Class of 2028 Rankings Update: Newcomers
September 16, 2025
With the summer behind us and the 2028 State Rankings being released yesterday, we’re taking a look at some of the newcomers within this update. Following yesterday's update, there was considerable movement after a summer of events, tournaments, and the Illinois State Games. Note that everyone listed below is outside of the Top 20.
2028 NEWCOMERS
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Luke Crowder LHP / OF / Benet Academy, IL / 2028Rankings StateRank: 21 / POS: 4
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Jenner Smith OF / RHP / John Hersey High School, IL / 2028Rankings StateRank: 22 / POS: 3
From 2/21/25: “+ OF/RHP Jenner Smith (Hersey, 2028) will surely be a name our staff needs to follow closely throughout the coming years on both sides of the ball. He has an extremely projectable and high-waisted 6-foot-2, 170-pound frame with long limbs. On the mound, the right-hander is a fluid/easy mover with a clean arm to pair, also boasting a four-pitch mix. His fastball played in the 79-81 mph range with ease out of the hand, setting up both a curveball (68-70 mph; T2446 RPM) and a slider (72-73 mph; T2426 RPM), though he appeared more comfortable landing the slider in the zone with sharp action and depth. His final offering was a running changeup that flashed hard arm-side action, 72-74 mph. At the plate, the right-handed hitter has a compact swing and balanced finish, looking to be an extremely interesting follow with the bat as well.” |
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Landon Sopkin RHP / SS / Minooka, IL / 2028Rankings StateRank: 23 / POS: 5
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Barrett Schifferdecker OF / RHP / Loyola Academy, IL / 2028Rankings StateRank: 24 / POS: 4
From 3/06/25: “OF Barrett Schifferdecker (Loyola Academy, 2028) looks to be a name we’ll have to follow closely throughout the coming years with some loud tools across the board. He has an impressive 6-foot-1, 190-pound frame with some present strength throughout and long levers, and there’s still more room to add in the coming years. The left-handed hitter was all over the barrel throughout his round, coiling into his load before firing through the zone with strong hands, looking to stay on top of the baseball while creating extension out front and using the whole field, peaking at 97.5 mph for his EV. He looks to be an athletic mover in the outfield, backed by his 6.90 in the 60, also showing off a strong arm reaching up to 86 mph from a crowhop.” |
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Carson Ramoley OF / Brother Rice, IL / 2028Rankings StateRank: 25 / POS: 5
From 3/06/25: “OF Carson Ramoley (Brother Rice, 2028) is an athletic young prospect to watch throughout the coming years. The younger brother of Kentucky commit Nolan Ramoley, Carson also appears to be a strong, toolsy prospect. Listed at 5-foot-10, 155-pounds, Ramoley has a lean and upside build with sloped shoulders, allowing plenty more room for muscle in the coming years. He’s an above-average runner, cruising to a 6.90 in the 60 to start his day. At the plate, the right-handed hitter has a loose and whippy stroke with length through the zone at times with the ability to elevate, creating some loud contact with sneaky juice at times, reaching up to 94 mph for his peak EV with a 349’ max distance. He also put up above-average BLAST numbers, averaging 75 mph for his bat-speed, 23.2 mph for his hand-speed and 18.2 Gs for his rotational acceleration. Ramoley showed a ton of intrigue on the defensive side of the ball. He displayed quick feet, the ability to play through the ball, and played with overall confident actions and range.” |
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Weston Wyzukovicz C / OF / Libertyville, IL / 2028Rankings StateRank: 26 / POS: 2
From 3/06/25: “C/INF Weston Wyzukovicz (Libertyville, 2028) is a versatile defender that looks to handle the bat well from the right side. At the plate, he showed to have strong hands with some easy flick in the barrel, staying through the zone with a flat path while remaining balanced through impact, reaching up to 93 mph for his peak EV. He’s an above-average athlete with a 7.05 in the 60, though we’ve had him down to a 6.97 in the past. Defensively, Wyzukowicz showed to have a quick glove-to-hand operation behind the plate, with a top pop-time of 2.07 seconds.” |
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Peter Pignatiello SS / RHP / Benet Academy, IL / 2028Rankings StateRank: 27 / POS: 7
From 8/05/25: “+ Coming off an impressive performance at the Midwest Super Sophomore games, SS Peter Pignatiello (Benet Academy, 2028) continued his success at the State Games. In game two, the LHH drove a ball into the right-center gap for a double in his first at-bat. In his second at-bat, worked a walk. Pignatiello had a quality showing in the showcase as well, peaking his EV at 94 mph with an average of 89 mph and had a max distance of 341’.” |
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Henry Murphy RHP / SS / Maine South, IL / 2028Rankings StateRank: 28 / POS: 6
From 8/05/25: “+ RHP Henry Murphy (Maine South, 2028) features a long-levered, 6-foot-2, 160-pound frame with ample room to add strength. His 84 mph fastball plays with life and comes out of the hand with ease. Murphy shows feel for both a sharp, late-breaking curveball and a quick, tight slider, giving him multiple swing-and-miss options. He works with a loose, easy delivery and soft landing, projecting for continued velocity gains as he fills out.” |
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Tommy Gasner 1B / LHP / Huntley High School, IL / 2028Rankings StateRank: 29 / POS: 3
From 3/06/25: “1B Tommy Gasner (Huntley, 2028) showed well a couple weeks ago at the McHenry Preseason ID, and once again gave an impressive look this time around. There’s some present physicality in his 6-foot, 198-pound frame, and it easily transfers over to his left-handed swing, reaching up to 94 mph for his EV in this look - also showing the ability to drive the baseball up the middle and the other way throughout his round.” |
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Lawton Close OF / RHP / Naperville North, IL / 2028Rankings StateRank: 30 / POS: 6
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Caleb Mease OF / RHP / Wheaton Warrenville South, IL / 2028Rankings StateRank: 31 / POS: 7
From 8/05/25: “+ OF Caleb Mease (Wheaton Warrenville South, 2028) measured in at 5-foot-11, 179-pounds with some present physicality that makes him a name to follow in the state's rising sophomore class. At the plate, presents a strong right-handed swing with loft-based intent, pull-side tendencies, and explosive hands. Took a quality round of batting practice, sporting a max exit velocity of 101.9 mph and an average of 95.8 mph to pair with a max bat speed of 76.3 mph and an average of 70.9 mph.” |
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Gavin Helpingstine OF / RHP / Br Rice High School, IL / 2028Rankings StateRank: 32 / POS: 8
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Matt Morris RHP / OF / Triad, IL / 2028Rankings StateRank: 33 / POS: 7
From 3/20/25: “RHP/C Matt Morris (Triad, 2028) emerged as a big winner in his event debut this winter. He stands in an upside, 6-foot, 160-pound frame with a high waist and long levers. On the mound, he’s a loose mover with athletic action and a quick arm, showcasing a fastball up to 81 mph. His slider sat 70-71 mph with short, horizontal actions, looking like an out-pitch potential type. He finished his ‘pen with a low-70s change-up that he threw with intent and confidence, working it down in-and-below the zone with quality actions. Offensively, he is one to watch as well with a loose, easy right-handed swing that is tailored for elevated contact while staying up the middle of the field.” |
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Trey Hrasky OF / LHP / O Fallon High School, IL / 2028Rankings StateRank: 34 / POS: 9
From 8/05/25: “+ INF Trey Hrasky (O’Fallon, 2028) looks like a promising young infield prospect coming through the Metro East area. Listed at 6-foot, 160-pounds, he has a lean and projectable build with plenty of room to add strength. He has a good mix of measurable tools and gameplay performance, as he’s an above-average runner (6.83) with sneaky strength and feel for the barrel. The left-handed hitter showed above-average bat-to-ball skills with athletic hands, and his swing looks to profile into more power as he continues to fill out.” |
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Nathan Zdenovec LHP / 1B / Lemont, IL / 2028Rankings StateRank: 35 / POS: 5
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Monty Chalabi C / 3B / Notre Dame College Prep, IL / 2028Rankings StateRank: 36 / POS: 3
From 8/05/25: “+ C Monty Chalabi (Notre Dame College Prep, 2028) is a physically-impressive looking sophomore who looks the part behind the dish. At 6-foot, 191-pounds with present strength, Chalabi was among the event leaders in catcher velocity, reaching 78 mph from the chute. In-game, Chalabi posted a pop time as high as 2.09 seconds, showing smooth catch/throw actions. A physically imposing right-handed hitter to pair, he posted a max EV of 98.7 mph with a max distance of 376 feet during batting practice.” |
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Isaiah Wolter C / RHP / Oswego East High School, IL / 2028Rankings StateRank: 37 / POS: 4
From 8/05/25: “+ C Isaiah Wolter (Oswego East, 2028) shined in all aspects of the event. Wolter is listed with a strong 5-foot-10, 175-pound athletic frame. Wolter started off the event posting a 60 time of 6.83. Defensively, the catcher posted a pop time of 1.96-2.09 while having a catcher velocity of 78 mph. The right-handed hitter has an intentful swing with a flat bat path and easy jump off the barrel while having a line drive approach. Wolter had an average exit velocity of 91.7 mph while having a max exit velocity of 105 mph. He had an average bat speed of 73.9 mph while having a 77 mph max with an average hand speed of 22.4 mph while having a 23.9 mph max.” |
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Drew Whitney C / 1B / Barrington High School, IL / 2028Rankings StateRank: 38 / POS: 5
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Wes Thompson C / OF / Normal University, IL / 2028Rankings StateRank: 39 / POS: 6
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Riley Cook SS / RHP / New Trier Township HS Northfield, IL / 2028Rankings StateRank: 40 / POS: 8
From 6/10/25: “INF/RHP Riley Cook (New Trier, 2028) is a long-levered 6-foot-2, 160-pound two-way prospect to follow from the event. He started his day by running one of the top 60’s for the event at 7.18. Cook then showed the ability to utilize his long levers at the plate and put up a line drive round, flashing barrel strength to the pull-side. He then flashed natural actions on the infield, paired with smooth movement patterns and one of the stronger arms for the event (82 mph). Cook showed an advanced pitch mix for his age. His fastball sat 82-83 mph with a max IVB of 12.6 inches. Slider sat 71-73 mph with an average HM of -11.5 inches and a max spin rate of 2354 RPM. His changeup sat 74-77 mph with a max HM of 13.7 inches while having a 97% spin efficiency.” |
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Gavin Hartigan SS / RHP / Nazareth Academy, IL / 2028Rankings StateRank: 41 / POS: 9
From 5/17/25: “Hartigan would have a quality day at the plate for his Nazareth squad, going 2-for-6, with a triple, and two runs scored across the Saturday Doubleheader. At the plate, the right-handed hitter presents a balanced upright setup, utilizing a short stride and toe tap to get into a position of launch with loose hands and a level bat path, while also showing an ability to backspin the baseball. Speed and athleticism are obvious parts of Hartigan's game, allowing his skillset to play up on the basepaths and the dirt. Additionally, the Nazareth freshman showed a selfless play style that routinely moved the needle for his squad. Must follow name in the emerging Illinois 2028 class. 5-foot-7, 158-pound frame.” |
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Kaeson Ernst RHP / 1B / Warrensburg-Latham, IL / 2028Rankings StateRank: 42 / POS: 8
From 7/01/25: “RHP/INF Kaeson Ernst (Geneva, 2028) is a two-way talent with upside on both sides. A projectable, high-waisted 6-foot-4, 176-pound frame. At the plate, Ernst utilizes a simple swing that is long through the zone with a line-drive approach. Ernst had an average exit velocity of 88.1 mph (95.4 mph max) and a max distance of 312 feet. On the mound, Ernst utilizes his long levers for an easy delivery with a loose, uninterrupted arm action. His fastball sat 79-81 mph while topping out at 82 mph with a two-seam shape, having an average horizontal movement of 14.6 inches and an average induced vertical break of 10.4 inches. Ernst’s changeup shows heavy movement as it has an average horizontal movement of 21.2 inches while sitting 73-75 mph. He also showed a slider that sat 70-73 mph with an average horizontal movement of -5.2 inches and an average induced vertical break of -4.5 inches.” |
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Alex Govoni 3B / RHP / Loyola Academy, IL / 2028Rankings StateRank: 43 / POS: 3
From 3/06/25: “A right-handed hitter that took a quality round of BP to note is INF Alex Govoni (Loyola Academy, 2028). He has a short and simple swing, staying direct to the baseball while working to stay on top of the ball, also remaining balanced and athletic throughout with a peak EV of 94 mph. On the infield, Govoni showed athletic footwork with sure-handed actions and a two-hand gather, moving well to both sides of his glove. He has some present arm-strength, reaching up to 82 mph across the diamond and 81 on the mound.” |
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Gavin Jones SS / RHP / Bishop McNamara, IL / 2028Rankings StateRank: 44 / POS: 10
From 2/22/25: “UTIL Gavin Jones (Bishop McNamara, 2028) was one of the days’ biggest winners on both sides of the ball. He has a trim, athletic build at 5-foot-11, 172-pounds, holding room for continued development and added strength. At the plate, the left-handed hitter worked on the barrel throughout his round, staying direct to the baseball with a whole field approach, also showing the ability to lift the baseball at times with a 90 mph peak EV. He’s an athletic defender on the infield with some bounce in his step and fluid footwork, showing easy range and actions to both sides of his glove and soft hands, also showing the ability to deliver accurate throws on the move and from multiple slots. His athleticism transferred to the outfield as well with similar actions and a strong arm (T85 mph). He gave just as good, if not a better look on the mound with a fastball around the 80 mph mark. He also showed an innate ability to spin his breaking balls, with a curveball in the 66-68 mph range spinning over 2,600 rpm, and his slider playing with more lateral shape and depth at 70-71 mph with over 2,500 rpm.” |
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Colton Francisco 3B / OF / Minooka, IL / 2028Rankings StateRank: 45 / POS: 4
From 2/21/25: “Another intriguing two-way prospect, UTL/RHP Colton Francisco (Minooka, 2028) is a left-handed hitter with advanced feel to hit. The 5-foot-9, 153-pound prospect posted a max exit velocity of 90.5 mph, averaging 87.7 mph throughout his round. He then hopped on the bump and displayed a strong feel for both his fastball and his changeup. He ran the fastball up to 80 mph with run for strikes (86%). He maintained arm-speed on the changeup at 68-69 mph with sinking action that killed spin.” |
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Hunter Lockefeer C / OF / St. Viator, IL / 2028Rankings StateRank: 46 / POS: 7
From 2/13/25: “+ Another young left-handed hitting catcher to note from the day is Hunter Lockefeer (St. Viator, 2028). He took a polished round of BP while boasting a smooth and balanced swing, showing little perceived effort to deliver the barrel through the zone and create a max EV of 93 mph (T362’), showing some ability to manipulate the barrel at times. He took his defense both as a catcher and from the outfield; starting behind the plate, Lockefeer was a confident receiver of the baseball, working to present pitches around the zone for strikes with soft hands. He works in-line down to second on his throws, staying in his legs while working with a clean transfer, 2.19 pop-time. In the outfield, he showed athletic and clean footwork, moving well to both sides of his glove and reaching up to 82 mph from a crowhop.” |
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Sage Lelm 3B / OF / Morton, IL / 2028Rankings StateRank: 47 / POS: 5
From 8/05/25: “+ 3B Sage Lelm (Morton, 2028) is a physical right-handed hitter that connected on a couple hits throughout the two-day event. Lelm is listed with a strong 5-foot-10, 192-pound frame. The third baseman finished his event with a double back up the middle. During the workout portion of the event, Lelm had an average exit velocity of 90.9 mph with a max exit velocity of 98.2 mph with an average bat speed of 76.1 mph with a max of 79.1 mph. The third baseman posted an 84 mph infield velocity while having a 7.08 60 time and a vertical jump of 28.7 inches. Lelm is an interesting name to keep an eye on going into his sophomore year.” |
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Blake Harris RHP / 1B / El Paso-Gridley, IL / 2028Rankings StateRank: 48 / POS: 9
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Johann Lasn OF / RHP / York, IL / 2028Rankings StateRank: 49 / POS: 10
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Jack McNamara 1B / RHP / Brother Rice, IL / 2028Rankings StateRank: 50 / POS: 4
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