Illinois 2023 Rankings Updated

Zander Mueth RHP / Belleville East, IL / 2023

Headlining this loaded group of Illinois products is one of the nations’ top prospects, ranked at No. 12 nationally: RHP Zander Mueth (Belleville East). Committed to Ole Miss, Mueth climbed up to No. 1 overall in the state after an electrifying performance at the Underclass Invitational, where he touched a low-effort 92 mph high with his fastball to go along with a whiffle-ball like swing-and-miss slider and late-darting changeup. He missed some time early this spring and summer season with a lower-body injury but picked right up where he left off a few weeks ago and recent reports have his fastball velocity climbing into the mid-90s late this summer. The 6-foot-4, 170-pound Mueth looks every bit the part of a prep pitching prospect set to hear his name called relatively early in the 2023 MLB Draft if this trajectory continues.

(3/27/21)

Ryan Bakes C / OF / Huntley, IL / 2023

Up a few spots to No. 2 overall in the state and inside the top-40 nationally is C Ryan Bakes (Huntley; South Carolina). Bakes is one of the strongest, toolsiest prospects in the class and has a knack for the barrel with consistent impact-level contact to go along with it. It seemed as though Bakes made a statement at every high-end event that he attended this summer, including the PBR ProCase - Midwest,  where he launched a home run in gameplay despite playing up a level with some of the top 2022s in the Midwest. Bakes also had a stretch where he homered in three straight at-bats at a PBRT Creekside event and we’ve seen him hammer multiple balls over “The Monster” at Fenway Field at The Rock Sports Complex in the past. 

2023 C @bakes_ryan (Huntley HS & @GamecockBasebll commit) does the improbable… 3 at bats… 3 home runs for @MCHurricanes. Simple and efficient swing with obvious bat speed and elite strength. @PBRIllinois @ShooterHunt @MW_Premier #Super16 pic.twitter.com/a14s2u8MEJ

— Andy Urban PBR (@PbrUrban) July 16, 2021

Parker Detmers RHP / Glenwood, IL / 2023

RHP Parker Detmers (Glenwood) checks in at No. 3 overall on our updated board and is yet another prospect inside the nation’s top-40 overall rankings. The 6-foot-3, 205-pound Louisville commit comes from a baseball family with plenty of pedigree, as his older brother Reid was the No. 10 overall pick in the 2020 MLB Draft and recently made his MLB debut. Detmers is as polished as it gets, bumping his fastball up to 91 mph, with more in the tank, at Area Codes and he also features an innate feel for one of the better breaking balls in the class. 

(8/13/21)

Dillon Head OF / Homewood Flossmoor, IL / 2023

OF Dillon Head (Homewood-Flossmoor) has been one of the biggest risers and top performers of 2021 from the Illinois 2023 class, grasping onto the No. 4 overall spot in the class and inside the top-70 nationally. Head is an ultra-athletic, left/left prospect,that can profile at the top of a lineup with more power to tap into down the road from a loose, easy left-handed stroke. He showed well at Area Codes offensively and the value he brings to the field as a lockdown center fielder further enhances his all-around prospect status. A Michigan commit, Head is one of the most complete prospects in the Midwest. 

(4/30/21)

Colin Barczi C / Naperville Central, IL / 2023

Up six spots from our previous update to No. 6 in the state is, C Colin Barczi (Naperville Central), who owns one of the more physically unique skill-sets in the Midwest and he recently represented Team Illinois at the PBR Future Games, committing to Vanderbilt shortly afterwards. Built at a physically imposing 6-foot-2, 200-pounds, Barczi is a 6.69 runner  with a big arm that tops at 83 mph from the crouch. Barzci also has some of the top bat speed and bat strength in the class highlighted by his 104 mph max exit velocity during BP at the Underclass Invitational in March. This skill-set combined with the advanced feel for the barrel and hard contact he has shown in game equals some of the best upside on both sides of the ball, in the class. 

C Colin Barczi (Naperville Central, 2023). 6-foot-2, 200-pound frame, 101 mph max EV, multiple batted balls over 98-plus mph, 6.77 runner. #PBRFG21 | #TeamIllinois pic.twitter.com/BiPWSpAxeJ

— PBR Illinois (@PBRIllinois) July 28, 2021

Brady Louck LHP / OF / Plainfield East, IL / 2023

LHP Brady Louck, a Notre Dame commit, jumps up to No. 7 overall on our state board and cracks the top-200 nationally. The 5-foot-10, 165-pound southpaw played a massive role in leading Plainfield East to the 2021 4A State Championship, including a 13-strikeout complete game gem against Brother Rice in the Super-Sectional that ultimately punched the Bengals ticket to state. Louck continued to show well throughout the summer circuit and has long been known as one of the top arms in the class. Louck pitches with supreme confidence and poise for his age while also running his fastball into the upper-80s, T90, whenever he wants. On top of the lively fastball, Louck features an advanced feel for a slurvy breaking ball, with sweeping action, that induces a number of swing-and-misses. 

Tore Indomenico LHP / St. Ignatius, IL / 2023

 A major winner from this year’s Future Games, and yet another Notre Dame commit, jumps up quite a few spots, finding himself at No. 8 on our updated list: LHP Tore Indomenico (St. Ignatius). The 6-foot-1, 190-pound southpaw was amongst the top arms in attendance, regardless of state and earned praise from our National Crosschecker, Shooter Hunt. Here is what Hunt had to say about Indomenico in his “Shooter’s Standouts: Future Games Pitchers” article: 

“It was a treat watching Indomenico carefully craft out a plan to each hitter that he faced as he toyed with timing while presenting a look at a potential frontline starter at the next level. The moxie of the 6-foot-1, 190-pound more solidly built southpaw was present throughout as he worked predominantly at 85-88, touching 89 mph with the fastball which featured late arm side life. Moving more uptempo through an athletic delivery, Indomenico sits on the back side as he glides down the mound with a fuller arm stroke before getting extension out front with a high ¾ release. Landing both an upper-70s slurve and faded changeup in the low-80s, there is potential for three above average pitches moving forward, and he showcased confidence in each. The changeup, especially, is thrown with confidence, and profiling well of the fastball he utilized it exceptionally well. A quality mover, Indomenico is likely to continue getting better, and it is easy to dream on him starting on the weekends at the next level. He committed to Notre Dame following the event.”

Count me a big fan of 2023 LHP Tore Indomenico (@PBRIllinois), a 3-pitch strike-pumper who sat 86-88 from 3/4 slot. Landed upper-70s sweeping slider consistently, then flashed a filthy 82-mph change for K, as seen below.@ShooterHunt @prepbaseball pic.twitter.com/7mpTJLMdDZ

— Sean Duncan (@SeanDuncan729) August 2, 2021

Jarron Thompson RHP / Waubonise Valley, IL / 2023

Another winner from the Future Games was a previously unranked prospect that made a huge leap, popping up to No. 11 overall in the state and No. 388 nationally: RHP Jarron Thompson (Waubonsie Valley). Built at a projectable 6-foot, 180-pounds with noticeable athleticism on the bump, Thompson’s loose and quick arm produced effortless upper-80s velocity out of the ‘pen for Team Illinois, touching a 91 mph high with his fastball, all while flashing feel to spin a breaking ball with depth to it. Thompson’s upside rivals that of any in the class and he’s also still uncommitted. 

RHP Jarron Thompson (@wvhsbaseball, 2023) has a live arm, and he requires little effort to get to premium velocity. He sat 88-91 mph in his two innings today; CB, 70-72, with tight, biting action. Thompson is a high-profile uncommitted arm.#PBRFG21 | #TeamIllinois pic.twitter.com/4SrGJmpWDK

— PBR Illinois (@PBRIllinois) July 30, 2021

TJ Schuyler C / Antioch, IL / 2023

C TJ Schuyler (Antioch) rises a few spots, occupying the No. 12 overall ranking on our Illinois board. He boasts one of the more impressive frames in the class, standing at a proportionally strong 6-foot-2, 205-pounds with crisp, clean actions behind the plate and immense arm strength (83 mph from the crouch) for his age. Committed to Indiana, Schuyler offers noteworthy offensive upside as well and it’s easy to project future power output attached to an effortless right-handed stroke. We’ve also seen him up to 87 mph in the past on the mound with a 2,400+ RPM slider to pair. 

2023 C ⁦⁦@IndianaBase⁩ commit TJ Schuyler (Antioch HS, IL) plus defender that has shown a big arm and consistent sub 2.0 pop times between innings, with a couple hits here for ⁦@hittersbaseba11⁩ ⁦@PBRIllinois⁩ ⁦@MW_Premier⁩ #Super16 pic.twitter.com/gnn7rE9l1k

— Kevin Moulder PBR (@PBR_Moulder) July 17, 2021

Benjamin Oosterbaan SS / RHP / Hinsdale Central, IL / 2023

RHP Benjamin Oosterbaan (Hinsdale Central) jumped up to No. 19 overall in the class and completes this group of nationally ranked Illinois names. The low-effort, low-pulse operator is polished on the mound with some of the best off-speed feel in the class. Oosterbaan, a Michigan commit, has an innate ability to manipulate the shape and velocity on his breaking ball depending on count and situation. The 6-foot-5, 180-pound right-hander has also been up to 88 mph with his fastball from a loose, clean arm stroke. 

(5/3/21)