Prep Baseball Report

2017 Overall Ranking: Illinois Analysis



By Drew Locascio
Illinois Scouting Director

Shortly following the 2016 rankings updates and analysis we moved onto the 2017 rankings in the state of Illinois. We completed our in depth look at the state of Illinois by analyzing the risers and also the newcomers in the state rankings.

With the 2017 state rankings completed and hashed out, the updated 2017 overall rankings were next on the list. The overall rankings span our current 27-state coverage area and Florida has made its presence felt in a large way. The new overall No. 1 player Alejandro Toral (Archbishop McCarthy HS), hails from Florida and is committed to Miami. On top of that, 83 of the top 300 players in the overall coverage area are from Florida.

With our coverage area continuing to grow and expand it is becoming increasingly difficult for prospects to hold their spot in the overall rankings. With that being said, Illinois continues to prove it is deep in talent and the 2017 class is no exception. 29 of the overall 300 players hail from the Land of Lincoln and 15 find themselves in the Top 100 overall.

The No. 1 player in IL C Cal Greenfield (St. Rita) who is committed to Florida, held steady at No. 14 overall. Greenfield is an advanced receiver with a strong arm and plus carry behind the plate. Also, has a strong right-handed bat with power potential.

Two RHP's also held their ground in the overall rankings. Brady Corrigan (Plainfield North) committed to Arizona State and Bobby Miller (McHenry West) heading to Louisville didn't move much since the last overall rankings update. Corrigan comes in at No. 26 overall and Miller at No. 31. Both Corrigan and Miller possess projectable frames and can run their fastballs up to 90 mph.

A riser in the overall rankings and another Arizona State commit was LHP Brendan Murphy (Mundelein). Murphy jumped 25 spots and comes in at No. 91 overall. Murphy is a long and lean lefty that has flashed an upper 80’s fastball from a lower ¾ slot and loose arm action. Also, features an above-average changeup and showed good spin on his breaking ball this fall.

Another big riser was RHP Ryan Sublette (Lemont). Sublette who is currently uncommitted showed a big jump in velocity this fall which coincided with him climbing 138 spots in the overall rankings and now sitting in the Top 115.

Some other Illinois notables who find themselves in the overall rankings for the first time are 3B/OF Easton Bertrand (Manteno), RHP Ken Brokop (Bradley-Bourbonnais), 3B Gavin Lovesky (Lockport), RHP Jeffrey Zack (Romeoville), RHP Mark Smith (Edwardsville) and OF Mike Addante (Jacobs).

CLICK HERE for complete 2017 overall rankings.

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