It is still extremely early, perhaps even premature, to be forecasting Class of 2022 prospects, especially since many of these rising sophomores haven’t even played a varsity game. Then again, with the recent acceleration of recruiting, high-level 2022 prospects are already making verbal commitments.

Over the course of the last year, we’ve seen an impressive amount of talented 2022 prospects, several of whom should become national prospects if they have not already.

With that said, we have released our initial 2022 rankings, a modest list of 30 prospects that have stood out among their peers. Certainly this list will change and evolve in time, as we know many players will grow, develop and mature. We also know that we likely haven’t seen many other 2022 prospects that may be deserving of this list.

However, we are confident that the players included in the list have extremely bright futures, barring injuries, of course.

Looking at the top-10, the first six names on the board have already made a college commitment, led by the No. 1 player in the class, SS Logan Wagner (Homeschool). Wagner, a switch-hitting Louisville commit, has a 6-foot, 180-pound, physical, athletic build and plays the game with pace and energy. Wagner, has moxy in the box, creates advanced bat speed from both sides of the plate and swings with intent. Defensively, he has the tools to play anywhere on the infield; quick first step, ranges with ease, sure-hands and a strong arm that plays with carry across the infield. 

‘22 SS Logan Wagner (IL) has really emerged as a name to know in the class. Switch-hitter has an athletic frame w/ strong wrists & bat speed. All-around polish to his game.

Lots of hard contact on the wknd including this this single ⬇️@LouisvilleBSB recruit #FallChampMW pic.twitter.com/47HXF2Sxt2

— Shooter Hunt (@ShooterHunt) September 15, 2019

Behind Wagner, at No. 2 in Illinois, is another switch-hitter, C Zander Buchan (Maine South). Buchan is one of the top bats we have seen in the class and is advanced behind the plate as well. The South Carolina commit, started on varsity as a freshman and was an impact bat all spring long. Buchan has loose, athletic hands, creates easy bat speed and has a knack for the barrel. 

Tennessee commit, OF/RHP Alex Stanwich (Lincoln-Way East) is one of the toolsiest prospects in the state and comes in at No. 3. Stanwich turned heads at this summer’s Future Games with his performance during the workout day and then carried it over into gameplay. Stanwich, who was a year younger than most of the players at the Future Games, shattered the exit velocity record, registering a 106 mph exit velocity. Stanwich also ran a 6.82 laser-timed 60 and was 93 mph from the outfield. To-boot, Stanwich got on the mound and worked a clean inning, running his fastball up to 88 mph. Stanwich may have the highest ceiling in the class and appears to just be scratching the surface of his immense potential. 

‘22 OF/RHP Alex Stanwich (@PBRIllinois) has some of the most impressive athleticism at the event w/ easy raw power. Blasted a deep ground rule double to centerfield after a big round of BP. Was also up to 88 on the bump yesterday. #PBRFutureGames pic.twitter.com/0OMsZmumi2

— Shooter Hunt (@ShooterHunt) August 3, 2019

The second catcher within the top five is Nate Voss (Marist), a Michigan commit. Voss has a wide-shouldered, athletic, 5-foot-11, 170-pound frame and impacts the game in a number of ways. Defensively, he is highly advanced behind the plate with soft hands, strong wrists and is clean, easy and athletic out of the crouch. Offensively, the right-handed hitter, has loose, quick hands and the ball jumps off his barrel. 

The rest of the top-10 is filled with high-level arms who are poised to make National noise down the road. 

RHP’s Ethan Patera (Downers Grove South; No. 5) and Owen Murphy (Riverside-Brookfield; No. 6) were two 2022s at the Future Games this summer who since made their college commitment. Patera has a long, projectable, 6-foot-4, 205-pound frame, long, quick arm action and fastball up to 89 mph. Patera is committed to Louisville. 6-foot, 175-pound, athletically-built, Murphy recently committed to Notre Dame. Murphy, who still has a young look and plenty more velocity to come has a clean, quick arm action on his mid-80’s fastball (T87) and feel for a sharp slider at 73-74 mph. 

Owen Murphy (7.31.19)

A pair of hard-throwing RHP’s Hunter Pudlo (Lakes) and Alex Alberico (Providence Catholic) are both uncommitted and come in at No. 7 and No. 8, respectively. Pudlo has a 6-foot-5, 240-pound, extra-large frame, clean arm and fastball up to 89 mph. Alberico has a strong, well-proportioned, 6-foot, 188-pound frame, and was up to 90 mph with feel for a slider at the Limited Series at Illinois State this summer. 

The final two arms of the top-10 feature two of the more intriguing uncommitted prospects in the class in extra-large, big-bodied, LHPs Noah Schultz (Oswego East; No. 9) and Julien Hachem (Mount Carmel; No. 10). Schultz is a 6-foot-7, 180-pound, long-limbed, projectable arm who throws from a ¾ slot and sits comfortably in the mid-80’s with feel for a slider. Hachem has an imposing, extra-large 6-foot-6, 220-pound frame and does an impressive job repeating his slot and delivery given his massive frame. At the PBR Fall Championship, Hachem sat 83-86 mph early on with heavy, downhill action to his fastball. 

TOP 10

RANK	NAME	STATE	SCHOOL	CLASS	POS	COMMITMENT
1	Logan Wagner	IL	Home school	2022	SS	Louisville
2	Zander Buchan	IL	Maine South	2022	C	South Carolina
3	Alex Stanwich	IL	Lincoln-Way East	2022	OF	Tennessee
4	Nate Voss	IL	Marist	2022	C	Michigan
5	Ethan Patera	IL	Downers Grove South	2022	RHP	Louisville
6	Owen Murphy	IL	Riverside-Brookfield	2022	RHP	Notre Dame
7	Hunter Pudlo	IL	Lakes	2022	RHP
8	Alex Alberico	IL	Providence Catholic	2022	RHP
9	Noah Schultz	IL	Oswego East	2022	LHP
10	Julien Hachem	IL	Mount Carmel	2022	LHP

 

CLICK HERE to take a look at the top-30 Illinois 2022 prospects.

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