Thanks to a busy winter showcase season the Illinois 2022 rankings have been updated and expanded. Due to the impressive amount of talent on display over the winter months the number of sophomores ranked in the state went from 45-to-100. The amount of high-level talent and depth in this class is as good as we have seen in recent memory. When dissecting this 2022 class, a number of prospects forced some big shakeups up and down the list.

To begin our coverage of the Illinois 2022 rankings, we take an in-depth look at the updated top-10 prospects. 

The new No. 1 prospect in the state is OF Alex Stanwich (Lincoln-Way East). Stanwich, a 6-foot-1, 190-pound, chiseled, highly-athletic, tooled-up Tennessee commit, burst onto the national scene this past summer at the Future Games and took it to another level at the Underclass Invitational. Stanwich came out of the gates running a 6.58 60, second-best at the event. He then followed up with the loudest round of BP on the day. To top it off he showcased athletic outfield actions and premium arm strength, topping at 95 mph. Stanwich, who jumped from No. 3 to No. 1 in the state, continues to establish himself as one of the top 2022’s, not only in Midwest, but in the country.

Alex Stanwich (2.16.20)

Another Future Gamer who shot up the charts after his eye-opening performance at the Underclass Invitational, is the new No. 2 prospect in the class, RHP Owen Murphy (Riverside-Brookfield). Murphy, a Notre Dame commit, has always been highly-regarded for his athletic, quick arm and ability to spin the baseball. The 6-foot-1, 180-pound, two-way talent, clearly put in work over the off-season, as his fastball velocity climbed from the mid-80’s to 89-91 mph, touching 92 at the Underclass Invitational. Murphy matched his dynamic fastball with his usual advanced off-speed offerings. As if his bullpen was not enough, Murphy made a strong case to be regarded as a potential two-way player moving forward. Murphy has a simple, easy right-handed swing that stays through the zone a long time and showed the ability to stick on the infield.

Owen Murphy (2.16.20)

Coming in at No. 3 and No. 4 in the state are a pair of switch-hitting position players, SS Logan Wagner (Homeschool; Louisville commit) and C Zander Buchan (Maine South; South Carolina commit). Wagner has a 6-foot-2, 195-pound physically advanced frame and is a middle-of-the-order type of threat from both sides of the plate. Wagner possesses some of the best bat speed in the class, has a feel for hitting and the actions and arm to stick on the left-side of the diamond. Buchan is as polished of a hitter as you will find in the class, with his left-handed swing, seemingly on another level. Buchan has a simple, repeatable stroke from the left side, with highly-athletic quick hands, stays short to the ball, has an advanced feel for the barrel and the ball jumps off the bat with authority. Defensively, he is a fundamentally sound receiver with an accurate and strong arm that plays true. 

Zander Buchan (2.16.20)

The highest ceiling in the class arguably belongs to the No. 5 prospect in the state, LHP Noah Schultz (Oswego East). Schultz, a Vanderbilt commit, is a 6-foot-7, 180-pound, long and lean, projectable left-hander with a loose, easy arm and mid-80’s fastball. Given his long levers and extension at release, the current mid-80’s velocity plays up with finish and late run through the zone. Furthermore, Schultz possesses a sharp breaking ball with the makings of a legitimate swing-and-miss offering. 

Michigan commit, C Nate Voss (Marist), stays towards the top of the list, at No. 6. Voss is a smooth athlete who makes everything look easy and clean on the diamond. Behind the plate he is quick, calm and repeatable out of the crouch with an accurate arm. At the plate, Voss has loose strong hands and works gap-to-gap. 

A pair of projectable arms with present physicality; RHP Ethan Patera (Downers Grove South) and LHP Julien Hachem (Mount Carmel) come in at No. 7 and No. 8, respectively. Both Patera and Hachem continued to strengthen their status in the state with their showings at the Underclass Invitational. Patera, a Louisville commit, has a loose, upside arm and topped at 92 mph with his fastball. He paired his firm fastball with an aggressive slider at 77-80 mph and power changeup at 84-87 mph. Patera reaffirmed his status as one of the top power arms in the Midwest. Hachem, who is committed to Oklahoma, saw his fastball velocity tick up at the event sitting 84-87 mph with lively finish. Where Hachem really impressed was the action and feel he demonstrated with his off-speed offerings. Hachem’s best secondary was an aggressive curveball with tight spin and a short, late wrinkle at 76-78 mph. 

Ethan Patera (2.16.20)

Rounding out the top-10 are a pair of talented position players SS Christian Holmes (De La Salle; No. 9) and 1B Daniel Pacella (Mundelein; No. 10). Holmes, the top uncommitted prospect in the class was yet another standout at the Underclass Invitational and continues to chisel up his 6-foot, 180-pound frame. Holmes showed above-average foot speed running a 6.85 60 and has a chance to be an offensive force who could also play a high-level shortstop. Prospects with that kind of toolset are hard to find in the Midwest, let alone the country. 

Christian Holmes (2.16.20)

Pacella, a Kentucky commit, is one of the top left-handed bats in the state as well as possessing arguably the best present power in the class as well. Pacella has a repeatable stroke with natural lift and produced the top exit velocity of the Underclass Invitational, 107 mph off a tee. 

UPDATED TOP 10

RANK	NAME	STATE	SCHOOL	CLASS	POS	COMMITMENT
1	Alex Stanwich	IL	Lincoln-Way East	2022	OF	Tennessee
2	Owen Murphy	IL	Riverside-Brookfield	2022	RHP	Notre Dame
3	Logan Wagner	IL	Home school	2022	SS	Louisville
4	Zander Buchan	IL	Maine South	2022	C	South Carolina
5	Noah Schultz	IL	Oswego East	2022	LHP	Vanderbilt
6	Nate Voss	IL	Marist	2022	C	Michigan
7	Ethan Patera	IL	Downers Grove South	2022	RHP	Louisville
8	Julien Hachem	IL	Mount Carmel	2022	LHP	Oklahoma
9	Christian Holmes	IL	De La Salle	2022	SS
10	Daniel Pacella	IL	Mundelein	2022	1B	Kentucky

*COMPLETE ILLINOIS 2022 RANKINGS*

 

We will breakdown much more of the rankings over the coming weeks, including some of the biggest risers and top newcomers to know. 

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