The Illinois Scout Blog provides insider information and scouting notes from the Prep Baseball Scouting Staff during the season. This running blog will feature information on underclass prospects, unsigned seniors, draft prospects, and anything else that is notable. We will provide a wide range of information, including player evaluations, velocities, pop times, home to first times, and more. Simply put, the Illinois Scout Blog is loaded with information …

Wednesday, March 18th

No. 17 St. Joseph-Ogden vs Columbia

By: Wil Hannah
Kentucky Assistant Scouting Director

Brody Landgraf, 1B/RHP , Columbia, 2026
Creighton Commit. Landgraf showed well, going 2 for 3 with a 2-run home run and a line drive single back up the middle, continuing to build off his Prep Baseball Future Games experience. The 6’4, 231lbs senior presents an XL, physical frame with quality bat to ball skills, showing present strength with a gap-to-gap approach that still flashes power upside. Not afraid to attack early in counts, Landgraf is a name to follow closely this spring as he looks poised to put together a big-time senior campaign.

Cooper Ruess, C/1B, Columbia, 2027
Uncommitted. Ruess is a physical 6’1 200lbs backstop who showed off his athleticism behind the plate, handling the position with confidence while receiving well and reacting quickly on balls in the dirt. At the plate, Ruess features a gap to gap approach with pull-side juice, coming through with a timely double to deep left-center while showing strong plate discipline and limited swing and miss. The uncommitted 2027 catcher is a name to follow closely this spring for the Eagles, with all the tools pointing toward a breakout year.

Connor Basinski, RHP/1B, Columbia, 2028:
The young ‘28 turned in an impressive 5 inning outing, striking out 7 while filling up the zone at a 67% percent rate and consistently getting ahead of hitters. The right hander worked 87–88 with the fastball and showed confidence challenging in-zone, pairing it with an 80–83 changeup that falls off the table and a high-spin breaking ball with late action that tunnels well and creates swing-and-miss. Basinski showed advanced feel with the ability to land all three pitches in any count, marking him as an early ‘28 arm to follow closely heading toward August 1st.

Mascoutah vs Teutopolis

By: Wil Hannah
Kentucky Assistant Scouting Director

Brandon Klein, RHP/SS, Mascoutah, 2029
Brandon Klein impressed as he showed well in a 5-inning outing, striking out 5 with 4 looking while filling up the zone at a 67% strike rate and consistently inducing weak contact. The 6-foot-1, 165-pound right-hander worked 83–86 with ride on the fastball, pairing it with a 71–72 breaking ball that showed depth and an improving 74–75 changeup to keep hitters off balance. With a projectable frame and feel to mix all three, Klein looks like a key piece on the mound moving forward and is another young ‘29 arm to follow as he continues to develop.

Darren Klein, RHP/SS, Mascoutah, 2027
Uncommitted. Klein works from a loose ¾ slot with some whip, turning in 4 strong innings with 5 strikeouts while allowing just 1 run on 2 hits. The 6 '1 165lbs right-hander filled it up at a 71% strike rate, & 77% weak contact rate showing above-average command as he attacked hitters with an 85–87 fastball featuring arm-side run, a tight 73–74 slider with late break, and a 77–78 changeup. With a sturdy lower half, and feel to mix all pitches, Klein looks like a key piece of Mascoutah’s rotation heading into his junior season.

Thursday, March 19th

Quincy vs Belleville East

By: Wil Hannah
Kentucky Assistant Scouting Director

Connor Gray, SS/RHP, 2029, Belleville East
The young ‘29 is an athletic, twitchy 6’0 160lbs left handed hitter with high projection, shows quality bat to ball skills and above-average pitch recognition for his age. Gray works a gap to gap approach with sneaky pull-side pop, highlighted by a strong 2 for 4 performance that included a big late leadoff double and an RBI single. Keeping a low pulse in high-leverage moments, the young ‘29 looks poised to be a key piece of the Lancers’ offense and a name to follow as he continues to develop.

Drake Gibson, LHP/1B, 2026, Quincy
Uncommitted. Gibson brings an athletic, physical frame with more strength to come, pairing it with quality foot speed and above-average swing decisions. The left-handed hitter works naturally to the back side with the ability to drive pitches on multiple planes, showing a balanced approach with minimal swing and miss. Gibson delivered in-game with two timely knocks for the Blue Devils, and profiles as a steady offensive piece to follow this spring.

No. 20 Triad vs. Effingham

By: Tyler Defibaugh
Manager, Content & Operations/Area Scout

Keegan Seipp, 1B, Triad, 2027
Xavier commit. Currently ranked No. 26 in the state. Strong, advanced 6-foot-4, 216-pound frame. Batted third and played first base the Knights. The left-handed hitter wasted no time making his mark on a 14-0 win, swatting a no-doubt pull-side homer in his first at-bat. He has a relaxed presence in the box, with some pre-pitch rhythm in the hands pre-pitch before working into an uphill swing paired with strong hands. He would then be pitched to differently the rest of the game, showing a patient approach by working two walks in his next two at-bats that followed. Defensively, he showed athleticism and confident hands on a diving stop at one point in the game, while showing true feel for the position from start-to-finish. Seipp has continued to get results at the varsity level, dating back to his freshman season at O’Fallon.

Nolan Keller, RHP, Triad, 2026
Kaskaskia JC commit. Ranked No. 205 in the state. Trim, 6-foot-2, 180-pound frame. Got the start and earned the win in the season opener, tossing three scoreless innings with two strikeouts. Works with an easy delivery and medium arm circle from a ¾ slot. His fastball sat 84-87 mph and touched 88, while his slider ran 79-80 mph and showed the ability to throw it for strikes. He also flashed a changeup at 79 mph. Navigated trouble on the bases well throughout his outing. Final Line: W, 3 IP, 0 R, 3 H, 2 BB, 2 K.

Carter Gaskill, SS/RF, Triad, 2026
Illinois-Springfield commit. Currently ranked No. 290 in the state. Athletic 5-foot-9, 159-pound frame. Batted leadoff and started at shortstop before moving to right field later in the game. The left-handed hitter recorded two hits on the day, including a barreled triple to center field. His swing works loose with a flatter path and line drive approach. On the bases, he shows evident foot speed. Defensively, he showed advanced actions on the infield during pregame, and his arm played as above-average both in pregame and in-game.

Braxton Yates, CF, Triad, 2026
Lewis & Clark CC commit. Currently ranked No. 288 in the state. Twitchy 5-foot-6, 147-pound frame. Batted second and played centerfield. The right-handed hitter was on the barrel for a pull-side double in his second at-bat. He works from a wider base with some pre-pitch rhythm in his hands, and his swing has length through the zone paired with quick hands. Defensively, his arm showed above-average strength during pregame and it translated in-game, while also showing the ability to cover ground in center.

Parker Wolfe, RF, Triad, 2026
Uncommitted. Trim, 5-foot-11, 150-pound frame with room for added strength. Batted seventh and played right field. The right-handed hitter showed a quality approach at the plate, rarely chasing outside the zone. He notched a loud pull-side double in his second at-bat and added a single in his final at-bat. He works from an open setup with rhythm throughout his operation, paired with a leg kick trigger, and his swing works flat through the zone. An unsigned senior to follow.

Kade Rocca, C, Triad, 2027
Uncommitted. Well-proportioned 6-foot, 210-pound frame with strength. Batted sixth and caught for the Knights. Behind the dish, he was a willing blocker with a strong arm that showed carry, recording pop times of 1.90-2.09 between innings. Offensively, the right-handed hitter reached base twice via walk and hit-by-pitch. An uncommitted name to follow.

Brody Hasquin, RHP, Triad, 2027
Uncommitted. Sturdy, strong 6-foot-2, 195-pound frame. Worked two clean innings in relief, striking out one. Entered the game in a jam and quickly induced two ground ball outs to keep the shutout intact. An athletic mover downhill, throwing from a high ¾ slot. His fastball sat 80-82 mph, while his curveball ran 75-76 mph and earned occasional swing and miss. Also the starting quarterback for Triad in the fall. An uncommitted two-sport name to continue to follow.

August Bugger, LF, Triad, 2027
Uncommitted. Proportional 6-foot, 182-pound frame with present strength. Batted fifth and played left field. The left-handed hitter finished 3-for-3 on the day, with a barreled double to deep center field in his second at-bat. He carries a calm, relaxed presence in the box with a loose, athletic swing and an aggressive approach at the plate. Defensively, he showed confident actions during pregame that translated in-game. An uncommitted name to follow for the Knights this spring.

Max Flack, RHP, Effingham, 2026
Lake Land JC commit. Sturdy 6-foot-3, 215-pound frame with strength. Got the start for the Hearts. His first inning was nearly flawless, missing bats consistently, with all four outs he recorded coming via strikeout in the outing. He works with a compact arm action from a ¾ slot. His fastball sat 86-88 mph, and he also showed a curveball at 74-75 mph during his start.

Jude Traub, 3B, Effingham, 2027
Uncommitted. Strong 6-foot, 195-pound frame. Batted third and played the hot corner for the Hearts. The right-handed hitter produced a loud double to deep center field in his first at-bat. He carries a relaxed confidence in the box with an aggressive swing that has length through the zone. Defensively, he showed to be a steady defender at third base. An uncommitted name to follow.