Prep Baseball Report

Illinois Class of 2026 Rankings Update


Illinois Scouting Staff

After a long off-season and early start to the spring season, it is time for us to hit the refresh button on the class of 2026 rankings. This is the second to last update we will make for this group, with the final one coming at the conclusion of the spring. 

Continue reading to check out some of the movement, with significant risers mentioned below. 

For a look at the entire rankings, click HERE

The Top-10

+ Infielders Landon Thome (Nazareth; Florida State) and Ethan Bass (Glenbrook North; Wake Forest) hold down the top of our list, as both are regarded as early round candidates for this summer’s MLB draft. 

+ Up two spots to No. 3, OF Dominic Battista (Oswego East; Illinois-Chicago) worked himself into some of the same discussions after his showing at this past winter’s Super 60. A true center fielder with a left/left profile, Battista has numerous above-average tools that were on full display in front of over 100 MLB scouts - pairing a 6.53 in the 60 with one of the louder and more polished rounds of BP of the day (T108.5 mph; 104.1 mph avg; T413’). 

+ 1B Anthony Chavez (Mount Carmel; Illinois) is jumping 13 spots to No. 7, and he’s another one that raised his stock with a loud showing at the Super 60 - along with our ProCase a few days prior. The 6-foot-3, 215-pound left-handed hitter has long been a performer in-game, but the tools continue to tick up and are impossible to ignore, raising his stock to new heights with a 6.68 in the 60 and 108.3 mph peak EV (101.6 avg; T417’). His athleticism will also allow him the option to play some outfield in the future, if needed. 

+ INF Gavin Michaels (Normal Community; Cincinnati) is another standout from the ProCase, and he finds himself up three spots into the No. 8 position. Another data-darling with loud tools across the board (6.47 runner; 103 mph EV, 93 mph INF), Michaels is nowhere near his ceiling. He has a twitchy and flat swing that will have a chance to hit at a high level, and his athleticism will allow him to stick up the middle of the field long-term (MIF/center field). 

The Top-100

+ Sticking on the theme of ProCase winners, RHP Caleb Cox (Springfield Lutheran; Northern Illinois) was one of the biggest winners from the day, earning himself a Super 60 invite. The 6-foot-5, 198-pound right-hander has a near seven-foot wingspan, creating elite extension on a fastball that reaches into the mid-90s. There’s certainly some rawness to him, but Cox has one of the highest ceilings likely in the country for prep arms - and he’s rising 19 spots to No. 11 as a result. 

+ RHP Chase Lockwood (Libertyville; Illinois State) is seeing a significant jump after a loud in-game showing this past week, now sitting at No. 23 in the state. He’s long been highly polished with advanced feel for multiple pitches, but with the fastball now topping at 90 mph and more jumps likely in the near future, it takes his prospect status to another level. 

+ RHP Connor McKay (Nazareth) is a high-ceiling right-hander jumping up to No. 26, and there’s a lot to like with the 6-foot-3, 195-pound right-hander. He’s a clean mover with an ultra-projectable frame, and we’ve heard rumblings the fastball has been as high as 94 mph for far this spring. 

+ C/OF Adam Swanson (Ottawa Township; Bradley) is rising 10 spots to No. 28, as he continues to raise his stock as a versatile athlete with premium athleticism. The defense behind the plate continues to make strides, and he’s plenty athletic enough to make the shift to the outfield if needed (6.42 runner). He also was a winner with the bat at our ProCase with a clean, compact right-handed swing with feel for the barrel (T102 mph EV). 

+ LHP Samuel Chin (St. Laurence; Ball State) is seeing a slight jump to No. 36 after we saw his in-game velocity tick up into the upper-80s. The movement patterns, spin rates and frame indicate more jumps in the future, and it looks like they are starting to take place.

+ Jumping 141 spots to No. 40, INF Jackson Ahrens (East Peoria; Kirkwood) had one of the best weeks we have ever seen as a staff, as he went 20-for-26 with four home runs, four triples, five doubles, 16 RBI, 17 runs scored, four walks and two cycles in back-to-back games. The hit tool is clearly present with present power, and he also should be able to stick on the infield longterm. 

+ RHP Gavin Fuscone (St. Charles East) is making a large jump to No. 54, up 207 spots. He stole the show at the Unsigned Senior Showcase over the winter, working a fastball up to 92 mph with a wipeout slider. He has a hulking 6-foot-5, 203-pound frame to go along with it, and early outings this spring have him consistently working in the zone. 

+ RHP Logan O’Dell (Collinsville; Missouri St. Louis) is seeing a significant jump from No. 122 to No. 74 after his loud showing at the Kickoff Classic a couple weeks ago. The fastball was up to 93 mph with impressive spin metrics, and he also showed feel to spin a sharp slider off it. Listed at 6-foot-1, 247-pounds, the physical right-hander has a durable build and power arm to pair. 

+ OF Johnny Andretich (Plainfield North; Purdue Northwest) is another big winner from the Kickoff Classic, now sitting at No. 75 in the state. He was all over the barrel in our in-game looks, and the left-handed hitter showed electric bat-speed with athleticism to go along with it. 

+ MIF Aidan Kanazawa (Downers Grove South; Valparaiso) is one of the biggest risers in this update, going from No. 208 to No. 93. He’s a switch-hitting shortstop with loose wrists and quick hands at the plate, still looking to have plenty more ceiling to tap into with his wiry 6-foot-2  frame. 

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