2026 MLB Draft Recap: Illinois

Zion Rose OF / IMG Academy, FL / 2023

Louisville

Round 1, Pick 6, Kansas City Royals

Rose was one of the top athletes in Illinois’ 2023 class before transferring to Florida’s IMG Academy for his senior season of high school. Initially considered a catcher, the athleticism was too good to avoid using out in the outfield, and there’s a chance he can still turn into a professional center fielder in pro ball. He finished his 2026 in Louisville with a 1.137 OPS in 36 games after an ankle injury cost him some time. He’s been an arrow-up prospect since the college season ended as he’s impressed athletically and he’s model-friendly for his high contact% and lack of whiffs.

Tyler Bell SS / Lincoln-Way East, IL / 2024

Kentucky

Round 1, Pick 10, Colorado Rockies

One of the top-ranked college shortstops in the MLB Draft, Bell was a second-rounder out of high school by the Rays but opted to go the college route instead. A risky gamble that very much appears to have paid off for Bell, despite missing some time early this spring with a shoulder injury. Ultimately, he slashed .343/.510/.608 with a 1.119 OPS in 41 games this year (143 at-bats), almost exclusively within the SEC upon his return. A switch-hitting shortstop with a sound approach, solid speed, and reliable middle-infield defense.

Landon Thome SS / 2B / Nazareth Academy, IL / 2026

Florida State signee

Round 1A, Pick 34, Chicago White Sox

Florida State commit Landon Thome is one of the more popular names in the country and has been since he stepped foot into high school. A varsity contributor since his freshman year with a state title under his belt, Thome has had an illustrious prep career up to this point and really capped it off on a high-note, earning Gatorade Player of the Year for Illinois and also now First Team All-State honors. The left-handed slugger turned in a .535 batting average with a .630 on-base percentage, also swatting seven home runs with eight triples, 14 doubles, 31 RBIs, 59 runs scored, just 12 strikeouts to 30 walks and a staggering 54 stolen bases.

Jack Slightom RHP / Lyons Township, IL / 2026

Cincinnati signee

Round 2, Pick 56, Kansas City Royals

The Cincinnati signee was one of the more dominant arms from start to finish this spring. A name that will surely garner draft buzz next month, he allowed just two earned runs over 45.1 innings to the tune of a 0.31 ERA in 2026. As impressive as his run prevention was, his strikeout-to-walk numbers were perhaps even more impressive; punching out 87 and only walking nine all spring. He finished the year with a perfect 7-0 record on the mound while helping lead Lyons Township to a 23-12 record. Slightom possessed one of the more dynamic arsenals we have seen come through the state; headlined by a fastball that touched 96 mph routinely, paired with a sweeping slider at 78-80 mph and rounding out his mix with a hard changeup at 85-87 mph.

Dominic Voegele RHP / Columbia, IL / 2023

Kansas

Round 3, Pick 82, Baltimore Orioles

Voegele was one of the IHSA’s true aces in high school back at Columbia and he walked into Kansas starting rotation the moment he hit campus, which didn’t surprise us at all. He threw 81 innings as a freshman, then 96.1, and 97 in the following two seasons, and he wound up breaking Kansas’ single-season strikeout record (120) this season. He lives in the zone a lot and he wields a curveball as his best secondary, though the fastball could use a tweak in pro ball because it lacks a real shape that plays despite being 95-98 mph regularly and throughout long outings.

Brendan Brock C / OF / Mascoutah, IL / 2022

Southwestern Illinois JC -> Oklahoma

Round 3, Pick 99, New York Yankees

A national champion at Oklahoma this summer, Brock found himself selected by thre New York Yankees in round three of the MLB Draft on Saturday. In 2026, Brock triple-slashed .302/.399/.522 with an OPS of .921 while playing in the SEC while contribuitng both behind the plate and in the outfield for the Sooners.

Josh McDevitt RHP / Effingham, IL / 2023

Missouri

Round 4, Pick 116, Arizona Diamondbacks

It took McDevitt a couple seasons at Missouri to grab regular work but he made it count once he finally landed a starting spot in the rotation this past spring. The unique slot and velo he showed in high school reappeared for Mizzou and the fastball showed as one of the best in the country at 93-95 mph. He used it, along with a quality curve and change, to punch out 102 batters in 79.1 innings as a junior.

Dominic Battista OF / Oswego East, IL / 2026

Illinois-Chicago Signee

Round 4, Pick 119, Kansas City Royals

Illinois-Chicago signee, Dominic Battista offers some of the more intriguing tools in the Illinois’ 2026 class. A 6.53 runner in the 60, with 94 mph arm strength from the outfield to go along with EV’s north of 105 mph (T108.5). Sidelined for most of the spring in 2026, when he was on the field he was dynamic and continued to show to be one of the top players in the class. He stole 37 bags in limited action while also swatting four homers, 14 doubles, and posting a 1.440 OPS.

Jimmy Anderson SS / Joliet West, IL / 2024

Heartland CC

Round 5, Pick 142, Baltimore Orioles

The next high-level shortstop to come out of Heartland (Sam Antonacci previously, among others). Turned himself into one of the top JUCO prospects in the country after an impressive freshman season. In 2026 he hit .465 with 22 doubles, 6 triples and 26 home runs and 88 RBIs. Also scored 82 runs, walked 37 times to just 18 strikeouts. .544 OBP.

Michael Addari RHP / Libertyville, IL / 2022

Illinois State

Round 6, Pick 182, Houston Astros

Libertyville has been on quite a run in recent years, both on the diamond and off it, and Addari is the latest gem of this program to have his name in some headlines. A Michigan State commit out of high school, Addari returned to his home state after redshirting to join the Illinois State staff where he flashed the ability to be a lights-out reliever one day. In 2026, he took a spot on the starting rotation and blossomed into an MLB Draft prospect. He’s a 6-foot-6 righty with two different mid-90s heaters and a sweeper that’ll get whiffs in pro ball. After recording 14 walks in 17.2 innings last year, Addari walked just 22 in 67.1 innings (73 K) this past season, which has also helped paint a brighter picture of his future in the game.

Max Hansmann RHP / York, IL / 2022

Evansville

Round 8, Pick 226, Washington Nationals

Hansmann delivered a stellar 2026 season, propelling him to be selected by the Washington Nationals. Over 85.2 innings of work, he posted a 3.99 ERA with 83 punchouts over that same span to earn First Team Missouri Valley Conference honors.

Jayden Lobliner C / St. Charles North, IL / 2022

San Diego

Round 9, Pick 264, St. Louis Cardinals

A back-to-back West Coast Conference Defensive Player of the Year, Lobliner heard his name called in the 9th round as he now finds himself part of the Cardinals organization. He batted nearly .300 in 2026 and tallied 10 homers along the way.

Gavin Swartz RHP / Normal Community, IL / 2026

Indiana signee

Round 11, Pick 314, Colorado Rockies

The past two years for the Ironmen, Swartz has been an in-game performer that continues to get better with his overall repertoire. It’s easy to fall in love with the 6-foot-3, 183-pound frame that’s full of athleticism and shows room for added strength. We saw his fastball up to 96 mph in an early spring look, and he paired it with a swing-and-miss slider, and change-up in the upper-80s. In 38 ⅔ innings, Swartz struck out 58, walked 16, allowed 14 runs, and 20 hits, finishing the year 6-2.

Calvin Proskey RHP / Oak Park-River Forest, IL / 2023

UC-Santa Barbara

Round 11, Pick 332, Cincinnati Reds

Back in high school, Proskey epitomized projection. He moves exceptionally well down the mound and his fastball had a true backspin carry-type profile with a hammer breaking ball that matched up perfectly alongside it. At OPRF, he simply lacked velocity, and he’s grown into more (low-90s) in college inside one of the top pitching staffs in the country at UCSB. He still lacks impact velocity on the heater, but he’s progressed steadily overall since high school and looks like a worthwhile pro project for an eager development department.

Mason Lei RHP / Freeport, IL / 2023

Rock Valley JC -> Illinois-Chicago

Round 13, Pick 394, Boston Red Sox

Lei had a memorable 2026 for the Flames, being named to the All-Missouri Valley Conference First Team and a member of the All-MVC Tournament Team while leading the program in wins (eight), innings pitched (96.2) and strikeouts (86). 

Brayden Bakes OF / Huntley, IL / 2023

Illinois State

Round 13, Pick 399, Philadelphia Phillies

High-level prospect out of high school, ranked No. 12 in the Illinois’ 2023 class. Was a 6.45 runner with big power from the left side of the plate. Found a home at Illinois State this spring and emerged onto the scene after leading the team in numerous categories and was in the mix for Missouri Valley Conference POTY. Hit .393 with 22 doubles, 2 triples, 16 home runs and 52 RBIs. Also scored 55 runs and walked (38) more than he struck out (37).

Ty Brachbill RHP / Shelbyville, IL / 2023

High Point

Round 14, Pick 425, San Diego Padres

Brachbill had a big 2026, earning Big South Pitcher of the Year and Big South First Team All-Conference after posting a 3.59 ERA in 90.1 innings of work with 81 strikeouts.

Ryan Niedzwiedz 1B / West Aurora, IL / 2023

Southern Illinois-Edwardsville

Round 15, Pick 434, Colorado Rockies

Niedzwiedz had a phenomenal career at SIU-E where he was named the Ohio Valley Conference Co-Player of the Year after hitting 27 homers and slashing .351/.427/.768 with a 1.195 OPS.

Braden Smith RHP / Byron, IL / 2023

Maryville -> Central Florida

Round 15, Pick 440, Baltimore Orioles

A Friday night starter for the Knights in 2026, Smith had gone 3-1 on the mound before having his season cut short due to injury.

Sam Larson RHP / Lake Forest, IL / 2023

Denison -> Tulane

Round 16, Pick 464, Colorado Rockies

Starting his career at Division III power, Denison, Larson found himself at Tulane for his final year and posted a 3.95 ERA over 41 innings of work and punching out 54 while pitching in the American Conference.

Tanner Mally OF / Naperville North, IL / 2023

Western Michigan

Round 17, Pick 508, San Francisco Giants

Arguably the nation's best hitter statistically in 2026, Mally batted a whopping .446 for the Broncos while walking more than he struck out (24 walks to 13 strikeouts). Mally was also named First Team All-MAC and named to the All-MAC Defensive Team.

Jack Lausch OF / Brother Rice, IL / 2022

Northwestern

Round 17, Pick 512, Cincinnati Reds

Lausch was one of the top prospects in Illinois out of high school but elected to head to Evanston to play quarterback for the Wildcats. In 2025, Lausch took another stab at baseball. This past spring he homered 12 times, drove in 41 runs, tallied three triples, 13 doubles, and hit for a .312 batting average while slugging .653.

Travis Lutz RHP / Limestone, IL / 2021

Illinois Central College -> Bradley -> Lamar

Round 17, Pick 513, Cleveland Guardians

Lutz was named Southland Conference Newcomer of the Year, Second Team All-Southland Conference, and named to the Southland Conference All-Tournament team in 2026. He posted a 4-3 record with 68 strikeouts and two saves with a 3.26 ERA and 1.10 WHIP in 16 appearances and nine starts across 60.2 innings pitched for Lamar.

Nile Adcock RHP / Pinckneyville, IL / 2022

Kaskaskia JC -> Kentucky

Round 20, Pick 592, Atlanta Braves

Adcock finds himself a member of the Atlanta Braves organization after punching out 50 batters over 36 innings of work for the Wildcats in 2026.