By Sean Duncan
Executive Director

Illinois’ Class of 2015 is quickly developing into one of the more impressive collection of prospects we’ve seen in years. And it appears that it is only getting deeper.

Over the last few months the Prep Baseball Report’s scouting staff has honed in on this rising crop of juniors. And what we’ve found has been extremely impressive. Dozens more high-level prospects have emerged, while others have elevated their games.

Although there are some significant shakeups in the updated and expanded Class of 2015 rankings, the top of the class remains largely intact. Left-handed hitting SS Charlie Donovan (Westmont HS) still holds the No. 1 prospect in the class, followed by RHP/1B Trent Johnson (Metamora HS), an Arizona recruit who earned PBR All-State honors as a sophomore.

Left-handed hitting SS Cole Daily (Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin HS) jumps to No. 3 after the Notre Dame recruit’s performance at the Midwest Future Games and several other events this summer. LHP Kyle Ostrowski (Lincoln-Way North HS) very well may be the most projectable prospect in the class, while RHP/OF/C Nick Dalesandro (Joliet Catholic Academy HS) is the most versatile and has proved himself to be the ultimate competitor on the field after pitching the Hilltoppers to the Class 3A state championship.

Left-handed hitting 3B Willie Bourbon (Stevenson HS), OF Josh Stowers (Mount Carmel HS), RHP Jeremy Orbik (Homewood-Flossmoor HS), OF Chris Botsoe (Hinsdale Central HS), and C Brandon Krennrich (Johnsburg HS) round out the top 10 prospects. Eight of the top 10 prospects are already verbally committed.

Some of the biggest risers in Illinois’ 2015 class include: RHP Shane Ritter (Plainfield South HS), RHP Mitchell Janssen (Princeville HS), C Wyatt Mascarella (Cary-Grove HS), RHP Cole Bellair (Lockport HS), 1B/OF Matt Hopkins (Alton HS), RHP/C Jamary McKinney (Simeon HS), SS Neil Lambert (Pontiac HS), OF Anthony Forte (Conant HS), C David Craan (Whitney Young HS), INF Dylan Grady (Champaign Centennial HS), C Patrick Rumoro (Oak Park-River Forest HS), and INF Alec Martinez (Sandburg HS), to name a few.

In all, this class features balance throughout, including an extremely strong nucleus of catchers, similar to that of the 2014 class. High-end left-handed pitching currently seems to be the class’s only weakness. Only two left-handers – Ostrowski and Brett Newberg (Moline HS) – are among the top 20 prospects.

A look at the top 10 prospects:

Rank	Name	State	School	Class	Pos	Commitment
1	Charlie Donovan	IL	Westmont	2015	SS	Michigan
2	Trent Johnson	IL	Metamora	2015	RHP	Arizona
3	Cole Daily	IL	Sacred Heart Griffin	2015	SS	Notre Dame
4	Kyle Ostrowski	IL	Lincoln-Way North	2015	LHP	Purdue
5	Nick Dalesandro	IL	Joliet Catholic Academy	2015	C	Purdue
6	Willie Bourbon	IL	Stevenson	2015	3B
7	Josh Stowers	IL	Mount Carmel	2015	OF	Louisville
8	Jeremy Orbik	IL	Homewood-Flossmoor	2015	RHP
9	Chris Botsoe	IL	Hinsdale Central	2015	OF	Louisville
10	Brandon Krennrich	IL	Johnsburg	2015	C	Kentucky

 

CLICK HERE to view the Top 125 Class of 2015 Prospects