By Sean Duncan
Executive Director

Team Illinois’ Prep Baseball Report Future Games roster is set, and loaded with many of the top uncommitted 2016 prospects in the state.

Illinois is looking to reclaim its dominance at the Future Games. After going undefeated in the first two years of the Future Games, Team Illinois went 0-3 last year against the top 2015 players across the Midwest and Northeast.

In its fourth year, the Prep Baseball Report Future Games, powered by Under Armour, features the top uncommitted rising juniors in our Prep Baseball Report coverage states. This year’s Future Games is set for July 31-August 2, and will be held at the state-of-the-art Grand Park Baseball Complex in Westfield, IN. This year’s event is even more loaded than ever, and will have individually selected teams from Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Missouri, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Wisconsin, Kansas, and an at-large Stars team that is comprised from players from several other states. The Prep Baseball Report Future Games has evolved into one of the summer’s most heavily scouted events.

Throughout the course of the next two weeks leading up to the event, we will highlight all the players on the roster. Here is a quick snapshot of Illinois’ roster:

Pitchers

Illinois is loaded with pitching, and this year’s roster reflects it. RHP Brenden Heiss (Jacobs HS), RHP/3B Cal Coughlin and LHP Ben Brecht (New Trier HS) are all top 10-ranked prospects in Illinois’ 2016 class. RHP Garrett Acton (Lemont HS), who helped lead Lemont to the Class 3A state championship, RHP Ryan Hodgett (St. Francis HS), RHP Brady Huffman (Genoa-Kingston HS), RHP Brad Littleton (Coal City HS) and RHP/3B Joe Dittmar (Richmond-Burton HS) all bring upper-80s velocity as well. Along with Brecht, LHP Cole Miller (York HS) and switch-pitcher/OF Joe Santoro (Carmel HS) provide the left-handed support on the staff.

Catchers

Base-stealers will run at their own risk against two of the top defensive catchers in the Midwest. Both Cooper Johnson (Carmel HS) and AJ Lewis (Mount Carmel HS) are top 10-ranked prospects in Illinois’ 2016 class.

Middle Infield

A pair of top-of-the-order left-handed hitters anchors the middle infield with Matt Burch (Warren HS) and Jacob Snider (Champaign Central HS). SS/3B Brandon Bossard, who was an impact performer at Nazareth Academy as a sophomore, is also a top-level offensive threat at the plate.

Corner Infield

3B/RHP Cal Coughlin and 3B/RHP Joe Dittmar (Richmond-Burton HS) will handle most of the hot corner responsibilities. Left-handed hitting 1B Bobby Seymour (Mount Carmel HS) is the only 2017 prospect on Illinois’ roster.

Outfield

Andrew Dyke (Brother Rice HS) has been putting up impressive offensive numbers for the Crusaders since his freshman year. Dyke will be joined in the outfield by Dylan Gilbert (St. Ignatius HS), OF Joe Santoro (Carmel HS) and Jack Molnar (Fremd HS).

Note: A few other Illinois-based players will compete on the Stars team, which will be highlighted at a later date.

CLICK HERE to view Future Games schedule of events

A look at Team Illinois’ roster:

Name	State	School	Class	Pos	Commitment
Garrett Acton	IL	Lemont	2016	RHP
Brandon Bossard	IL	Nazareth Academy	2016	SS
Ben Brecht	IL	New Trier	2016	LHP
Matt Burch	IL	Warren	2016	SS
Cal Coughlin	IL	Carmel	2016	3B
Joe Dittmar	IL	Richmond Burton	2016	3B
Andrew Dyke	IL	Brother Rice	2016	OF
Dylan Gilbert	IL	St. Ignatius	2016	OF
Brenden Heiss	IL	Jacobs	2016	RHP
Ryan Hodgett	IL	St. Francis	2016	RHP
Brady Huffman	IL	Genoa Kingston	2016	RHP
Cooper Johnson	IL	Carmel Catholic	2016	C
AJ Lewis	IL	Mount Carmel	2016	C
Brad Littleton	IL	Coal City	2016	RHP
Cole Miller	IL	York	2016	LHP
Jack Molnar	IL	Fremd	2016	OF
Joe Santoro	IL	Carmel	2016	LHP
Bobby Seymour	IL	Mount Carmel	2017	1B
Jake Snider	IL	Champaign Central	2016	2B/MIF