Our staff was down in Metro East for the Kickoff Classic throughout the first weekend of the IHSA season. We put together a comprehensive Scout Blog from the entire event, covering more than 140 players across four days of competition featuring nearly 50 teams from around the state.

With the Kickoff Classic behind us, each of our scouts who attended selected a list of the top five “Biggest Winners” they saw, found below. 

Note: This is not representative of our Prep Baseball Illinois player rankings, rather the prospects that left the Kickoff Classic as standouts from the event. Players are listed in alphabetical order by last name.

DREW LOCASCIO

Nick Bailey, RHP, New Trier, 2026
Uncommitted. 6-foot, 175-pound athletically-built right-handed pitcher. Got the start on the mound and emerged as a must-know name for New Trier, earning the first Pitcher of the Week award of the 2026 season. Went 5.2 innings, allowing just one hit with no runs, 12 strikeouts and two walks. struck out the side in the first. Got a number of swing-and-misses in the zone throughout his outing with all three offerings. Fastball sat mostly 88 mph and touched 89 mph with 2300+ rpm. Mixed in a slider at 73-75 mph with action and feel at 2600+ rpm and a splitter/changeup at 81 mph. Athletic and repeated well throughout his outing. Loose, quick arm action. True three-pitch mix with starter upside. One of the top unsigned seniors in the state.

Nicholas Chiarodo, RHP, Edwardsville, 2028
Uncommitted, currently ranked No. 5 in the state. Fastball sat 85-88 mph with carry at the top of the zone. Went to the curveball with confidence at 70-73 mph, showing tight, sharp action. Flashed a cutter at 76 mph with occasional slider shape. Highly athletic mover that controls his body well, repeats the delivery with a clean, loose arm from a high ¾ slot. Uncommitted name for schools to follow with a high ceiling on the mound.