Updated Overall 2015 Player Rankings: IL Prospects
February 26, 2015
By Ryan Quigley
Illinois Scouting Director
Yesterday the Class of 2015 Overall Rankings were updated, so today we’ll take a look at where our top Illinois prospects fit within that list.
The landscape of the updated overall Class of 2015 player rankings have changed dramatically, chiefly because the landscape of the Prep Baseball Report state-specific coverage area has expanded since the last update.
It is important to note that the PBR overall rankings only reflect the states that we intimately know from our boots-on-the-ground scouting staff. The updated Top 400 Class of 2015 rankings now includes Florida, Louisiana and Maryland, in addition to our previously established states. All told, the overall rankings include 21 states and Ontario.
The inclusion of Florida dramatically changes the overall rankings, as the state is a hotbed for talent at the national level. For example, in last year’s June MLB Draft, 50 players with ties from Illinois (college or high school players) were drafted, while 161 prospects with Florida ties were drafted (79 in the top 20 rounds alone). Still, Illinois maintains 34 prospects ranked within our Top 400 Overall.
Michigan commit Charlie Donovan, the No. 1 ranked player in Illinois, parlayed a strong winter showing and sits at No. 22 overall in the rankings. Donovan is the No. 3 overall shortstop behind probably No. 1 overall pick Brendan Rodgers (Lake Mary, FL) and No. 9 overall Nick Shumpert (Highlands Ranch, CO).
Lincoln-Way North’s Kyle Ostrowski comes in at No. 24, but is the No. 2 overall left-handed pitching prospect in our coverage area, behind only No. 6 Juan Hillman (Olympia, FL). With the scarcity of quality left-handed pitching, Ostrowski could hear his name called early in June’s MLB Draft if he has a successful spring campaign.
Like left-handed pitching, premium catching prospects are a valuable commodity come draft time. Joliet Catholic’s Nick Dalesandro ranks No. 42 overall in our rankings, but is the No. 2 overall catching prospect behind No. 20 Wyatt Cross (Legacy, CO). Dalesandro, who has the athleticism to play multiple positions and is already an elite catch-and throw prospect, should see his all-around catching game increase as he focuses exclusively on the position.
Let’s take a look at where the rest of the Top Illinos Prospects fit in the Top 400 Overall Rankings:
54 |
IL |
Alton |
2015 |
LHP |
Missouri |
|
58 |
IL |
Lincoln-Way North |
2015 |
RHP |
Arizona State |
|
63 |
IL |
Metamora |
2015 |
SS |
Kansas State |
|
69 |
IL |
Wheeling |
2015 |
OF |
Illinois |
|
74 |
IL |
Glenbrook South |
2015 |
RHP |
Arizona State |
|
78 |
IL |
Whitney Young |
2015 |
C |
Illinois |
|
110 |
IL |
Homewood-Flossmoor |
2015 |
RHP |
Kentucky |
|
115 |
IL |
Sacred Heart Griffin |
2015 |
SS |
Notre Dame |
|
118 |
IL |
Plainfield South |
2015 |
RHP |
Iowa |
|
137 |
IL |
Homewood-Flossmoor |
2015 |
RHP |
Wabash Valley |
|
159 |
IL |
Mount Carmel |
2015 |
C |
Valparaiso |
|
170 |
IL |
O'Fallon |
2015 |
RHP |
East Carolina |
|
172 |
IL |
Hinsdale Central |
2015 |
OF |
Louisville |
|
184 |
IL |
Hersey |
2015 |
C |
Illinois State |
|
185 |
IL |
Galesburg |
2015 |
C |
Coastal Carolina |
|
186 |
IL |
Mount Carmel |
2015 |
OF |
Louisville |
|
221 |
IL |
Lockport |
2015 |
RHP |
Illinois |
|
223 |
IL |
Metamora |
2015 |
RHP |
Arizona |
|
224 |
IL |
Mount Carmel |
2015 |
2B/MIF |
Michigan |
|
251 |
IL |
St. Rita |
2015 |
SS |
Tennessee |
|
256 |
IL |
Argenta Oreana |
2015 |
RHP |
Kentucky |
|
282 |
IL |
St. Joseph-Ogden |
2015 |
RHP |
Eastern Illinois |
|
286 |
IL |
Hampshire |
2015 |
RHP |
Xavier |
|
332 |
IL |
Bradley Bourbonnais |
2015 |
LHP |
Evansville |
|
335 |
IL |
Yorkville |
2015 |
LHP |
Iowa |
|
353 |
IL |
Moline |
2015 |
LHP |
Austin Peay |
|
357 |
IL |
St. Charles North |
2015 |
1B |
Kansas State |
|
364 |
IL |
Joliet Catholic |
2015 |
SS |
Iowa |
|
371 |
IL |
Homewood-Flossmoor |
2015 |
C |
Western Michigan |
|
374 |
IL |
Stevenson |
2015 |
3B |
Northwestern |
|
387 |
IL |
Princeville |
2015 |
RHP |
Bradley |
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