On Saturday, March 1st, we hosted our Preseason All-State: Upperclass event, perennially our most exclusive and talented event on our winter calendar for rising juniors. This past year we saw nearly 150 of the top players from around the state, giving us one final look before the spring season kicked off.

Read on for a look at the Top-10 prospects from the day:

TOP OVERALL PROSPECTS

1. Jack Slightom, Lyons Township (IL), 2026; Cincinnati commit.
Positional Profile: RHP/C
Body: 6-3, 185-pounds. High-waisted, extremely projectable, long-levered.
Delivery: Clean, controlled mover, high leg lift with tuck, drop/drive down the mound.
Arm Action: RH. Long, loose, clean arm action from a low 3/4 slot.
FB: T92, 90-92 mph. Clean out of hand with life, straight actions. T2200, 2000 average rpm.
CB: 75-75 mph. 11/5 shape, late, sharp actions. T2033, 1902 average rpm.
CH: 81-81 mph. Heavy fade and sink. T1966, 1893 average rpm.
CUT: 81-84 mph. Tunnels well, late actions.

2. Jory Crocker, Willowbrook (IL), 2026 Arizona
Positional Profile: SS/RHP
Body: 6-1, 175 pounds. High-waisted, broad-shouldered, projectable build.
Hit: RHH. Wide, crouched setup, small leg lift with minimal stride. Controlled and balanced throughout. Relaxed and easy, creates lift with ease, on the barrel up the middle 75.1 mph bat speed with 17g of rotational acceleration.
Power: 101 mph max exit velocity (90 avg.).
Arm: RH. INF - 89 mph. Short arm action, high 3/4 slot, carry.
Defense: Easy, athletic actions, soft hands, plays from the ground up, natural on the move.
Athletic Testing: 6.83 runner in the 60-yard dash; 30.30-inch max vertical jump.

3. Gavin Michaels, Normal Community (IL), 2026 Cincinnati
Positional Profile: SS/2B
Body: 6-0, 172 pounds. Lean, athletic, quick twitch frame.
Hit: RHH. Upright, relaxed setup, minimal stride. Athletic and compact, short and direct, works on the barrel, loud with sneaky juice and consistent loud line-drive backspin contact. 77.8 mph bat speed with 21g of rotational acceleration.
Power: 102 mph max exit velocity (95.7 avg.).
Arm: RH. INF - 90 mph. Short, quick arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Athletic defender, plays with bounce, steady hands, clean release and high motor.
Athletic Testing: 6.57 runner in the 60-yard dash; 28.70-inch max vertical jump.
Vizual Edge: 79.86 Edge Score.

4. Gavin Swartz, Normal Community (IL), 2026; Indiana commit
Positional Profile: RHP/1B
Body: 6-3, 175-pounds. Lean, long-levered, room to add on more strength.
Delivery: Athletic, uptempo mover, high leg lift with tuck, tall/fall down the mound.
Arm Action: RH. Long arm action, 3/4 slot.
FB: T93, 92-93 mph. Firm out of the hand with life through the zone. T2398, 2341 average rpm.
CB: 78-80 mph. 11/5 shape, sharp actions with depth. T2060, 1867 average rpm.
CH: 84-86 mph. Throws it hard, fade. T2034, 1931 average rpm.

5. Chase Rhodes, Tremont (IL), 2026
Positional Profile: RHP/OF
Body: 6-3, 170.6-pounds. High waist, long-levered with room to add more strength.
Delivery: Easy delivery, repeatable, and well-composed on the mound.
Arm Action: RH. Short, clean, quick arm action out of a high 3/4 slot.
FB: T92, 91-92 mph. Easy velocity, plays with arm side run, solid feel. T2231, 2204 average rpm.
CB: 71-73 mph. 12/6 shape at times. T2318, 2269 average rpm.
SL: 78-78 mph. Short lateral action separates well from CB. T2145, 2095 average rpm.
CH: 78-79 mph. Above average sink action, good feel. T1702, 1646 average rpm.

6. Keaton Reinke, St. Charles North (IL), 2026; Northwestern football commit.
Positional Profile: RHP/OF
Body: 6-3, 205-pounds. Extremely athletic, high-waisted with strength, still has room to add on.
Delivery: Athletic, controlled delivery, medium leg life with tuck and coil, tall/fall down the mound.
Arm Action: RH. Clean, long arm action from a high 3/4 slot.
FB: T89, 88-89 mph. Clean out of hand with easy life, feel for the zone. T2140, 2048 average rpm.
CB: 75-76 mph. 11/5 shape, sharp actions, lands. T2412, 2395 average rpm.
CH: 79-81 mph. Feel for the zone, arm-side action. T1500, 1451 average rpm.

7. Frank Costabile, Stevenson (IL), 2026
Positional Profile: RHP; Dynamic, uncommitted two-way prospect to know in the state.
Body: 5-9, 165-pounds. Strong, compact frame.
Delivery: Simple, controlled delivery, medium leg lift, drop/drive down the mound.
Arm Action: RH. Loose, full, quick arm action from a 3/4 slot.
FB: T94, 90-93 mph. Life out of the hand, explodes, has control. T2379, 2246 average rpm.
SL: 79-80 mph. High spin, flashes feel for the zone, 10/4 shape. T2814, 2625 average rpm.
CH: 79-83 mph. Heavy sink, strikes. T1572, 1470 average rpm.

Positional Profile: OF
Body: 5-9, 165-pounds. Strong, compact frame.
Hit: RHH. Balanced, wide setup, fluid and subtle pre-pitch rhythm. Flatter path, strength at impact, feel to use the whole field with hard backspin, line-drive contact. 74.7 mph bat speed with 15g of rotational acceleration.
Power: 103 mph max exit velocity (93.9 avg.).
Arm: RH. OF - 99 mph. Advanced arm strength, plays easy and lively from a 3/4 slot.
Defense: Easy footwork, light on his feet, ranges comfortably. Gets behind the baseball and gathers through release.
Athletic Testing: 6.77 runner in the 60-yard dash; 30.30-inch max vertical jump.

8. Dominic Battista, Oswego East (IL), 2026; Illinois-Chicago commit
Positional Profile: OF; Left-handed hitter with advanced tools across the board and seemingly more to come.
Body: 5-11, 167.6-pounds. Athletic, defined frame.
Hit: LHH. Wide, crouched setup, minimal stride. Fluid, athletic swing, controlled intent, present bat speed and twitch; worked to the pull-side gap with authority. 77.7 mph bat speed with 18g of rotational acceleration.
Power: 100 mph max exit velocity (93.7 avg.).
Arm: RH. OF - 94 mph. Clean, quick arm high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Active footwork, plays with pace and intent. Covers ground with ease.
Athletic Testing: 6.74 runner in the 60-yard dash; 28.80-inch max vertical jump.
Vizual Edge: 75.24 Edge Score.

9. Patrick Connors, Hinsdale Central (IL), 2026
Positional Profile: OF; Well above-average runner, true center fielder and performs with the bat in game.
Body: 6-0, 190-pounds. Athletic build.
Hit: RHH. Tall, narrow setup, minimal leg lift and stride. Quick hands, repeatable and controlled with present bat strength. 71.5 mph bat speed with 14g of rotational acceleration.
Power: 98 mph max exit velocity (89.4 avg.).
Arm: RH. OF - 90 mph. Long arm action, over-the-top slot.
Defense: Active feet, attacks the baseball, comfortably ranging in all directions.
Athletic Testing: 6.64 runner in the 60-yard dash; 24.80-inch max vertical jump.

10. Tyler Townsend, Sycamore (IL), 2026
Positional Profile: RHP/OF
Body: 6-2, 200-pounds. Highly athletic, rounded shoulders, developed lower-half.
Delivery: Athletic, easy mover, high leg lift, drop/drive down the mound.
Arm Action: RH. Clean, compact, quick arm action from a 3/4 slot.
FB: T93, 91-93 mph. Clean out of the hand with life through the zone, has carry. T1930, 1860 average rpm.
SL: 77-79 mph. Feel for the zone, slurve-type. T2490, 2391 average rpm.
CH: 81-84 mph. Plays with heavy sink, feel for the zone. T1357, 1049 average rpm.

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