On August 6th and 7th, the Prep Baseball Illinois Staff hosted the Illinois State Games at the Rantoul Family Sports Complex in Rantoul, IL. This is the third year we have run this event, and it continues to gain traction as the largest and most competitive showcase in the state. There were 363 players that made the trip to Rantoul, ranging from the 2025-2027 classes, and there were just under 80 colleges of all levels in attendance to scout the event. 

Below you will find scouting reports on every single class of 2026 LHP from the State Games, along with a ranking of the top overall prospects. 

One name to know that just missed out on the Top-10 is Carson DeKeyrel (Rockridge). In two scoreless innings, the southpaw struck out four with just one walk and scattered two hits. He pounded the zone with a three pitch mix, highlighted by a low-80s fastball and effective CB/CH combination. 

Top Left-Handed Pitching Prospects 

1. Zane Caves, Minooka (IL), 2026; Michigan State commit
Positional Profile: LHP/1B
Body: 6-5, 190.3-pounds.
Delivery: Stretch only, closed setup, high leg-kick that works into a coil, rides pre-bend in the back knee down the mound.
Arm Action: LH. Longer arm action and reach out of the glove, 3/4 release.
FB: T87, 77-85 mph. Deceptive with late life, elevated in zone. T2275, 2049 average rpm.
CB: 62-70 mph. Sharp 1/7 shape with depth, potential out-pitch.  T2797, 2593 average rpm.
CH: 65-71 mph. Showed some downward action through the zone.  T1930, 1750 average rpm.

2. Gabriel Perez, Illinois Valley Central (IL), 2026
Positional Profile: OF/LHP
Body: 5-8, 183-pounds.
Delivery: Athletic movements, explosive leg kick and stride that works in-line, plays with some intent.
Arm Action: LH. Long, loose arm swing into a 3/4 slot. Struck out four with one walk in two scoreless/hitless innings.
FB: T87, 84-87 mph. Some diving action with run; got whiffs up in the zone. T2529, 2346 average rpm.
SL: 75-78 mph. Sweeping action; sharp break.  T2556, 2245 average rpm.
CH: 80-82 mph. Showed heavy arm-side action.  T2090, 1869 average rpm.

3. Samuel Chin, St. Laurence (IL), 2026
Positional Profile: LHP/LHP
Body: 5-11, 142-pounds.
Delivery: Athletic, easy mover, short and repeatable leg-lift into balance point, works in-line with minimal effort, plenty more in the tank.
Arm Action: LH. Easy arm action, longer circle in the back, 3/4 slot. Struck out four with one walk, two hits and one run allowed in his two innings of work.
FB: T81, 79-81 mph. Natural running action through the zone.  T2483, 2291 average rpm.
CB: 69-71 mph. Advanced spin, sharp 1/7 shape.  T2615, 2587 average rpm.
SL: 69-71 mph. Advanced spin and feel for pitch, true wipeout slider with 2/8 shape.  T2577, 2511 average rpm.
CH: 75-77 mph. Clean out of the hand with fading action.  T1990, 1835 average rpm.

4. Sean McNair, Deerfield (IL), 2026
Positional Profile: LHP/LHP
Body: 5-8, 163.6-pounds.
Delivery: Incorporates hands over head before a short side-step into a medium leg-lift, tall/fall lower-half, works in-line, shoulders work downhill. 
Arm Action: LH. Low 3/4 slot, hides ball well, quick arm. Struck out five with no hits, walks or runs allowed in two innings of work.
FB: T84, 82-84 mph. Horizontal movement with some sink. T2306, 2220 average rpm.
SL: 75-76 mph. Firm slider thrown high in the zone, has a cutter feel to it. T2128, 2057 average rpm.
SPLT: 75-77 mph. Kills spin, plays with diving action. 

5. Braydon McKendrick, Brother Rice (IL), 2026
Positional Profile: LHP/OF
Body: 5-11, 177.9-pounds.
Delivery: Fluid/deliberate delivery, quick mover, level shoulders, medium leg kick, well timed shoulder/hip separation.
Arm Action: LH. Loose action (slings it), long arm swing, 3/4 slot.
FB: T87, 83-86 mph. Firm with late life. Created several late swings. T2305, 2234 average rpm.
CB: 68-69 mph. Covers entire strike zone, 11/5 break. Spun efficiently.  T2427, 2366 average rpm.
SL: 70-72 mph. Tight horizontal break. T2460, 2424 average rpm.
CH: 78-79 mph. Arm-side fade. Plays effectively off of fastball. T1725, 1650 average rpm.

6. Blake Hoffer, Glenbrook South (IL), 2026; Illinois commit
Positional Profile: LHP/1B
Body: 6-5, 200-pounds.
Delivery: Compact, medium leg-lift into balance point, gets momentum moving downhill, works in-line.
Arm Action: LH. Full arm action, high 3/4 slot, hides ball well. Struck out two with one walk, two hits allowed and one run scored in his two innings.
FB: T86, 84-85 mph. Ride with late life, throws mostly glove side.  T2272, 2061 average rpm.
SL: 70-73 mph. Sharp, short lateral break.  T1949, 1821 average rpm.

7. Anthony Perez, O'Fallon (IL), 2026
Positional Profile: LHP/OF
Body: 5-11, 166-pounds.
Delivery: Simple delivery, medium leg-lift into balance point, explosive lower-half that works in-line.
Arm Action: LH. Low 3/4 arm action. Struck out four with two walks, two hits and one run allowed in two innings.
FB: T86, 83-85 mph. Running action with carry.  T2302, 2139 average rpm.
SL: 75-78 mph. Hard breaking action, profiles well with FB. T2054, 1961 average rpm.

8. Jameson Rapinchuk, Harvest Christian (IL), 2026
Positional Profile: LHP/1B
Body: 6-0, 193.8-pounds.
Delivery: Loose, whippy actions, medium leg-lift, controlled tempo into balance point, holds pre-bend in the back knee down the mound.
Arm Action: LH. Long arm swing, low 3/4 slot, loose, slings it. Fired 1.2 scoreless innings with one hit, one walk and one strikeout.
FB: T87, 83-86 mph. Firm, late life through the zone.  T1831, 1600 average rpm.
SL: 73-76 mph. Tighter 1/7 shape, late break with depth.  T2132, 1953 average rpm.
CH: 79-79 mph. Arm-side fade. Tunnels effectively off of fastball. T1460, 1364 average rpm.

9. Brady Turner, Routt Catholic (IL), 2026
Positional Profile: LHP/1B
Body: 6-3, 184.5-pounds.
Delivery: High leg-lift with a slight torso tilt backwards, controlled tempo, drop/drive lower-half, works in-line.
Arm Action: LH. Low 3/4 slot, shorter circle in the back. Struck out two with no hits, runs or walks allowed in two innings.
FB: T84, 80-83 mph. Darting action down in the zone; explodes out of hand. T2013, 1912 average rpm.
CB: 67-70 mph. Gradual 1/7 shape, some depth.  T2570, 2196 average rpm.
CH: 69-69 mph. Plays with slight running action to the arm-side.  T1338, 1338 average rpm.

T10. Callum Morrison, Lake Forest (IL), 2026
Positional Profile: LHP/OF
Body: 5-11, 159.4-pounds.
Delivery: Stretch only, closed off setup, works into high leg kick with quick tempo, stays in-line down the mound, shoulders work downhill.
Arm Action: LH. Low 3/4 arm slot, longer circle in the back. Scattered three hits with one walk in two scoreless innings.
FB: T85, 81-84 mph. Attacks the zone with natural arm-side run.  T2332, 2193 average rpm.
CB: 72-73 mph. Slurvy 1/7 shape, deceptive.  T2246, 2156 average rpm.
CH: 74-77 mph. Throws with same arm action as the fastball, natural fading action.  T2231, 1863 average rpm.

T10. Rocco Szambelan, Joliet Catholic (IL), 2026
Positional Profile: LHP/OF
Body: 6-1, 184.5-pounds.
Delivery: Fluid mover, athletic delivery, high leg-kick, flexible lower half, long stride with extension, stays in-line.
Arm Action: LH. 3/4 slot, fast/whippy action.
FB: T85, 81-84 mph. Slight arm-side horizontal run. T1977, 1887 average rpm.
SL: 72-75 mph. Tight breaking, 1/7 shape.  T1980, 1879 average rpm.

BEST OF THE REST (LISTED ALPHABETICALLY)

Nathan Barnitz, Schaumburg (IL), 2026
Positional Profile: OF/LHP
Body: 6-0, 168-pounds.
Delivery: Stretch-only; short leg kick into balance point, tall/fall lower-half.
Arm Action: LH. Loose, full arm action, low 3/4 slot.
FB: T83, 80-83 mph. Heavy arm-side run, also pays with sink. T2086, 1979 average rpm.
SL: 73-74 mph. Short wrinkle, developing. T1895, 1790 average rpm.
CH: 75-76 mph. Kills spin, plays with arm-side fade, best of the offspeed offerings. T1502, 1410 average rpm.

Lance Cuddy, Coal City (IL), 2026
Positional Profile: LHP/OF
Body: 5-11, 150.6-pounds.
Delivery: Clean delivery, simple, medium leg-lift, tall/fall, works in-line with level shoulders, works with some tempo.
Arm Action: LH. Long arm swing into a 3/4 slot. Struck out two with no hits, walks or runs allowed in his two innings of work.
FB: T82, 80-81 mph. Plays firm with late life, feel for corners, commanded well. T2207, 2130 average rpm.
CB: 67-69 mph. Above average spin, feel for strike zone, throws in any count, 1/7 shape with depth.  T2390, 2332 average rpm.
CH: 75-75 mph. Feel for the zone.  T1737, 1737 average rpm.

Carsen DeKeyrel, Rockridge (IL), 2026
Positional Profile: LHP/OF
Body: 5-11, 133.4-pounds.
Delivery: Easy and loose motion, high leg-lift, some drop/drive action, works in-line with stride, uphill shoulders downhill.
Arm Action: LH. Hides ball well, 3/4 slot. Struck out four with one walk and two hits allowed in two scoreless innings.
FB: T81, 79-81 mph. Plays with some sinking action. Four-seam has straighter actions.  T2315, 2194 average rpm.
CB: 72-74 mph. Plays with some horizontal break, flashed depth.  T2255, 2209 average rpm.
CH: 76-77 mph. Plays with sink and fade.  T1682, 1597 average rpm.

Sam Higgins, Maine South (IL), 2026
Positional Profile: LHP/OF
Body: 6-0, 177.3-pounds.
Delivery: Simple delivery, compact, medium leg-lift, back leg sink and works in-line.
Arm Action: LH. Long reach out of the glove, 3/4 window.
FB: T80, 76-78 mph. Firm w/ ride and run. T2025, 1899 average rpm.
CB: 66-69 mph. 10/4 action with gradual break. T2184, 2108 average rpm.
SL: 68-71 mph. Hard sweeping action. T2157, 2094 average rpm.
CH: 73-73 mph. Arm-side fade. T1650, 1650 average rpm.

Arjun Patel, Conant (IL), 2026
Positional Profile: OF/LHP
Body: 5-9, 163.6-pounds.
Delivery: Athletic mover, fluid delivery, in-line stride/finish, simple and repeats.
Arm Action: LH. Longer arm swing in the back, 3/4 slot.
FB: T80, 74-77 mph. Plays straight through the zone.  T2189, 1972 average rpm.
CB: 65-68 mph. 10/5 spin. Best pitch. Tunnels effectively off of fastball. T2208, 2104 average rpm.
CH: 71-73 mph. Mostly straight, kept glove-side.  T1924, 1857 average rpm.

Owen Rog, DePaul College Prep (IL), 2026
Positional Profile: LHP/OF
Body: 6-0, 168-pounds.
Delivery: Up-tempo, short leg-lift into balance point, gets his lower-half moving and gets extension down the mound, works in-line.
Arm Action: LH. 3/4 arm slot, quick arm action. Fired two scoreless innings.
FB: T83, 77-80 mph. Plays straight through the zone with some life.  T1918, 1738 average rpm.
CB: 64-66 mph. Short, 1/7 shape, firm.  T1964, 1903 average rpm.
CH: 75-77 mph. Plays with sinking action. T1662, 1568 average rpm.

Gabe Sanders, Yorkville (IL), 2026
Positional Profile: LHP/OF
Body: 5-10, 146-pounds.
Delivery: Athletic mover, coils into a high leg-lift, gets momentum moving downhill, works in-line.
Arm Action: LH. Low 3/4 arm action, long swing in the back.
FB: T80, 78-79 mph. Plays with natural run and sink.  T1942, 1814 average rpm.
CB: 66-69 mph. Gradual sweeping action.  T2063, 1837 average rpm.
CH: 68-68 mph. Above-average offering; profiles well against RHH; separates well with FB; drops off table. T1834, 1700 average rpm.

Trace Schaaf, Lockport (IL), 2026
Positional Profile: LHP/1B
Body: 6-3, 161.2-pounds.
Delivery: Staggered setup out of the windup, short side step into a high leg-lift, coils the upper-half before working down the mound in-line, drop/drive lower-half.
Arm Action: LH. Long whippy arm action, full extension backwards, high 3/4.
FB: T80, 77-79 mph. 4S: Straight action, able to keep on the corners. 2S: Willing to throw in any count, shows true ASR, able to place on outer-half.  T2042, 1922 average rpm.
CB: 67-69 mph. Shorter, 2/8 shape.  T2369, 2168 average rpm.
CH: 72-73 mph. Plays with slight run to the arm-side.  T2033, 1963 average rpm.

Ben Sink, Father McGivney (IL), 2026
Positional Profile: OF/LHP
Body: 5-7, 168.4-pounds.
Delivery: High and extending leg lift with some coil into balance point, easy mover, stride works slightly across body.
Arm Action: LH. Low 3/4 slot, long reach in the back out of the glove.
FB: T83, 79-82 mph. Running fastball with sink, mostly thrown arm side. T1990, 1786 average rpm.
SL: 68-70 mph. Thrown for strikes, lateral 2/8 shape.  T2265, 2171 average rpm.
CH: 75-78 mph. Plays similar to the FB out of the hand, some dive to the arm-side.  T1319, 1251 average rpm.

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