pounds.
Delivery: Moves well, easy, athletic delivery, coils into a medium leg-lift, works in-line.
Arm Action: LH. Quick stab in the back, high 3/4 release with acceleration out front.
FB: T80, 77-79 mph. Straight with late life and finish.  T2056, 1861 average rpm.
CB: 66-69 mph. Ability to land it for strikes, 1/7 shape.  T1910, 1580 average rpm.
SL: 72-72 mph. Shorter, bullet action.  T1785, 1785 average rpm.
CH: 69-72 mph. Plays with gradual running action to his arm-side.  T1953, 1445 average rpm.

Hunter McGrath, Lisle (IL), 2027
Positional Profile: RHP/SS
Body: 5-10, 155-pounds.
Delivery: Controlled tempo, medium leg-lift with a slight coil, drop/drive lower-half, works in-line.
Arm Action: RH. High 3/4 release, shorter circle in the back.
FB: T84, 79-83 mph. Straight; firm with some carry. T2267, 2032 average rpm.
CB: 73-75 mph. Late, tight 11/5 break.  T2343, 2154 average rpm.

Brody Phillips, Arcola (IL), 2027
Positional Profile: SS/RHP
Body: 5-9, 158.7-pounds.
Delivery: Deliberate mover, uphill tilt, firm plant leg, upright upper body, fluid delivery.
Arm Action: RH. Arm stab at the back hip, high 3/4 slot.
FB: T82, 80-81 mph. Feel for the zone, plays straight.  T1745, 1627 average rpm.
CB: 67-69 mph. True 12/6 shape. Tight spin. T1933, 1732 average rpm.
SL: 70-70 mph. Shorter break, some 10/4 shape.  T1926, 1926 average rpm.
CH: 65-70 mph. Plays with arm-side fade.  T1822, 1617 average rpm.

Gavin Stanislawski, Brother Rice (IL), 2027
Positional Profile: 3B/1B
Body: 6-1, 207.7-pounds.
Delivery: Smooth and simple, medium high balance, tall and fall, stays in line.
Arm Action: RH. Easy 3/4 arm slot.
FB: T84, 81-83 mph. Plays with sinking action, runs away to lefties. Keeps down and away to both sides, lives low.  T2325, 2185 average rpm.
CB: 71-72 mph. Above average spin with feel to backdoor lefties.  T2324, 2286 average rpm.
CH: 78-80 mph. Plays with some run to his arm-side.  T1790, 1758 average rpm.

RELATED CONTENT