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Illinois Class of 2016 Rankings: Biggest Risers

November 14, 2014

By Ryan Quigley
Illinois Scouting Director

Yesterday we highlighted the newly released and extended Illinois Class of 2016 rankings. We’ve extended the rankings from 150 to 175 prospects, and also shuffled around players based on their performances over the end of the summer and this fall.

We highlighted the top ten prospects, including the shuffling around of the top five, which you can read all about HERE.

Today we’ll take a look at some of the top risers, those prospects who have increased their stock more than any other in the state.

Leading off is Morgan Park’s Christian Bullock, who has long been a known commodity and is committed to Michigan. Bullock was recently named the Top Overall Prospect at this October’s Class of 2016 Showcase at the MAX in McCook, IL. Bullock put on a show at multiple positions, impressing with his athleticism (running the top 60 time of the event at 6.75 seconds) and his fluid left-handed swing. His clean arm action has more in the tank, and he profiles as a plus defender in center field. He rises from No. 45 all the way up to No. 13 with his impressive performance.

Taft’s Jack Suwinski impressed both on the mound and at the plate with his left-handed swing. Read about it HERE in the 10 Revelations from Jupiter. Suwinski has showed low-to-mid 80’s velocity on the mound, but his high-level bat most likely makes him a primary outfielder. He tripled off an 89 mph fastball, and also homered for the Chicago Scouts Association at the WWBA World Championship.

Lincoln-Way North shortstop Ben Troike. The Illinois commit impressed with his steady play at numerous events this fall, and rises eleven spots from No. 31 into the top 20. Troike and Brother Rice’s Mike Massey formed one of the best double play combinations we saw on the fall circuit, playing with Cangelosi Baseball.

A pair of physical right-handed pitchers made huge jumps as well. Plainfield North’s Zack Martin jumps from No. 75 to No. 23, thanks to his 6-foot-4 frame, and 84-88 mph velocity. St. Rita’s Max Franklin impresses with 85-87 mph velocity paired with a hard, 75-76 mph curveball with depth. Franklin rises from No. 50 to No. 26.

Recent Illinois-Chicago commit Matt Bottcher (Romeoville HS) rises from No. 44 to No. 31, and impressed this fall at shortstop with athletic actions and an advanced approach at the plate from the left side.

St. Joseph Ogden’s Dalton Parker impressed in October, with easy 84-85 mph velocity from his 6-foot-3, 200-pound frame. He was named the Top Overall Prospect at the Pitching Showcase and Analysis at Fuel Sports in Shorewood, IL. Parker rises from No. 54 to No. 39.

Left-hander Jacob Gilmore (Bloomington Central Catholic) impressed this fall with easy low-to-mid 80’s velocity from a projectable 6-foot-3 frame. Gilmore is yet another prospect we’ve seen vastly improved over the last year and a half, as his fastball sat 73-75 mph in February of 2013.

Belleville East’s Andrew Millas made one of the largest jumps from No. 115 to No. 41 overall in the state. Millas is a left-handed hitting catcher with 2.07-2.10 pop times recorded in games. He’s a highly athletic backstop who stole multiple bases at the Labor Day Challenge, where he was named one of the top prospects in our Labor Day Challenge: Revelations and Risers article.

Evanston’s Dylan Mulvihill also showed vast improvement this fall, jumping from No. 142 to No. 50 in the rankings. Mulvihill threw 78-81 mph in June at the Prospect I.D. Showcase, then came out firing 84-87 mph fastballs at October’s Class of 2016 Showcase, where he was named the No. 2 Overall Prospect in attendance. He also showed an improved 71-74 mph breaking ball, and his 6-foot-5, 220-pound workhorse frame is not done filling out.

Tomorrow we’ll take a look at prospects who are debuting in the Illinois state rankings, and there are a lot to cover, as the PBR scouting staff has been busy pounding the pavement in search of the state’s top talent.

CLICK HERE to see the updated Illinois Class of 2016 Rankings, extended to 175 prospects.

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