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Top-10 Profiles of 2023: No. 9 Joey Ireland

December 19, 2023
By: Gavin Smith
Area Scout

Illinois commit, Joey Ireland (Mount Carmel, 2026) comes in at No. 9 for the most-viewed profiles of 2023. The sophomore has always been one of the more intriguing prospects in the 2026 class, as he was one of the early commits from Team Illinois at the 2022 PBR Junior Future Games. In 2023, Ireland shined on multiple occasions, especially during this year’s Illinois State Games, where his sheer athleticism and ceiling truly set him apart throughout the event. The 6.6 runner showed that his athleticism easily transfers to multiple aspects of his game, coming away a clear winner from the defensive portion of the workout where he flashed smooth actions, fluid footwork and the ability to work to both sides of his glove. We can’t forget to mention his bat that’s easy and compact from the right-side. His prowess at the plate has continued to trend up throughout his prep career, and he showed the ability to manipulate the barrel at the event while driving balls to all fields during his round of BP.

Ireland’s makeup, projection and current status is what cements him as one of the top prospects in Illinois’ 2026 class (No. 5), and with continued development and growth, Ireland’s ceiling will only continue to rise.

NO. 9 JOEY IRELAND

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Joey Ireland

Class of 2026 / SS

Rankings  StateRank: 5 / POS: 2 OverallRank: 157 / POS: 43

Player Information

  • Graduating Class: 2026
  • Primary Position: SS
    Secondary Position: 2B
  • High School: Mount Carmel
    State: IL
  • Summer Team: Chicago White Sox Ace
  • Height: 6-0
    Weight: 162.9lbs
  • Bat/Throw: R/R

Scouting Report

9/29/23
Perhaps one of the most impressive hitting performances of the weekend came from 2022 PBR Junior Future Game participant MIF Joey Ireland (Mount Carmel, 2026; Illinois commit). Ireland is an advanced athlete up the middle that ran a 6.66 60 yard dash at the Illinois State Games back in August. Defensively, he is a savvy defender on the dirt that presents above average arm strength. Despite his impressive athleticism and defense, Ireland impressed the most using the bat. On Saturday morning, Ireland finished with three hits including a home run to left at Milkmen Field. The Sophomore also added a triple and a hustle double, finishing just a single short of the cycle. Ireland will be a fun prospect to watch going into his second year. 

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