Illinois 2026 Rankings: Newcomers
September 6, 2024
The 2026 rankings update in Illinois is long overdue after a long summer season which featured the end of the IHSA season, a number of Prep Baseball Tournaments, showcases, as well as big invite-only events like the Future Games and the Illinois State Games.
There was plenty of movement throughout the rankings, as well as an expansion on the back end.
+ Click HERE, to view the entire 2026 rankings board.
+ Click HERE, to read yesterday's 2026 rankings release story.
Today, we are taking a look at a number of prospects that are making their rankings debut within the Top-100, found below.
NEWCOMERS
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Michael Pettit LHP / 1B / Lincoln-Way West, IL / 20268/12/24 Future Games: Pettit is an uncommitted southpaw to know, and he’s quickly proved to be one of the top left-handers in the state just in the past few months. Standing in a high-waisted 6-foot-1, 165-pound frame, Pettit has an extremely projectable frame with wiry limbs. He’s an easy mover with a simple operation, working into a medium/high balance point before working down the mound with a level front side, staying in-line. He hides the ball well in the back out of the glove before firing through with a loose ¾ release. He gets natural sinking action to his fastball, playing around 86-88 mph, topping out at 89 mph in this look - though we’ve seen him up to 91 mph in the past. He’ll also go to a slider at 72-73 mph that flashes tight, sharp 10/4 action, and he backs it up with a sinking changeup in the 76-77 mph range that he sells with arm-speed. Over his two innings of work, Pettit allowed only one run, one hit, two walks and struck out three. |
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Zane Caves LHP / 1B / Minooka, IL / 2026Rankings StateRank: 35 / POS: 3
8/22/24: LHP Zane Caves (Minooka) was far and away one of the event’s biggest winners. In his two innings of work, the southpaw only allowed one hit with no runs, one walk and five strikeouts. He attacked the zone with his fastball, playing in the low-mid 80s, topping out at 87 mph with heavy arm-side run. His curveball has wipeout potential, playing consistently over 2,700 rpm around 70 mph with sharp downward action. He also showed a changeup that played in the low-70’s, playing with heavy arm-side fade with a similar profile to his fastball. High-level uncommitted arm. |
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Jack Slightom C / RHP / Lyons Township, IL / 2026Rankings StateRank: 42 / POS: 7
8/7/24: Listed at 6-foot-2, 179-pounds with a projectable frame and plenty more room to add strength, Slightom popped as a must-know name from the Illinois State Games this past August. The right-hander impressed in his outing with a fastball up to 88 mph, playing with significant spin (2,300-2,500 rpm) and life through the zone. His curveball was one of his go-to secondaries, playing with 11/5 shape. He also went to a changeup at 74-79 mph with heavy fade, and a short lateral cutter around 80 mph. High-ceiling arm that is just starting to scratch the surface. |
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Henry Humes RHP / Homewood Flossmoor, IL / 2026Rankings StateRank: 48 / POS: 14
8/22/24: RHP Henry Humes (Homewood-Flossmoor) stands in at 6-foot-5, 175-pounds, and there is much more in the tank for this uncommitted right-hander. He showed an intriguing fastball/changeup combination, with the fastball playing at 84-87 mph with run, and the changeup playing off a similar release with fading action and feel to his arm-side, 73-76 mph. His third offering was a gradual 11/5 curveball that showed some depth, 68-71 mph. Over his two innings of work, Humes did not allow a single run, hit or walk, striking out one. High-ceiling arm to know. |
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Gabriel Perez OF / LHP / Illinois Valley Central, IL / 2026Rankings StateRank: 60 / POS: 9
8/22/24: LHP/OF Gabe Perez (Illinois Valley Central) showed well on the mound, tossing two innings with four strikeouts, one walk and no hits or runs allowed. He’s a simple mover on the mound with a long arm path and acceleration out front. His fastball sat 83-86 mph, topping out at 86 mph, with quality spin (avg. 2346 rpm) and mostly straight actions. He spun his slider at an average of 2245 rpm, playing with short horizontal movement at 75-77 mph. Perez rounded out his arsenal with a 79-82 mph change-up with fade to the arm-side (avg. -15.8” HM). A right-handed hitter, Perez barreled a ball 93.8 mph and 355 feet during his round of batting practice, while also showing a strong arm from the outfield on throws to home (T88 mph). A strong 5-foot-8, 183-pound prospect-to-know. |
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Garrett Pugh 3B / 1B / Marshall, IL / 2026Rankings StateRank: 64 / POS: 7
9/5/24: Making his rankings debut after just moving from Indiana, Pugh is a physical right-handed hitter that has consistently shown well on the Prep Baseball circuit. Listed at 6-foot-2, 250-pounds, the former Future Gamer has well above-average bat-strength, reaching up to 97 mph for his max EV with an average of 90 mph at tge Future Games. Also a corner infielder, Pugh has steady hands and also moves quite well for his size (7.32-60 time). |
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Jaylen Ware SS / OF / Simeon Career Academy, IL / 2026Rankings StateRank: 68 / POS: 16
7/17/24: Athletic, 6-foot-3, 175-pound frame, impressed at the plate, finding consistent barrels en route to a White Sox Ace’s win both Friday and Saturday morning. The right-handed bat Friday morning went 4-for-4 with three singles and a double into the left-center gap. Then Saturday morning went 3-for-3 with four RBI’s, including a pull-side RBI single to get his team on the board in the first inning, opposite gap three RBI double in the second inning, and a hustle infield single in the third inning. Out of the two spot in the order, he demonstrated a consistent gap to gap approach with the ability to work counts and put together battling at-bats. Displayed a flat bat path, quick and explosive hands, minimal load, connected back and lead arm, balanced lower half, and a front foot pick up and put down timing process. The uncommitted Ware will be a rising player to monitor with room for further development. |
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Chase Rhodes RHP / OF / Tremont, IL / 2026Rankings StateRank: 74 / POS: 21
8/22/24: RHP Chase Rhodes (Tremont) is an upside right-hander to know from the event. Listed at a highly projectable 6-foot-3, 170-pounds, Rhodes has a high-waist with plenty of room to fill out. He has an easy, long-levered operation that gets extension out front, creating an easy fastball in the 83-85 mph range (T86). His curveball is still developing with gradual 11/5 shape, playing in the low-60s. High-ceiling right-hander to know. |
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Josh Jones RHP / OF / Normal University, IL / 2026Rankings StateRank: 75 / POS: 22
8/22/24: RHP Chase Rhodes (Tremont) is an upside right-hander to know from the event. Listed at a highly projectable 6-foot-3, 170-pounds, Rhodes has a high-waist with plenty of room to fill out. He has an easy, long-levered operation that gets extension out front, creating an easy fastball in the 83-85 mph range (T86). His curveball is still developing with gradual 11/5 shape, playing in the low-60s. High-ceiling right-hander to know. |
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Jameson Rapinchuk LHP / 1B / Harvest Christian Academy, IL / 2026Rankings StateRank: 78 / POS: 9
2/3/24 |
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Sean McNair LHP / LHP / Deerfield, IL / 2026Rankings StateRank: 85 / POS: 12
8/22/24: LHP Sean McNair (Deerfield) had one of the better outings for the entire event - working two innings of one-hit ball with five strikeouts. Standing in a well-proportioned 5-foot-8, 163-pound frame. McNair attacked the zone with his three-pitch mix, while using a steady dose of each. His fastball played in the low-80’s (T84) with an average spin of 2220 rpm. He would then turn to a 75-76 mph slider with feel for the zone, before rounding his arsenal out with a quality splitter at 75-76 mph with heavy sink (avg. 0.8” IVB) and arm-side fade. |
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Jackson Mansker 3B / RHP / Lincoln-Way West, IL / 2026Rankings StateRank: 86 / POS: 10
6/27/24: INF/RHP Jackson Mansker (Lincoln Way-West, 2026) is a developed 6-foot-2, 195-pounds, and showed well on both sides of the ball Tuesday. On the mound, he demonstrated a controlled leg lift into a drop and drive lower half finish. Showcased above-average spin on all of his pitches. Fastball had an average rpm of 2454 rpm with a 2488 rpm max and ran up to 84 mph, sitting 81-83 mph. Slider produced horizontal action at 70-72 mph and had an average rpm of 2547 and a max of 2632 rpm. His changeup showed downer action at 73-78 mph and had an average rpm of 2046. On the other side of the ball, the right-handed hitter was on the barrel throughout his round of BP, averaging 91.1 mph for his EV while topping out at 99.4 mph (T344’). He showcased some controlled intent throughout his round, working to stay on top of the baseball and utilizing his pull-side. On the infield, he boasts soft hands that show confidence in his back-hand, patient actions and footwork through the ball with feel for the position. Quick release from a ¾ slot, reached up to 83 mph across the diamond with carry. |
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Clancy Rogers OF / 3B / Glenbrook South, IL / 2026Rankings StateRank: 88 / POS: 15
8/22/24: OF Clancy Rogers (Glenbrook South) is an imposing right-handed bat to note at 6-foot-2, 188-pounds. Rogers showed off impressive tools both during the workout and throughout gameplay of the event. He started things off by running a 7.03 60, posting one of the higher outfield velocities for the event at 89 mph, while also putting together a loud showing during batting practice. Rogers put up one of the higher average exit velocities for the event at 94.8 mph (T100.4) paired with a max distance of 378 feet (top-10 for the event). His BLAST numbers were loud as well, with some of the quicker hands for the event with a max hand speed of 24.1 mph, paired with an average bat speed of 72.8 mph. These tools translated over into gameplay as he was on the barrel throughout - including a homer. The strong arm showed that way in-game too, as he made impressive throws from the corner outfield, to make for a strong all-around showing for the event. |
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Sam McCollum RHP / OF / O'Fallon, IL / 2026Rankings StateRank: 91 / POS: 23
8/22/24: RHP Sam McCollum (O’Fallon) is a well-proportioned 5-foot-11, 177-pound arm-to-know. McCollum punched out three batters over his two innings of work, while showcasing a well-rounded three-pitch mix. His fastball sat 83-85 mph (T86) with occasional arm-side run and carry through the zone. He had feel to spin a 72-75 mph slider at an average of 2395 rpm, while landing it in the zone 55% of the time. McCollum rounded out his mix with a 79-80 mph changeup that showed slight arm-side fade. |
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Tyler Edmondson OF / SS / Oak Park-River Forest, IL / 2026Rankings StateRank: 97 / POS: 16
7/17/24: Edmonson, who was a recent standout at the Northwest Suburban ID. Continues to showcase his impressive skill set. At the plate he went 3-for-4 with a double and a RBI against PTA south. Mechanically at the plate he utilized a toe tap and trigger with the hands. Looking to drive the ball into the gaps. Defensively he showed range to the glove side and in the hole at second base. |
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Cameron Barnes RHP / 1B / Oak Park-River Forest, IL / 2026Rankings StateRank: 99 / POS: 25
7/17/24: Barnes has an intriguing frame standing at 6-foot-2, 215 pounds. The right handed pitcher had an impressive outing against the Starters Select 16U. Going a complete game with five strikeouts. The fastball was sitting 82-84 mph and topping out at 86 mph. The curveball ranged from 70-71 mph with quality shape. Mechanically he has a fluid delivery and throws from a high ¾ slot. |