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Prep Baseball Illinois: Preseason Event Preview

December 15, 2025
By: Gavin Smith
Manager, Content & Operations

On November 10th, Prep Baseball launched its National Preseason ID Showcase Schedule, including 14 events from the state of Illinois. It all starts on January 19th with the Aurora Preseason ID in Aurora, IL at the Aurora Sports Dome, and concludes with the Joliet Preseason ID on March 1st at Rhino Sports Academy in Shorewood, IL. If you're curious to learn more about Prep Baseball's showcase structure, here's an idea of what you can expect while attending and following a Prep Baseball showcase.

WHAT IS A PRESEASON ID EVENT?

The Preseason ID series is unique in several ways. It serves as an identifier heading into the spring high school season, giving our scouts as well as college recruiters, a list of prospects to follow as they plan their spring coverage. We also tend to see prospects’ best performances in the preseason, as most athletes are fresh and coming off of strict and targeted off-season training programs that have resulted in big gains, primed for updating their Prep Baseball profile. All of which lends the perfect opportunity to secure invitations to some of the summer's biggest invite-only events such as the Prep Baseball Future Games, Illinois State Games and more.

Our staff strategically hosts Preseason ID events throughout the state in search of players who have taken advantage of the offseason, identifying new prospects to add to our follow lists or players our staff are already familiar with who are on the rise.

All player information including tech metrics, stats, videos, scouting reports and more will be hosted to the Prep Baseball website, bolstering the player profile, which is subscribed to by more than 900 colleges across the country.

AURORA PRESEASON ID

We're excited to be back at Aurora Sports Zone to kickoff the 2026 Prep Baseball Illinois Preseason ID calendar. This event provides an opportunity for prospects in the Southwestern Suburbs to attend an event in their backyard. At past events we've seen names like SS Jimmy Anderson (Joliet West, 2024; Heartland CC), OF Tommy Georgelos (Lyons Township, 2026; Eastern Illinois), 3B James Love (Joliet West, 2024; Eastern Illinois), LHP/OF Johnny O'Brien (Fremd, 2026; Northwestern football), and SS/RHP Owen Roberts (Waubonsie Valley, 2025; Indiana State) among many other talented names come through, and we fully expect another talented crop at this year's event.

+ To register for the event, click HERE.

PRESEASON PROCASE

We're excited to be back at the Preseason ProCase at Rhino Baseball Academy in Shorewood, IL. This event is invite-only and is designed to bring some of the area's potential draft talent to one place. This year’s event will be the fourth annual, and last year’s roster saw 3B CJ Deckinga (Minooka) and C Enzo Infelise (Providence Catholic) earn invites to the prestigous Prep Baseball Super 60.

+ To request an invite for the event, click HERE.

KENOSHA PRESEASON ID

On January 31st, the Prep Baseball Wisconsin staff is hosting the Kenosha Preseason ID at the Puma Training Academy in Kenosha, WI. The event provides an opportunity for Illinois prospects in the northern part of the state to attend an event in their region. At last year’s event, over 25 prospects participated, including nice names from Illinois, and we expect that number only to increase this year.

+ To register for the event, click HERE.

UNSIGNED SENIOR SHOWCASE

The Unsigned Senior Showcase is one of the most important events on the Prep Baseball Illinois showcase schedule, as we get an updated look at uncommitted talent from around the state. This also gives players a benchmark to see the gains they made over the off-season and to see where they're at before heading into the spring season. We hosted the same event this fall, and since the event concluded, 19 prospects have committed.

+ To register for the event, click HERE.

O’HARE PRESEASON ID

We’re headed back to Bo Jackson’s Elite Sports in Bensenville, IL for the 6th annual O’Hare Preseason ID. This event always provides a great turnout of talented prospects with names like SS Carson Tivellini (Crystal Lake South, 2027; Illinois), OF Joey Sacchetti (DePaul College Prep, 2026; Butler), OF Quaylen Petty (St. Laurence, 2025; Lincoln Trail JC), RHP Connor McKay (Nazareth, 2026; Bradley), and SS Billy Main (Hinsdale Central, 2026; Dartmouth) being just a few of the many talented prospects that attended last year.

+ To register for the event, click HERE.

MCHENRY PRESEASON ID

We’re making our way to Pro Player Academy in McHenry, IL on February 14th for our 11th annual McHenry Preseason ID. This event always provides our staff with a look at some of the Northwest Suburbs' best talent. Last year's event saw SS/RHP Kaden Wasniewski (McHenry, 2027; LSU), RHP Liam Nash (Huntley, 2027; Houston), SS Andrew Deegan (Jacobs, 2026; Belmont), LHP Devin De Loach (Crystal Lake South, 2026; NIU), SS Landon Clements (McHenry, 2027; UIC), and OF Carver Cohn (McHenry, 2028), just to name a few..

To register for the event, click HERE.

Lake Zurich PRESEASON ID

On February 15th, we're hosting the innaugural Lake Zurich Preseason ID at MVP Sports in Lake Zurich, IL. This provides the prospects in the northern suburbs to attend an event near them, while providing our staff to get a look at the area's top talent ahead of our 2026 spring coverage. We're excited to make our way to that part of the state, and we're looking forward to the prospects set to attend.

+ To register for the event, click HERE.

LOCKPORT PRESEASON ID

Returning for its 10th year, the Lockport Preseason ID will be held at Bo Jackson’s Elite Sports in Lockport, IL. Yet another event that always has an impressive turnout, as last year’s roster saw plenty of names go on to receive invites to the Illinois State Games in August, and we expect to see plenty more talented names at the event in 2026.

+ To register for the event, click HERE.

CHICAGO PRESEASON ID

Our staff is making their way to the Pullman Center in Chicago, IL on February 16th for the eighth year in a row. This event has continually provided us with quality looks at prospects from the city, and we’re eager to see the prospects that make their way to this event in the upcoming year. Last year's roster featured a pair of Illinois-Chicago commits in SS Mikey Watson (Homewood-Flossmoor, 2027) and OF Jazarris Mackmore Jr. (Marian Catholic, 2027).

To register for the event, click HERE.

ST. LOUIS PRESEASON ID

On February 16th, the St. Louis Preseason ID is set to take place at the Bud Dome in St. Louis, MO for its seventh year in a row. Last year’s event saw a pair of Illinois prospects in attendance, including RHP Will Pennell (Sacred Heart-Griffin, 2026; Lincoln Land CC) who went on to win a 2A State Championship and earn an invite to the Illinois State Games.

+ To register for the event, click HERE.

PEORIA PRESEASON ID

The Peoria Preseason ID provides our staff with a look at some of Central Illinois’ top prospects, and will take place at the Louisville Slugger Sports Complex on February 18th in Peoria, IL. Last year’s event saw breakout names like SS Parker Roop (Normal U-High, 2027; Belmont) and RHP Caleb Cox (Springfield Lutheran, 2026; NIU), and two prospects that earned invites to the Prep Baseball Future Games in SS/RHP Kash VanHouten (Canton, 2027; Illinois) and RHP Cullen Schwigen (Rockridge, 2027).

To register for the event, click HERE.

PRESEASON ALL-STATE: UNDERCLASS & UPPERCLASS

Illinois Preseason All-State is an invite-only event on our 2026 schedule and it’s set for February 28th at The MAX in McCook, IL. This showcase is an annual event that allows our staff and scouts to see some of the top talent that the state has to offer in one setting throughout the 2027-2029 classes. Last year this event was filled with talent all around, including Future Gamers, ranked prospects, Division-I commits and much more. Expectations are high for this event and we're pumped to see the litter of talent set to attend in 2026.

Last year’s Upperclass roster features 123 commitments, while the Underclass roster has 22 commitments, and over 10 members of Team Illinois at the 2025 Future Games.

+ To request an invite for Upperclass, click HERE.
+ To request an invite for Underclass, click HERE.

JOLIET PRESEASON ID

We’ll conclude our Preseason events on March 1st at Rhino Sports Academy in Shorewood, IL for the sixth annual Joliet Preseason ID. We continued to see intriguing prospects at last year’s event that would receive invites to the Illinois State Games, and we’re expecting to continue to be impressed by the talent at the event in 2026.

To register for the event, click HERE.

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