Recruiting Roundup: Week of 11/5
November 13, 2023
Today, we’ll address all the Illinois prospects who made the decision to announce their commitment throughout this past week. We wrapped up our final showcase of 2023 in October, so as we head into the fall and winter offseason, now’s the time when recruiting season picks up. This past week was a busy one for commitments, so let’s begin.
Note: Player's are listed in alphabetical order by last name.
2024s
Jacob Armstrong 3B / RHP / Timothy Christian , IL / 2024WISCONSIN-OSHKOSH COMMIT From 8/27/23: “...is a rising senior that gave an intriguing two-way look on Sunday. Armstrong stands at a long-levered 5-foot-11, 165-pound frame with plenty of room for added strength. Defensively, he stood out as one of the top infield defenders of the event. Armstrong moves with clean, smooth footwork, easy on the move, athletic actions and sure hands while topping at 81 mph. At the plate, he stays on-plane and flat through the zone from the right-side of the plate while creating occasional back spin off the bat while registering a peak exit velocity of 91 mph. On the mound, Armstrong operated from an athletic delivery and paired it with a loose arm action. His fastball sat primarily in the low-80s, T84 mph with an average of 18.6’’ of horizontal movement (2nd best in event). Armstrong also spun a quality slider which had 2500 RPMs with late bite. Two-way unsigned senior to know.” |
Noah Bagby 1B / Bolingbrook, IL / 2024SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY AND A&M COLLEGE COMMIT |
Quinn Boyer / OF / Montini Catholic, IL / 2024
Rankings StateRank: 122 / POS: 1
MIAMI (OH) COMMIT From 5/6/23: “6-foot-2, 183-pound frame, appears larger than listed with some room to add on strength. Started in center field and hit out of the two-hole for the Broncos as he finished the day with a home run, RBI single and two walks. The right-handed hitter gives off a comfortable appearance in the box, some pre-pitch rhythm in his hands while staying simple and short to the ball with clear strength in the barrel, looks to handle velocity well. Quality defender in the outfield with accurate routes and steady hands. Arm plays with clear life out of the hand and accuracy, reaching up to 85 mph in-event. Follow 2024 prospect.” |
Cooper Breiler RHP / OF / Hersey , IL / 2024LORAS COLLEGE COMMIT From 2/13/22: |
Ryan Coon OF / 1B / Freeport, IL / 2024
Rankings StateRank: 175 / POS: 31
AUGUSTANA COLLEGE COMMIT From 2/4/23: “Coon has a compact, athletic frame at 5-foot-9, 175-pounds and he ran the top 60-time of the event at 6.87. He also had a top vertical jump of 30.7 inches, runner-up at the event. The left-handed hitter has intent in the box, looking to drive the baseball to the pull-side with authority and direct stroke that works uphill through the zone. Coon registered a 95.2 mph exit velocity and 349’ max batted ball. Defensively, he plays through the ball with intent, showing fluid footwork and some feel for the position.” |
Thomas Corley 1B / Bolingbrook, IL / 2024OLNEY CENTRAL JC From 5/8/23: “The right-handed hitter worked out of the three-hole for the Raiders and impressed throughout the day with quality at-bats. Fluid load keeps his weight in the center of his body, hands separate slightly at foot strike before firing through with an uphill path and loose barrel through the zone. Was consistently on the barrel all game, most impressively staying through a ball and driving it to the opposite field for a double. Bat looks to profile in the middle of the order at the next level, simple operation with easy power.” |
David Cox SS / 3B / Nazareth, IL / 2024
Rankings StateRank: 36 / POS: 10
ILLINOIS-CHICAGO COMMIT From 4/29/23: “6-foot-4, 200-pound, broad-shouldered, well-proportioned frame. Moves much better all around the field than his frame would indicate. Started at shortstop and hit in the four-hole. Offensively, presence in the box, aggressive swing, present whip through the zone and ball jumps off the bat at times. Finished 1-for-3 with a sacrifice fly and run scored. Smoked a line-drive to left-field in his final at-bat and also drove a sacrifice fly to right field in his second-to-last at-bat. Also, came out of the bullpen and went three innings, giving up one hit, no earned runs, four strikeouts and two walks. Fastball plays around the bottom of the zone at 85-88 mph, touched 89 and went to a 74-77 mph breaking ball.” |
Danny DiMartino OF / LHP / Plainfield North, IL / 2024NORTH CENTRAL COLLEGE COMMIT From 2/4/23: |
Jaden Franckowiak 1B / OF / Andrew, IL / 2024WISCONSIN LUTHERAN COLLEGE COMMIT FROM 2/22/23: “...led the entire event in max exit velocity, reaching up to 102.1 mph with an average exit velocity of 91.2 mph (375’ max distance). He was routinely on the barrel throughout his round of BP, working with an uphill path through the zone and intent to lift the baseball. His BLAST metrics were also highly impressive, averaging 23 mph for his hand-speed (T24.7 mph), 75.8 mph for his bat-speed (T79.6 mph) and 19.7 for his rotational acceleration (T24.1).” |
Will Gladden / Fenwick, IL / 2024UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO COMMIT From 2/13/22: |
Braden Grimm RHP / 2B / Evanston, IL / 2024
Rankings StateRank: 129 / POS: 43
MINNESOTA STATE COMMIT From 8/8/23: “There’s plenty to like with RHP Braden Grimm (Evanston, 2024), who’s a long, projectable 6-foot-1, 165-pound athlete with more to come. Grimm’s fastball played at 84-87 mph with noticeable raw spin (T2540 RPM) and carry (20.2 IVB) as well. He spun two breaking balls off his fastball; a low-70s curveball that peaked at 2636 RPM with more bend/depth and a tighter, bullet-like slider at 74-79 mph, topping at 2538 RPM.” |
Braeden Groszek 2B / SS / Glenbard West, IL / 2024NORTH CENTRAL COLLEGE COMMIT From 10/1/23: |
Sir Jamison Jones C / 1B / St. Rita, IL / 2024OKLAHOMA STATE COMMIT From 4/14/23: “Physical, 6-foot-2, 215-pound build, continues to advance his frame with muscle, appearing to be leaner since our last look. At the plate, the right-handed hitter has advanced bat-strength, especially for this age - seemingly flicking a ball to the opposite field for a double in his first at-bat. He’s always been a vocal leader behind the plate, and his defense looks to be trending upwards - showing improved hands while receiving with a hop to his step, also flashing a well above-average arm down to second. High-level 2024 backstop that profiles in the middle of the order at the next level.” |
Matt Knapczyk OF / Neuqua Valley, IL / 2024PARKLAND COLLEGE COMMIT |
GIOVANNI LONG RHP / OF / Addison Trail, IL / 2024QUINCY UNIVERSITY COMMIT From 12/10/22: |
Camden Loomis RHP / SS / Ottawa, IL / 2024NORTH CENTRAL COLLEGE COMMIT From 2/26/23: |
Brenden Martin RHP / Morrison, IL / 2024TRITON JC COMMIT |
Noah Petersen C / Civic Memorial , IL / 2024LEWIS & CLARK CC COMMIT From 9/26/23: |
Daniel Rodriguez SS / 2B / Yorkville, IL / 2024AURORA UNIVERSITY COMMIT |
DALTON RUTHERFORD C / 1B / Sycamore , IL / 2024KISHWAUKEE JC COMMIT |
Aiden Simmons C / 3B / Plainfield North, IL / 2024MILLIKIN UNIVERSITY COMMIT From 2/4/23: “Standing at a projectable 6-foot-2, 165-pounds, was one of the top defensive catchers in attendance. He has fluid actions behind the plate, using soft hands and a quick/clean transfer. Out of the crouch, Simmons is clean and quick, reaching as low as 2.02 seconds for his pop-time with a max catcher velocity of 75 mph. Offensively, it's a loose, balanced right-handed swing that creates leverage to the pull-side at times.” |
Elijah Skidmore RHP / RHP / Harlem , IL / 2024ROCK VALLEY JC COMMIT From 10/17/21: |
Brock Suding C / 3B / Tolono Unity , IL / 2024
Rankings StateRank: 177 / POS: 19
HEARTLAND CC COMMIT From 8/8/23: “...looks the part of a high-level backstop, and has repeatedly shown advanced catch and throw skills behind the dish. A physical 6-foot-2, 200-pound athlete, Suding moves well behind the dish, and he’s a comfortable blocker laterally, too. He showed advanced arm strength behind the plate (T81 mph), the second highest mark of the event, and he was accurate with quickness to the bag, popping at 1.93-to-2.02 in his workout.” |
Grant Tebbe SS / RHP / O'Fallon Township, IL / 2024JOHN WOOD CC COMMIT |
Morgan Wachler OF / OF / Palatine , IL / 2024
Rankings StateRank: 157 / POS: 28
ILLINOIS WESLEYAN COMMIT From 2/25/23: |
Jonah Weathers 3B / OF / Marian Catholic, IL / 2024
Rankings StateRank: 51 / POS: 4
JOHN A. LOGAN COMMIT From 8/8/23: “...has noteworthy tools and athleticism attached to a strong, well-proportioned 6-foot-3, 180-pound frame. Weathers, who’s also a standout basketball player at Marian Catholic, showed above-average hand (23.8 mph) and bat speed (76.5 mph) on the workout day to go along with a 95.2 mph max exit velocity and 346 ft. peak distance. He did so from a flat and simple right-handed swing, staying through the baseball to the pull-side while maintaining balance throughout. It didn’t take long for Weathers to show his strength in game, as he rocketed a triple into the right-center gap in his second at-bat of the event. He also ran a 6.80 60 and was 87 mph across the infield with a 90 mph arm from the outfield.” |
Jack Wilson RHP / New Trier , IL / 2024WEBSTER UNIVERSITY COMMIT From 6/20/23: “The right-hander has a drop/drive delivery, moves easily downhill with a high-intent, short arm action out of a ¾ slot. Showed a four-pitch mix with his fastball sitting 82-83 mph, topping at 83 mph. Including both a four-seam and a two-seam, each showed arm-side run and feel for the zone. Both the curveball and the slider had 11/5 shape and landed for strikes, with the curveball being the better of the two.” |
2025s
Cameron Armstrong RHP / 3B / Lincoln Way West, IL / 2025QUINCY UNIVERSITY COMMIT From 2/20/23: |
Austin Musso RHP / 3B / Mascoutah, IL / 2025KANSAS COMMIT From 8/1/23: “Taking the mound twice at the Future Games, RHP Austin Musso (Mascoutah, 2025) hurled a pair of scoreless frames in total. The 6-foot-2, 180-pound right-hander lived inside the zone, something we’re used to seeing from him, and has a highly competitive, confident demeanor on the mound. Musso pitched at 86-88 mph with his fastball, touching 89 mph, and spun it at 2500+ RPM at peak, while working in both the upper and lower quadrants of the strike zone throughout. He also showed tight spin on a slider at 76-77 mph and was capable of landing it for strikes consistently. A strike-thrower who has gotten outs at a high rate each time we’ve seen him, Musso has established himself as a premier arm in the Illinois’ 2025 group.” |
Peter Thompson RHP / Loyola Academy, IL / 2025
Rankings StateRank: 32 / POS: 9
PENN STATE COMMIT From 8/1/23: “...hurled two clean innings for Team Illinois on Friday afternoon against Ohio. The 6-foot-4, 170-pound right-hander showed noticeable arm speed out front, pitching at 85-88 mph with his fastball, and touching 89 mph. He spun two breaking balls; a 72-76 mph slider with more horizontal break and a bendy 69-70 mph curveball that had more depth to it. Thompson also mixed in a 76-78 mph changeup to left-handed hitters to round out a competitive four-pitch mix.” |