After a long and eventful summer, it is time to hit the refresh button on the class of 2027 rankings. It is long overdue, and there was quite a bit of movement throughout with countless players elevating their prospect status on the summer circuit. 

Today, we are taking the time to break down some of the biggest risers in this update, found below.

For a look at the entire class of 2027 rankings, you can click HERE. 

Top-10

We have a new No. 1 with RHP/INF Kaden Wasniewski (McHenry) taking over after an extremely impressive summer. The right-hander showed well at every stop on the summer circuit, perhaps most notably at the Future Games where he earned Most Valuable Pitcher honors with four strikeouts over two perfect innings. He’s a premium athlete (6.54 60) and he transfers that athleticism with ease over to the mound with electric arm-speed and a fastball up to 95 mph, pairing with a slider and power changeup that both have a real chance to be out-pitches at the next level. Though more known for his prowess on the mound, he’s a more than capable position player that held down a lineup spot in the middle of the order for a talented McHenry squad last spring.

RHP Brady Buenik (Libertyville), though falling a spot, is not falling in our eyes at all. He’s a special talent that has a chance to be one of the next big prep arms coming through the Land of Lincoln. There’s a ton of upside in his durable 6-foot-3, 215-pound frame, and his young look indicates more physicality coming in the near future. Also a QB on the gridiron, the arm talent is impossible to ignore with a fastball up to 95 mph with hard running action. He will also pair it with a sharp slider in the low-80s and a splitter that falls off the table. 

Coming in at No. 3, MIF Jacsen Tucker (Oswego East) stole the show with the spotlight on him at the Future Games this past summer, capping off an electric first night of gameplay with two home runs. The power is something we have seen continue to trend up, and he continues to show the ability to drive the ball out of the park to the opposite field. He’s easy to dream on with his lean, long-levered 6-foot-4, 180-pound frame, and he flows around the infield with crisp, natural actions and a real chance to stick there at the next level. 

You’d be hard-pressed to find a more impressive physical specimen in the state than CIF/RHP Brady Cunningham (Brother Rice), and he rounds out our No. 4 position. Listed at a muscle-bound 6-foot-2, 217-pounds, he’s also a 6.67 runner who was atop the leaderboards at the Future Games for peak run speed (22.2 mph) and vertical jump (30.3”). The right-handed bat provides an ultra-intriguing mix of bat-to-ball skills with hulking power, showing extremely limited swing and miss with quality swing decisions - all the while creating exit velocities well north of 100 mph with a short and compact stroke. To cap it off, he will also hop on the mound and run the fastball up to 91 mph with a CB/CH mix to pair. 

Sliding up nearly 20 spots to No. 5 is C Tristan Steger (St. Laurence), and he was another huge winner from the Future Games, going 6-for-7 against top-end talent. He’s another one with an impressive mix of bat-to-ball and power, who showed the ability to stay inside the baseball with ease and drive it hard all over the yard against top-end competition. He’s also a reliable backstop with quality catch/throw, and he’s a vocal leader that can help general a field. 

OF/LHP Tyler Gluting (Metea Valley) comes in at No. 6 in this update, and he’s one of the more talented two-ways in the Midwest. He’s an athletic left-handed hitter with a loose, whippy operation at the plate with a ton of upside and some present juice. He’s also an athletic defender that can get down to a 6.95 in the 60 with a well-above average arm (T91 mph OF). Speaking of his arm-strength, he can run the fastball up to 95 mph with exploding life through the zone. The command is still developing, but the pure arm-talent is deserving to be near the top of the class. 

RHP Traxton Roberts (Armstrong) is making a big jump from No. 21 to No. 8, and it is very much deserved. He has an extremely high ceiling and more to come physically in his 6-foot-2, 175-pound frame. He was one of the more dominant arms for Team Illinois at the Future Games, and he followed it with an even more impressive outing at the Illinois State Games - where he struck out all six batters he faced in two innings of work. The right-hander will work his fastball into the low-90s (T92 mph), and he’s shown an innate ability to spin his breaking balls with distinct shapes. The curveball plays more over the top with depth at 68-71 mph with an average IVB of -10.5 - while the slider plays more east/west at 79-82 mph.

UTIL Andrew Talbert (Byron) is jumping into the Top-10 at No. 9 after an impressive summer circuit in his own right. He can play a little bit of everywhere with true defensive versatility, holding his own both on the infield with fluid actions/range and in the outfield where he can cover ground easily with a quick first step. He’s an explosive athlete (6.70 60), though his speed plays up in-game and on the basepaths. His arm is plus with a 97 mph peak velocity from the outfield, and he will also top out around 91 mph across the infield. At the plate he has a simple and balanced swing that consistently was on the barrel in the Future Games workout, peaking at 96 mph for his EV while averaging 91 mph. 

MIF Blake Ragsdale (Lyons Township; Texas Christian commit) rounds out the Top-10. He’s one of the top true defenders in the state, showing clear feel for the position with natural actions, range and proper angles to balls to either side of his glove, looking every bit the part of a true up the middle profile at the next level. At the plate, the right-handed hitter consistently gets off good swings in-game with present twitch and hand-speed. 

Top-50

One of the more notable risers in this update is LHP/1B Quinn Rooney (Benet). Now sitting at No. 11, it’s really easy to see why after his showing at the Future Games about a month ago. He’s 6-foot-6, 198-pounds with long levers, and he also runs a 6.77 in the 60. One of the more impressive things about him is his ability to control his levers both at the plate and on the mound. He has a fluid left-handed stroke at the plate that was able to find success in gameplay at the Future Games with more power in his future. On the mound, he led the entire Future Games in fastball extension (7.7’ avg.), and he also threw a clean inning with a fastball up to 88 mph with more velocity to come. 

C/OF Ryan Wilberding (Libertyville) has long been regarded as one of the more polished hitters in the Illinois 2027 group and this summer did nothing but further confirm that. He has shown very limited swing and miss to go along with a strong, compact swing with real power potential. He is also a steady defender with one, if not the strongest arms in the state from the crouch (T82 mph).

OF Jazarris Mackmore Jr. (Marian Catholic) is a name that stood out to our staff this past summer and his jump to No. 25 reflects that. He lived on the barrel throughout multiple looks for our staff with bat-speed and present power, consistently getting off good swings with the ability to cover the plate and match plane. 

INF Parker Roop (Normal University) is another one coming off a big summer, and he’s rising 22 spots to No. 26. He has a pure left-handed swing that stays balanced and through the zone, and he also is showing some present power with the ability to lift the baseball - though more power is extremely likely thanks to his wiry 6-foot, 158-pound frame. 

OF Carson Hamblin (Lake Zurich) is rising 22 spots to No. 28 in this update, and he’s fresh off a big performance at the Illinois State Games. There’s loud tools across the board for Hamblin as he provides an intriguing power/speed combination. He’s a 6.67 runner with thump in his left-handed bat, showing a clean swing with length through the zone and the ability to loft the baseball pull-side. 

INF Mikey Watson (Homewood-Flossmoor) is jumping 28 spots to No. 29. He was a winner for our staff from the State Games, showing a balanced and simple swing that worked on the barrel both in the workout and in gameplay. His athleticism is also something that really stands out with a 6.55 in the 60. 

LHP Jimmy Benson (St. Laurence) is moving up 12 spots to No. 34. He looks to have one of the higher ceilings in the state with a 6-foot-8, 210-pound frame, and his deceptive low release height makes him a nightmare for opposing hitters. The fastball plays routinely in the low/mid-80s with hard sinking action, and that should only continue to trend up as he matures physically. He will also go to a curveball and a changeup to keep hitters off-balance, though the fastball alone can get hitters out. 

Arguably the biggest winner from the State Games as a position player, 1B/OF Evan Adamczewski (Maine South) is rising 63 spots to No. 36. He finished the week 5-for-6 with a home run, three doubles, two RBIs, two runs scored and a walk, showing real power potential from the left side with a simple swing that stays through the zone. 

CIF/RHP Cooper Johnson (Lincoln-Way East) is fresh off a commitment to Purdue, and he’s also seeing himself jump 10 spots to No. 37. He’s a talented two-way prospect that showed well on both sides of the ball at the State Games, highlighted by a fluid, easy swing from the right side that utilizes his levers well for power. On the mound, he has a clean and higher release that creates some angle on the fastball which can get up around the upper-80s.  

MIF Landon Clements (McHenry) is yet another talented young prospect coming through the Fox Valley, and he’s jumping a few spots to No. 43. He was one of the top bats for his high school team this past season, boasting an athletic and handsy swing from the left side that can use the whole field and take the ball where it’s pitched. He’s also a fluid defender on the dirt with soft hands and a quick/clean release. 

OF Cole Brent (Normal University) is rising 36 spots to No. 46 in this update, and he provides a unique mix of power and speed. He’s a 6.67 runner in the 60, and he’s also a left-handed hitter which helps him get down the line even quicker. On top of that, he creates triple-digit exit velocities with ease from a simple and balanced operation. 

INF Julio Ayala (Montini) slides into the top-50 at No. 47 in this update. He’s a loose and fluid mover with everything he does, boasting confident actions and hands on the infield that profile to stick on the dirt moving forward. He also has an athletic left-handed swing that continues to trend in the right direction.