With the end of the year right around the corner, we wanted to spend some time to highlight players we saw throughout the year that stood out to our staff - whether it be from an event, a tournament, or a game in the spring. Today, we are beginning our rollout with a look at some of the winners on the mound from the class of 2028.

Class of 2028 Winners in the rankings   

Dodger Friedrich RHP / OF / Lane Tech, IL / 2028 Rankings  StateRank: 2 / POS: 1 OverallRank: 43 / POS: 8 From 8/05/25: “+ RHP Dodger Friedrich (Lane Tech, 2028) is one of the top pitchers in the 2028 class who saw notable time on the mound this year as a freshman. A physical 6-foot-4, 216-pound frame. Up-tempo delivery with a big rocker step into a high, coiled leg lift, transitioning into a drop-and-drive move down the mound with slight crossfire. Clean arm-action from a low ¾ slot. Pounded the zone with the fastball (77 zone %) running it up to 91 mph sitting 88-90 mph. Paired it with a slider at 78-80 mph with sweep and some depth (max -14.8 HM). A high-follow in the 2028 class.”

Jack Postma RHP / 1B / Barrington, IL / 2028 Rankings  StateRank: 3 / POS: 2 OverallRank: 82 / POS: 20 From 8/05/25: “+ RHP Jack Postma (Barrington, 2028) provided a strong upside look on the mound through his two innings of work. Projectable 6-foot-3, 186-pound frame with present strength throughout. The right-hander worked out of a moderate delivery, using a high leg lift with tuck into a tall/fall finish, getting extension down the mound, from a whippy ¾ slot. Postma was efficient in his outing, not allowing a single base runner with two strikeouts. His fastball showed some life through the zone at 81-84 mph with an IVB max of 18.1” and an HM max of 18.6”. He also utilized a sweeping curveball at 69-72 mph, and a changeup with arm-side fade at 72-75 mph with an HM max 18.1”.”

Anderson Kaufmann C / RHP / Alton, IL / 2028 Rankings  StateRank: 4 / POS: 1 OverallRank: 124 / POS: 8 From 8/05/25: “+ Currently ranked No.2 in the state’s rising sophomore class, RHP/C Anderson Kaufmann (Alton, 2028) was a recent standout at the Midwest Super Sophomore Games and would continue to showcase a quality two-way profile across both the workout and gameplay. On the mound worked from a loose 3/4s slot with simple mechanics and feel to repeat. The fastball would get up to 85 mph with carry and was thrown alongside a low-70s slider with sweeping 10/4 shape and a 76-77 mph changeup with arm-side fade. At the plate showed a quality right-handed swing with some present feel for the barrel and a whole-fields approach, producing a max exit velocity of 95.3 mph with an average of 85.1 mph. Finished gameplay 2-for-6 with a run scored and a walk. Defensively showed confident actions behind the plate with developing catch-and-throw and present instincts. Developing 5-foot-11, 169-pound frame.”

Kanon Baxley SS / RHP / Kaneland, IL / 2028 Rankings  StateRank: 6 / POS: 1 OverallRank: 171 / POS: 48 From 3/6/25: "INF/RHP Kanon Baxley (Kaneland, 2028) had one of the more eye-opening days from a metrics standpoint. On the mound, Baxley showed a minimal effort delivery with a long, loose and quick arm path. His fastball came out of the hand clean and sat 85-87 mph. Easily his most impressive offerings were his curveball and slider, which both had sharp actions. His curveball played with sharp, 12/6 shape, averaging 3096 rpm and -19.4 inches of IVB, and his slider averaged 2580 rpm. Baxley also threw a changeup with slight fade at 78-79 mph. At the plate, the right-handed hitter was able to create bat-speed through the zone with a longer and flat path, working on the barrel up the middle of the field with some twitch to create a max EV of 98 mph. Baxley was highly-athletic on the infield as well, showing range up the middle, and he tied for the strongest arm for the event, reaching 89 mph across the diamond. Also a 7.00 runner, Baxley has emerged as a must-know name in the state’s freshmen class."

James Sobkowiak SS / RHP / Downers Grove South, IL / 2028 Rankings  StateRank: 7 / POS: 2 OverallRank: 239 / POS: 61 From 4/19/25: “Uncommitted. 6-foot-2, 160-pound frame, lean and wiry with all sorts of room to fill out. Got the start on the mound for the Mustangs as only a freshman and looks to be another promising young arm coming through the doors of South. He’s an athletic mover with a clean operation down the mound, creates layback at footstrike and has a quick/clean arm, will continue to add velocity. His fastball sat right around 84-85 mph early on with life through the zone. The curveball showed sharp action and 11/5 shape, could land it in the zone, 71-73 mph, maintains arm-speed. Was able to throw his changeup in the zone in the mid-70s, similar profile to the fastball. High-level arm with three distinct pitches to follow closely.”

Collin Lawlor LHP / OF / Marist, IL / 2028 Rankings  StateRank: 8 / POS: 1 OverallRank: 242 / POS: 20 From 8/05/25: “+ LHP Collin Lawlor (Marist, 2028) features an athletic, projectable 6-foot, 174-pound frame. He worked an 83 mph fastball with late run, consistently locating it down in the zone. Lawlor complemented it with a well-placed curveball and a deceptive 78 mph changeup. His uptempo delivery and cross-fire landing add an extra layer of deception, making him a tough matchup for hitters.”

Ryan Pipkins OF / RHP / Champaign Central, IL / 2028 Rankings  StateRank: 9 / POS: 2 OverallRank: 268 / POS: 61 From 8/05/25: “+ Fresh off a strong Midwest Super Sophomore Games, OF/RHP Ryan Pipkins (Champaign Central, 2028) would continue to show one of the more intriguing two-way profiles in the state's 2028 class. At the plate, he showed a controlled left-handed stroke with line drive intent and some present feel for the barrel while flashing some barrel strength during his batting practice, producing a max exit velocity of 97.2 mph. Finished gameplay 4-for-7 with a double, a home run, two RBIs, and four runs scored. Would also show well on the mound, throwing two scoreless innings, showing simple, easy movements on the mound with feel to repeat while working from a high 3/4s slot. The fastball would sit in the low-80s and was thrown alongside an upper-60s-low-70s curveball with sweeping shape and a fading low-70s changeup. Athletic 6-foot, 174-pound frame.”

Josh Ouimette LHP / OF / Carmel Catholic, IL / 2028 Rankings  StateRank: 11 / POS: 2 From 8/05/25: “+ LHP/OF Josh Ouimette (Carmel Catholic, 2028) was a recent participant at the Midwest Super Sophomore games and would continue to show well in front of our staff. The left-handed hitter flashed a fluid swing throughout gameplay and was able to be on the barrel regardless of pitch and location. During the workout produced a max exit velocity of 95.7 mph and an average of 86.9 mph. Also, tossed two innings on the mound, allowing two hits, a run, no walks, and struck out one. The fastball would sit in the low-80s, topping out at 84 mph with some carry. Also showed an upper-60s curveball with 11/5 shape and an 68-70 mph changeup with diving action and an average spin rate of 1249 rpm. Ouimette continues to show why he is one of the top 2028s in the state. 5-foot-9, 192-pound frame with present strength and athleticism.”

Brady Jones 3B / RHP / Metamora, IL / 2028 Rankings  StateRank: 12 / POS: 1 From 8/05/25: “+ 3B/RHP Brady Jones (Metamora, 2028) stands out with a long-levered, 6-foot-5, 196-pound frame and plenty of room for added strength. At the plate showed an easy & balanced left-handed swing. Took a quality round of batting practice, producing a max exit velocity of 95.5 mph and an average of 92.2 mph. Would finish gameplay 2-for-6 with two singles. On the mound, he attacked the zone with an 86 mph fastball featuring late ride, pairing it with a swing-and-miss curveball that showed depth through the zone. His easy, repeatable windup and projectable frame point to a high ceiling.”

Brock Hamilton 1B / RHP / Homewood-Flossmoor High School, IL / 2028 Rankings  StateRank: 14 / POS: 2 From 2/22/25: “One of the day’s biggest takeaways was RHP/1B Brock Hamilton (Homewood-Flossmoor, 2028), who looks to have made some significant strides since the last time we saw him a year ago. He has an imposing presence, standing in at 6-foot-4, 210-pounds, and there still appears to be room to add strength as he matures throughout the coming years. Despite being one of the youngest in attendance, the big right-hander delivered the second hardest fastball of the day at 86 mph, working with an easy, long-levered delivery that is able to create some angle through the zone. His curveball is still developing at 74-78 mph with short action, but he should be able to get outs with just his fastball right now. At the plate, he showed easy juice from the right side with a peak exit velocity of 91.5 mph, also averaging 22 mph for his hand-speed.”

Austin Leipart 3B / RHP / Providence Catholic, IL / 2028 Rankings  StateRank: 16 / POS: 2 From 8/05/25: “+ 3B/RHP Austin Leipart (Providence Catholic, 2028) is a high follow two-way prospect in the 2028 class. On the mound, he featured a quality two-pitch mix from a controlled, athletic drop-and-drive delivery landing directional. Fluid arm-action from a ¾ slot. Fastball sat 81-82 mph with carry through the zone (max 22.8 IVB). Rounded out his mix with a downer curveball at 71-72 mph. Leipart would also show a quality right-handed bat with line-drive intent and some present feel for the barrel. Took a quality round of batting practice producing a max exit velocity of 91.7 mph and an average of 84.5 mph. Developing 5-foot-10, 146-pound frame with present athleticism.”

Nic Bralts SS / 2B / Champaign Central, IL / 2028 Rankings  StateRank: 17 / POS: 5 From 8/05/25: “+ RHP Nic Bralts (Champaign Central, 2028) has continued to show above average metrics on the mound in event. Athletic 6-foot, 171-pound frame with room to fill in. The right-hander possessed a simple, controlled delivery, moving athletically down the mound, with a high leg lift into a tall/fall finish. He also showcased a quick, compact ¾ arm action. Bralts didn’t allow a single run or hit through his two innings of work. The right-hander was efficient in his second inning of work, working a 1-2-3 inning with two strikeouts to end the inning. His fastball played with arm-side run through the zone at 82-84 mph, topping 85.9 mph with a IVB max of 20.2” and a HM max of 15.9”. His curveball was 71-72 mph with a max spin rate of 2,225 rpm. He showed a feel for spin with his slider at 74-77 mph that was 2,400+ rpm. He also flashed a changeup at 75 mph with some arm-side run and a HM max of 15.5”.”

Connor Basinski RHP / OF / Columbia, IL / 2028 Rankings  StateRank: 18 / POS: 4 From 6/09/25: “RHP/OF Connor Basinski (Columbia, 2028) continues to solidify his status as one of the premier young talents in Illinois, showing across-the-board gains in this latest look. Now standing at 6-foot-3, 179 pounds, Basinski showed noticeable strength gains, resulting in a 9 mph jump in exit velocity—peaking at 99.5 mph and launching his furthest ball 354 feet during BP. He later hopped on the mound and worked in the mid-80s with his fastball, topping at 86.3 mph, while confidently filling the zone with a 69–71 mph curveball and a 70–73 mph slider. With two-way upside, physical projection, and tools that continue trending up, Basinski is a must-see name in Illinois’ 2028 class.”

Dylan Jones LHP / OF / Lemont, IL / 2028 Rankings  StateRank: 20 / POS: 3 From 7/01/25: “LHP Dylan Jones (Lemont, 2028) is a long-levered 2028 lefty that shined during the event. The pitcher uses all of his lean 6-foot-2, 159-pound frame with room to add strength. Loose, long, quick arm action from a ¾ slot. Jones’ fastball sat 80-84 mph with an average induced vertical break of 12.7 inches (15.1 inches max). He showcased a slider that sat 70-74 mph with an average spin rate of 2201 RPM (2279 RPM max) while showing depth with an average horizontal movement of 5.9 inches (8.2 inches max). His changeup came in at 76-78 mph with quality sink, average horizontal movement -12.1 inches (-13.8 inches max). A 2028 arm to keep an eye on in the coming years.”

Jenner Smith OF / RHP / Hersey, IL / 2028 Rankings  StateRank: 22 / POS: 3 From 10/19/25: “RHP/OF Jenner Smith (Hersey, 2028) continues to look like one of the top two-way prospects in the entire state, currently ranked No. 22 in Illinois. He’s ultra-projectable at 6-foot-2, 173-pounds with a high waist, and there is still much more physicality to come. He’s an easy mover on the mound with a projectable delivery and movement patterns - works exclusively out of the stretch, controlled leg-lift that works in-sync with his hands, pre-sets the back knee with a bend and holds it down the mound with an in-line stride, front foot lands square. Longer and loose arm swing, uninterrupted throughout its path into a slightly higher ¾ release. Fastball played up to 84 mph, sitting mostly 80-83 mph with some carry traits. Curveball and slider both have potential with developing feel - with the curveball showing tight 11/5 shape at 66-67 mph, and the slider tight 10/4 shape at 71-72 mph. Flashed feel for his changeup at 72-73 mph, played similar to the fastball, mostly straight by flashed arm-side run at times. Smith also showed well positionally at the event. A right-handed hitter with loose hands and the ability to create jump off the barrel stood out during BP as he topped out at 94.6 mph off the bat. Smith led the event in average hand speed (24.8 mph) as well. Defensively, he showed easy arm action that reached up to 85 mph with more velocity coming in the future. Smith rounded out his impressive showing by running a 6.97 60 - good for second-fastest for the event.”

Landon Sopkin RHP / SS / Minooka, IL / 2028 Rankings  StateRank: 24 / POS: 5 "Sopkin was a standout performer this past summer for our staff on both sides of the ball, but especially on the mound. The right-hander bullied hitters in the zone with a fastball up to 84 mph, pairing with a curveball and changeup that both played in the upper-60s. He's competetive and attacks with his three-pitch mix, looking like one of the more polished arms in this young 2028 group."

Blake Harris RHP / 1B / El Paso-Gridley, IL / 2028 Rankings  StateRank: 29 / POS: 6 From 10/19/25: “RHP Blake Harris (El Paso-Gridley, 2028) had easily one if not the loudest bullpens on the day. Listed at 6-foot-5, 213-pounds, the big right-hander has plenty of present strength throughout his long-levered build, but there is certainly still room for more in the coming years. He creates a tough angle for opposing hitters with a higher release, working into a high leg-lift with some pace before getting down the mound with a tall/fall operation and intent. Longer reach out of the glove with a high ¾ slot. Fastball exploded out of the hand and through the zone with some carry traits in the 84-87 mph range, topping at 88 mph. Curveball has developing shape and feel but flashed quality action at times with slurvy shape, 69-72 mph. Cutter showed a short lateral wrinkle in the low-70s, and he rounded out his arsenal with a running changeup at 76-79 mph, thrown with fastball intent and flashing feel around the zone.”

Henry Murphy RHP / SS / Maine South, IL / 2028 Rankings  StateRank: 30 / POS: 7 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.”

Nathan Zdenovec LHP / 1B / Lemont, IL / 2028 Rankings  StateRank: 38 / POS: 5 From 7/24/25: “Standing in at 6-foot-2, 160-pounds, Nathan Zednovec shows plenty of projectability in his frame. He also had the single strongest outing of anyone throughout the weekend, throwing a perfect seven innings, allowing nobody on base and striking out 15 batters in the process. Zdenovec has a loose and easy arm action from the left side, offering a fastball in the low 0s that held its velo throughout the start. The rising sophomore also showed a feel for two secondary offerings: a low 70s breaking ball with late bite and some sweep, as well as a changeup in the 77-78 range that came with depth. There is a lot to like with this young arm, and following his performance on Friday, he is surely to be a name to keep an eye on.”

JD Farkas LHP / OF / Hersey, IL / 2028 Rankings  StateRank: 39 / POS: 6 From 10/19/25: “LHP/OF JD Farkas (Hersey, 2028) has long been a staff favorite, and he continued to impress with a strong two-way look over the weekend. There’s some present strength in his compact, 5-foot-8, 175-pound build. On the mound, he’s extremely polished with feel for four pitches, and his delivery is very repeatable and simple. He works exclusively out of the stretch with a high and controlled leg-lift into balance point, drops into his back leg and rides it down the mound in-line. Clean arm circle, ¾ slot. Showed two different fastballs - a four-seam at 80-84 mph with slight run, and a sinker with more arm-side action and feel around the zone, 77-80 mph. Showed advanced feel for his tight curveball with 1/7 shape, landing it in the zone 100% of the time per TrackMan, 66-70 mph. Also went to a fading changeup at 69-72 mph, flashed feel around the zone and plays clean out of the hand. Farkas showed to be one of the better left-handed hitters in attendance as well; showcasing a loose swing, flat path, and line drive approach that generated backspin contact to the middle of the field. He had the fourth-highest max EV (96.2 mph), fifth-highest average EV (86.5 mph), third-highest average distance (234 feet). To round out his strong performance, he tied for the second-highest outfield velocity for the event at 86 mph.”

Dayne Franks OF / LHP / Orion, IL / 2028 Rankings  StateRank: 42 / POS: 11 From 9/21/25: "Strong 6-foot-1, 185-pound frame. Franks burst onto the scene Saturday night as he showcased advanced stuff on the mound. The left-hander operates from a simple, controlled delivery with a high leg lift and a tall/fall approach. Long, whippy arm action from a low ¾ arm slot. His fastball sat 83-85 with an arm-side run. He mixed in a slider that sat 71-74 mph with bullet action. Franks rounded out his three-pitch mix with a changeup that sat 76-77 mph that produced plenty of swings and misses as he buried it in the zone."

Wes Thompson C / OF / Normal University, IL / 2028 Rankings  StateRank: 44 / POS: 6 From 8/05/25: “+ RHP Wes Thompson (Normal University, 2028) features a strong, athletic 5-foot-10, 168-pound frame. He commanded an 86 mph fastball from a high release point, consistently keeping it low in the zone. Thompson mixed in a sweeping curveball and a 76–77 mph changeup with arm-side fade, both playing well off his fastball. His easy delivery and ability to hide the ball on the backswing add to his effectiveness. With his present stuff and clean mechanics, Thompson has a high ceiling and is a name to watch in the coming years.”

Kaeson Ernst RHP / 1B / Warrensburg-Latham, IL / 2028 Rankings  StateRank: 47 / POS: 9 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.”

Will Hunt RHP / SS / Benet Academy, IL / 2028 Rankings  StateRank: 55 / POS: 10 "Hunt stood out this past summer as a must-know arm in the state. He has an athletic build at 6-foot-1, 165-pounds, and the fastball already works into the low-80s. The movement patterns also standout, showing a clean and athletic operation with more in the tank."

Class of 2028 Winners not in the rankings  

Brayden Bethel 3B / RHP / Marion, IL / 2028 "Bethel impressed over the summer on our tournament circuit, showcasing a loose and easy delivery with a clean arm that plays from a higher slot. The fastball creates a tough angle on hitters coming from his 6-foot-3 frame, generating swing/miss in the zone while topping at 82 mph."

Ashton Binz SS / RHP / Burlington Central, IL / 2028 From 6/10/25: “INF/RHP Ashton Binz (Burlington Central, 2028) had one of the better all-around performances on the day. Standing at a long-levered 6-foot-1, 152-pound frame, Binz started the day by showing well with the bat, reaching a max exit velocity of 90 mph (avg. 81.9) while showing feel to hit from the right side. Binz also impressed on the mound as he sat 80-82 mph while topping out at 83 mph. His curveball showed life as it sat 69-71 with an average spin rate of 2319. He also showed a changeup that sat 75-76 mph while having an 80% zone percentage.”

Ryan Carzoli RHP / 3B / McHenry, IL / 2028 From 8/5/25 Positional Profile: RHP/3B Body: 5-11, 169.8-pounds. Lean, well-proportioned frame with room to add on strength, Delivery: Stretch-only, simple leg kick, works in-line to the plate with a slight bend in the back knee downhill. Arm Action: RH. Loose, full arm action, 3/4 slot. FB: T83, 79-82 mph. Life out of the hand, feel for the zone. T2335, 2256 average rpm. SL: 70-72 mph. Sweeping action, flashed feel for the zone. T2277, 2153 average rpm.

Christian Drye RHP / 3B / Nazareth Academy, IL / 2028 From 8/5/25: “RHP Christian Drye (Nazareth Academy, 2028) delivered an impressive performance on the mound. The 2028 graduate features a lanky 6-foot, 155-pound frame with significant room to add strength. He commands an 86 mph fastball, pairing it effectively with a sharp 76–78 mph slider and a fading 76 mph changeup. Drye stays balanced throughout his delivery, using an efficient lower half and quick arm action to induce consistent weak contact. With his projectable frame and clean mechanics, Drye offers a high ceiling for future development.”

Weston Ensign 3B / RHP / Fisher, IL / 2028 From 7/24/25: “Stands at An intriguing 6-foot-4, 225lbs. Ensign had an impressive performance against Top Tier American 15U going 5IP with 7 strikeouts, one hit allowed and zero runs. On the mound he has a clean delivery, medium leg lift with a drop/drive approach. He works with a two pitch mix with his fastball sitting at 79-81 mph and pairing it with his 70-72 mph curveball. “

Jacob Huber RHP / SS / Libertyville, IL / 2028 From 6/9/25: “An attendee of the Preseason All-State event, RHP/MIF Jacob Huber (Libertyville, 2028) continued to show a two-way profile to follow within the state’s 2028 class. On the mound, he’s a loose, easy, and deliberate mover, working from a high 3/4s slot with a quick arm and full arm circle. His fastball sat 79-82 mph and was complemented by a 65-67 mph curveball with 11/5 shape and a 72-75 mph changeup with late diving action. At the plate, Huber took a quality round of batting practice, showcasing a right-handed swing with present feel for the barrel while producing a max exit velocity of 86.9 mph. He works from a tall, narrow setup with a simple, longer stride. Defensively, Huber displayed athletic actions on the dirt with light feet and clean glove work. Athletic 5-foot-11, 155-pound frame.”

Ethan Johnson LHP / 1B / Lake Zurich, IL / 2028 From 3/6/25: “LHP Ethan Johnson (Lake Zurich, 2028) was one of the more impressive ‘pens on the day. The 5-foot-9, 165-pound southpaw displayed high-feel for all three pitches and is a name to monitor for the coming years. His fastball sat in the low 80s (T83 mph), pounding the zone 71% of the time. His breaking ball sat 65-68 mph while playing with 12/6 action at the bottom of the zone, and being thrown for strikes 60% of the time. He rounded out his arsenal with a 73-74 mph changeup with slight diving action.”

Chris Kenzal RHP / 1B / Saint Patrick , IL / 2028 From 8/525 Positional Profile: RHP/1B Body: 6-2, 175-pounds. Long-levered, projectable frame with more fill coming. Delivery: Easy, athletic delivery, high leg lift with some coil, drop and drive, directional. Arm Action: RH. High 3/4 slot, loose, clean arm action. FB: T85, 81-84 mph. Plays with ride, attacks with it. T2340, 2194 average rpm. CB: 75-77 mph. Gyro shape, hard, sweeping action. T2243, 1991 average rpm. CH: 74-77 mph. Straight, flashed. T2153, 1941 average rpm.

Ethan Killion 3B / RHP / New Trier Township HS Northfield, IL / 2028 From 3/6/25: “INF/RHP Ethan Killion (New Trier, 2028) stands in a strong 5-foot-10, 176-pound frame, and showed some intrigue throughout his entire workout last Saturday. At the plate, the right-handed hitter showed some strength at impact with a peak EV of 96 mph, also lifting his furthest ball 348’. Killion showed well defensively also. He presents the glove, showed some range playing up the middle, and also displayed a clean double play turn. His arm played strong as well, with his best bullet reaching 86 mph. Killion later jumped on the mound and showed a fastball with life, sitting 84-86 mph. He turned to a slider with 10/4 shape and slight depth, a changeup in the low-80s, and a cutter that sat 82-84 mph with occasional cut.”

Landon Ludwig LHP / OF / Ridgeview High School, IL / 2028 From 7/3/25: “Projectable 6-foot-4, 175-pound frame. Ludwig impressed on Thursday as he struck out seven batters through four and ⅓  innings while not allowing an earned run. The left-hander operates from a simple delivery with a high leg lift while having a tall/fall approach. Full, clean, quick arm from a ¾ slot. His fastball sat 80-83 mph with life through the zone. Mixed in a curveball that sat 66-68 mph with sharp, late actions and an 11/5 shape that produced swings/misses.”

Adam Redmond LHP / OF / Lincoln-Way West, IL / 2028 From 8/24/25: “LHP Adam Redmond (Lincoln-Way West, 2028) showed very easy movements on the mound with upside. Redmond is listed with an athletic 5-foot-11, 148-pound frame with room to add strength. The left-hander operated from a simple, controlled delivery with a tall/fall approach. He has a long, loose arm action from a high ¾ arm slot. His fastball sat 80.2-82.2 mph while topping out at 83.3 and playing up in the zone. His curveball sat 68-69.6 mph with a late break. The pitch had an average horizontal break of 7.8 inches (10.5 inches max) and a max induced vertical break of -9.5 inches. Redmond also showed a changeup that sat 70.8-72.3 mph with an average horizontal movement of -11.7 inches (-15 inches max). Redmond will be a name to keep on eye on in the coming years.”

Ethan Sehmer SS / RHP / Lakes Community, IL / 2028 From 2/15/25 Positional Profile: SS/RHP Body: 5-10, 170-pounds. Displays athleticism with strength. Delivery: Lower knee lift, works in line to plate, back leg knee knock. Arm Action: RH. Full arm circle, 3/4 slot. FB: T81, 80-81 mph. Firm, clean out of hand, arm side run.  T2352, 2175 average rpm. CB: 65-68 mph. Heavy movement, 11/5, late break, throws in zone. T2294, 2177 average rpm. CH: 71-76 mph. Armside run and sink. T1641, 1599 average rpm.

Jonah Sloane RHP / OF / St. Laurence, IL / 2028 From 8/5/25: “RHP Jonah Sloane (St. Laurence, 2028) was able to collect three strikeouts through two innings. The right-hander showed a moderate, controlled delivery, with a high leg lift with tuck and coil, getting extension down the mound. Sloane was effective with his four-pitch mix, showing a feel for the zone with each pitch. His fastball flashed some cut through the zone at 79-82 mph, topping 83 mph with a max spin rate of 2,295 rpm. He also utilized a tight 11/5 curveball at 72-75 mph with a max spin rate of 2,339 rpm, a sweeping slider at 71-75 mph with a max spin rate of 2,428 rpm, and a fading changeup at 72-73 mph.”

Will Vanderheyden RHP / SS / O'Fallon, IL / 2028 From 5/20/25: “Uncommitted. Really impressive outing against a very tough and intimidating opponent for anyone, let alone a freshman arm. Came out throwing with confidence, unafraid to attack the zone with any of his pitches. Developing frame, currently listed at 5-foot-10, 150 pounds with athleticism. Drop and drive delivery with a quick tempo, featured a lively FB that played in the lower 80s. Also offered a CB with 11-5 bite and a change-up with depth and fade. He ended up finishing the day with four innings pitched, three hits, three walks, and a strikeout. While the stat line may not wow you at first glance, there’s a lot to like with VanderHeyden, and he is a name to keep an eye on going forward.”

Cole Woodward 2B / RHP / Glenwood, IL / 2028 From 7/3/25: “Woodward has a 5-foot-7, 130-pound athletic frame with room to fill out. Woodward proved himself to be a two-way player this past weekend, impressing us on the mound and in the infield. On the mound, Woodward is an athletic mover with a ¾ arm slot and short, clean arm action. His fastball sat 80-82 mph, and he paired it well with a 70-72 mph curveball. Offensively, Woodward went 3-for-3 with two doubles and six RBIs in the game against Athlete HQ Rockford. At the plate, he has a simple setup, twitchy hands, and loft to his swing. Woodward also made a handful of plays showing soft hands, good footwork, and the ability to throw from multiple slots.”

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