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Illinois Class of 2027 Rankings Update

March 10, 2026
Illinois Scouting Staff

After another busy winter with a number of Preseason ID events across the state taking place, along with the Preseason All-State: Upperclass, the 2027 rankings in Illinois deserved a shakeup. There were a number of players who made jumps over the winter, but many of the names at the top of the rankings remain the same.

Continue reading for a look at some of the notable risers in this update. 

The Top-10 

+ The top three remains the same with RHP/INF Kaden Wasniewski (McHenry; Louisiana State commit), RHP Brady Buenik (Libertyville; Tennessee commit) and CIF/RHP Brady Cunningham (Brother Rice; Texas A&M commit) holding it down at the top. 

+ RHP Colin Doyle (Downers Grove North; Duke commit) is making a big jump after his eye-opening showing at our Preseason All-State: Upperclass event, now sitting at No. 4 after showing a fastball up to 96 mph with starter upside. The ease of the operation really stands out, along with the ability to repeat his delivery with his long-levered 6-foot-7 pound frame. The off-speed continues to trend in the right direction with improved spin on his slider, and his changeup is a real third pitch to help him fill out his repertoire. 

+ RHP Traxton Roberts (Armstrong; Kentucky commit) is rising one spot to No. 7 after his showing at All-State, now boasting a mid-90s fastball (T95) with advanced pitchability. He showed one, if not the best curveball in attendance with over 2,700 rpm, also flashing a sharp slider (T2654 rpm) and a changeup with heavy run. There is plenty more strength to come in his 6-foot-3, 185-pound frame, making his ceiling an exciting part of his prospect status. 

+ One more riser is LHP/OF Quinn Rooney (Benet; Notre Dame commit), making his debut in the top-10 at No. 8 this time around. The 6-foot-6, 205-pound L/L prospect provides a ton of intrigue on both sides of the ball, showing premium power upside with easy jump off the bat (T107 mph EV) and speed to go along with it (6.67 runner). On the mound, the southpaw will work his fastball up to 91 mph with some deception, hiding it well and getting up on hitters quickly. He also employs a viable curveball/changeup mix that will help keep hitters off-balance. 

Notable Risers 

+ RHP Charlie Spour (St. Anthony) is jumping 15 spots to No. 14 after a loud look this winter. The 6-foot-3, 196-pound right-hander is now up to 93 mph with well above-average spin (T2613 rpm) - pairing with a sharp curveball and heavy fading changeup. There’s a ton of upside with Spour, so the recent jumps are no surprise, and he shows no signs of slowing down. 

+ Now sitting at No. 29, LHP Jimmy Benson (St. Laurence; Texas Christian commit) has one of the higher ceilings in the state, measuring in at a staggering 6-foot-8, 227-pounds. He is a proven in-game performer with an invisible fastball from a low slot and some funk in the delivery, playing up to 87 mph now with heavy sinking action. The slider has wipeout potential with sweeping shape from his lower slot, and his changeup is a serviceable third offering to fill out his mix. 

+ Two more arms that have made some significant jumps are right-handers Braylen Brown (Staunton; Cincinnati commit) and Austin Winge (Lockport).

+ Up 15 spots to No. 30, Brown stands in at 6-foot-2, 195-pounds and boasts some of the more intriguing spin-metrics in the state - with his fastball averaging over 2,500 rpm, the curveball over 2,700 rpm, and the slider right around 2,800 rpm. The velocity on the fastball is already up to 92 mph, and we could see that number steadily increasing here in the near future.

+ Winge now sits at No. 32 in Illinois after an impressive ‘pen a couple weeks ago. The arm-speed stands out immediately, helping him create a fastball up to 93 mph (T2590 rpm) - while his curveball/slider/changeup mix gives him plenty of options to keep hitters guessing. 

+ Rising eight spots to No. 33, MIF Landon Clements (McHenry; Illinois-Chicago commit) continues to make strides as an athletic left-handed hitter. The swing is loose and fluid, with plenty more strength/power to come along in his 6-foot-1, 168-pound frame. The actions on the infield are advanced as well, profiling him on the dirt long-term. 

+ Another high-upside middle infielder making a jump is Madden Cotts (Libertyville; Bradley commit), now sitting at No. 39 in the state. There’s present tools across the board that you can surely expect to only continue to trend up, pairing an upper-90s exit velocity with a 6.88 in the 60. Also a fluid left-handed hitter and natural defender on the dirt, Cotts’ best days are still ahead of him. 

+ OF Brandon Beasley (Oak Park-River Forest; Illinois State commit) is making a significant jump up to No. 46, as he looks to be one of the more polished left-handed bats in the state. Profiling as a corner outfielder with a 7.03 in the 60, the feel to hit and control the barrel has long stood out, pairing now with present power that should only continue to become more prevalent in-game. 

+ One, if not the biggest riser in this update is OF Paxton Freeborn (Naperville North), jumping 109 spots to No. 47. The ceiling stands out with Freeborn, measuring in at 6-foot-3, 182-pounds, and his 6.59 in the 60 puts him in a premier category. He has blossoming power and strength in his smooth left-handed swing, already creating exit velocities north of 100 mph. 

+ Another outfielder making a significant jump is Keaton Ariano (Geneseo), rising up to No. 48 in the state. There’s some present strength in his 6-foot, 217-pound frame, and he moves incredibly well for his size with a 6.58 in the 60. There’s clear strength and bat-speed in his left-handed swing, peaking at 101 mph for his EV with the ability to lift the baseball with authority (T398’).

+ RHP Russell Hengels (Maine South) is jumping 14 spots to No. 51, and it’s no surprise that his stuff has made a significant jump. The 6-foot-4, 215-pound right-hander has long been a good mover down the mound with extension out front, and his fastball has ticked up to 93 mph in recent looks. The curveball also looks to have made some strides, spinning over 2,400 rpm at times with sharp action, and his changeup has quality metrics that will allow it to be an effective third offering when it’s around the zone. 

+ OF Jace Koth (Jacobs) is rising 34 spots to No. 54 after a couple strong looks on the winter circuit. He’s a highly athletic left-handed hitter whose tools continue to trend up, pairing a 6.78 in the 60 with a line-drive oriented swing and some sneaky jump off the barrel (T95 mph EV). He’s also an advanced defender in the outfield with a well above-average arm (T92 mph). 

 

+ Now sitting at No. 57, CIF/RHP Johnny Louise (Montini) is a proven in-game performer who looks to have made some strides from a tools standpoint. The right-handed hitter has long had quality bat-to-ball skills and some raw power, and the strength in his bat is only becoming more apparent as he adds strength to his 6-foot-2 frame (104 mph EV). He also is starting to show some real intrigue on the mound with a fastball up to 90 mph, sitting 89 mph in his ‘pen a couple weeks ago. 

+ RHP Owen Borkowski (Huntley) is rising 41 spots to No. 60 in this update, showing some impressive jumps over the off-season and unique shapes to his pitches from his slot. He’s a free and easy mover with a loose delivery, showing a high-spin fastball up to 91 mph with a big sweeping slider to pair with it. He will also employ a sinker with a different action than the four-seam, playing in the upper-80s with hard run arm-side. 

+ Southpaw Tommy Hosty (Marist) was one of the biggest winners at our All-State event, and he’s rising 29 spots to No. 63 as a result. He showed a quality three-pitch mix in his ‘pen, headlined by a fastball up to 91 mph. He’s an above-average athlete, backed by his 6.91 in the 60, and it would be no surprise to see him make some more jumps in the near future. 

+ C Lucas Beaty (Normal Community) is rising 32 spots to No. 68 in this update. There’s some present strength in his round-shouldered, 6-foot, 205-pound frame, pairing with a strong yet athletic right-handed swing. He’s an advanced defender with quality receiving actions, and he is quick to release with a strong arm - reaching down to 1.88 for his pop-time and 82 mph from the chute. 

+ Two more big risers in this update are RHP Charlie Caroselli (Providence Catholic) and INF Ryan Tucker (Jacobs).

Caroselli is jumping 46 spots to No. 76 in this update, thanks to a polished and upside look at All-State. The frame holds plenty of room to add more strength at 6-foot, 160-pounds, and his three-pitch mix offers plenty of variety and dynamic shapes to his arsenal. The fastball will play in the upper-80s, and it’s a safe bet that jumps are likely thanks to the movement patterns and high-waisted frame. 

Tucker is one of the bigger risers in this update, jumping 67 spots to No. 77. He has tools to show for it across the board, pairing a clean right-handed swing with loud results and feel for the barrel (T101 mph EV). He’s also a well above-average runner with a 6.71 in the 60 - helping boost his prospect status. The defense is also above-average, pairing sure-handed actions with a strong arm across the infield (T89 mph). 

+ Beau Breyman (Freeburg) is a projectable catcher that is rising 23 spots to No. 79 in this rendition of the rankings. The swing is loose with upside and more strength to come, peaking at 101 mph for his EV while working on-plane. He’s also a strong defender behind the plate that can limit the run-game (1.94 pop-time; T82 mph).

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