In Illinois we fully updated and expanded the 2027 rankings earlier this spring, after a long, busy winter event season, which included the Preseason All-State: Underclass. A number of 2027s continue to elevate their status and this class looks to be as top heavy and as deep as any class in recent memory.

Top-10

The top three prospects all remain the same in this update; RHP Brady Buenik (Libertyville; No. 1), RHP/INF Kaden Wasniewski (McHenry, No. 2) and Jacsen Tucker (Oswego East; No. 3). 

We were able to get a recent look at Buenik, the No. 1 2027 in the state, recently in a quick outing against Glenbrook North. The 6-foot-3, 205-pound, advanced sophomore continues to show off some of the top arm talent in the entire country. The fastball has been up to 95.3 mph and he sat 91-93 mph, T94 in this recent look. He pairs it with a dynamic, swing-and-miss slider as well as a well above-average splitter. 

1B/RHP Brady Cunningham (Brother Rice) moves up two spots to No. 4 in the state, after a big spring season where he has looked to be one of the top bats in the Midwest. Along with that he is a high follow on the mound with a big fastball that plays up to 91 mph. Offensively, he has one of the more polished bats in the sophomore class, along with big power potential. 

Following Cunningham at No. 5 is SS/RHP Trevor McClure (Mount Vernon). Though he missed the entire spring due to injury, McClure is one of the premier two-way prospects in the state with a true middle infield profile and athletic right-handed bat with feel to hit and exit velocities in the mid-90s. On the other side of the ball, the right-hander will work his fastball up to 89 mph with above-average spin on an upper-70s slider. 

A couple more impressive two-ways that hold down the No. 6 and No. 7 positions are LHP/OF Tyler Gluting (Metea Valley) and SS/RHP Kash VanHouten (Canton).

Gluting has all sorts of arm-talent with a fastball up to 94 mph, and he has also been a main contributor at the plate for Metea Valley this past spring as he boasts a clean and upside swing from the left side. 

VanHouten also has a ton of arm-strength with a fastball up to 94 mph as well, and he has long been a performer at the plate in front of our staff with twitch and strength in his right-handed bat. 

SS Colin Campbell (Brother Rice) and SS Blake Ragsdale (Lyons Township) are the next two names on the list and they’re also both committed, with Campbell going to Louisville and Ragsdale going to Texas Christian. 

Campbell has an advanced glove with arm-strength to stay at short long term, and there’s also plenty of upside to dream on in his loose and whippy left-handed swing.

Ragsdale has been starting on the dirt for a strong Lyons Township club for two years now and it's easy to see why. He has a twitchy right-handed swing with loud tools to pair, and he’s another one that profiles at shortstop long-term.

Rounding out our top-10 is RHP/OF Cullen Schwigen (Rockridge), following the theme of two-way players. Also a high-level QB, Schwigen can bump the fastball up to 90 mph with high spin, and we recently saw him throw it really well in-game. Also a 6.82 runner with exit velocities into the upper-90s, Schwigen holds a lot of intrigue as a position player as well. 

Outside the Top-10

One of the biggest risers in this update is OF Anthony Cartolano (Brother Rice), jumping 33 spots to No. 13 in the state. He’s a true game-changer in center with his plus speed and ability to track down fly balls, and also really seems to be coming into his own at the plate hitting at the top of Brother Rice’s lineup. 

A trio of right-handers that are seeing a boost in this update are Colin Doyle (Downers Grove North), Matt Ritchie (St. Charles North) and Mason Bruesch (Geneva).

Doyle, a 6-foot-6 basketball standout, is jumping a couple spots to No. 24 after a strong look a couple weeks ago, pounding the zone with a fastball up to 90 mph and improved off-speed. 

Ritchie and Bruesch both look to be seeing notable time on varsity as well, both running their fastball to around the 90 mph mark. 

OF James McGrath (St. Francis) is climbing 30 spots to No. 28 after we saw him show well earlier this spring, and he swings a loud and heavy barrel from the right side with above-average speed to pair.

Rising 19 spots to No. 43 we have MIF Landon Clements (McHenry). There’s plenty to dream on in his 5-foot-11, 155-pound frame, and he also handles the glove extremely well on the infield. Pairing this with his balanced and fluid left-handed swing should make him a name for colleges to circle heading into the summer circuit. 

Cracking the top-50 now after rising 51 spots we have LHP Jimmy Benson (St. Laurence) at No. 46. Benson has been one of the Vikings’ top arms all season long and has played a large role in their success, as they currently sit at No. 5 in our Power 25. The long-levered southpaw gives an extremely tough look for opposing hitters with his 6-foot-8 frame and lower sidearm release, and we only expect his velocity to continue to rise in the coming years as we’ve had him in the low-80s ourselves. 

Another prospect climbing 51 spots is INF Parker Roop (Normal University), who now sits at No. 48. Another left-handed hitting infield prospect, Roop has plenty more to come in his 6-foot, 155-pound frame, and his swing/movement patterns indicate that there is still much more ceiling to tap into. 

RHP James Wasson (Nazareth), OF/LHP Tommy Hosty (Marist), Zane Schneider (Lemont) and Jazarris Mackmore Jr. (Marian Catholic) have all made an impact for their varsity clubs this spring and are rising in this update - now sitting in the top-55 of the class.

CLICK HERE FOR A LOOK AT THE ENTIRE 2027 ILLINOIS RANKINGS

Related Content