Illinois 2022 Rankings Updated

Finally, after another long winter showcase season in the book, we’re prepared to launch our updated look at the state’s Class of 2022 rankings. This is a critical year for these juniors, especially those preparing to play what’s likely their first taste of varsity ball for their high school, ahead of the final summer of their prep careers.

In particular, Illinois’ Class of 2022 is an exciting one, especially at the top, where the Nos. 1-4 prospects also happen to be ranked inside the national top-50 – and each of the state’s top-10 are ranked inside the national top-200. This class has a chance to be one of the best classes to come through the state in some time.

UPDATED TOP 10

+ The two players at the top remain unchanged, as the top-ranked position player and pitcher in Illinois’ junior class, respectively: OF Alex Stanwich (Lincoln-Way East; Tennessee commit) and LHP Noah Schultz (Oswego East; Vanderbilt). At Nos. 1 and 2, the pair are also in a similar place in between national rankings updates, inside the top-40, and both should already be luring pro scouts to their ballparks whenever they’re in the lineup, even this far out from the 2022 MLB Draft.

Stanwich started his season with the Griffins on a high note, homering in his first game. Schultz’s season at Oswego East started last Thursday where he went four innings of shutout ball, allowing one hit, striking out 10 with no walks.

+ Two right-handers swapped spots at Nos. 3 and 4: RHP/INF Owen Murphy (Riverside-Brookfield; Notre Dame) and RHP Julius Sanchez (LaSalle-Peru; Illinois). It’s worth saying that, while they flip-flopped rankings on the Illinois board, both actually rose on the national rankings. Murphy shot up the national board, up to No. 44 overall in the country following an excellent, well-rounded ‘pen thrown at the Preseason All-State. Murphy, also the quarterback of the varsity, did this while still in football season.

Here’s what we had to say about Murphy’s performance at that high-profile showcase: “... highly athletic kid who also showed as one of the smoothest infield defenders of the day as well, to better underscore his elite-level athleticism. Murphy’s bullpen was about as easy as it gets controlling four distinct pitches that include a cutter, curveball and changeup giving him easily the best starter's profile at the next level.”

Owen Murphy (3/20/21)

We haven’t seen Sanchez in-person since last September, but that performance has left a long-lasting impression. There, at the PBR Midwest Fall Championships, he sat in the low-90s with uber ease, up to 94 mph. We’re eager for an updated look this spring, hopefully, as his season with the Cavaliers begins next week.

+ Like Murphy, INF Logan Wagner (Home School; Louisville) parlayed a stellar performance at Preseason All-State into a bump up both the in-state and national 2022 rankings. Our report published inside the event’s Quick Hits post on March 22: “Wagner, a switch-hitter, was all over the barrel from both sides of the plate. His left-handed swing is particularly impressive; he stays through the zone a long time and drove balls to both gaps with authority. Wagner recorded a max exit velocity of 99.98 mph with a max distance of 369 feet, and showed athletic infield actions with a top infield velocity of 94 mph.”

Logan Wagner (3/20/21)

+ Same goes for RHP Ethan Patera (Downers Grove South; Louisville), who showcased a 94 mph high fastball – which led the prestigious Preseason All-State showcase – and he reached that 92-94 mph range from a more clean and easy arm action, helping him trend up headed into the spring. 

Ethan Patera (3/20/21)

+ There’s another Oswego East product on this top-10: RHP Ashton Izzi (Wichita State). A representative of Team Illinois at last summer’s PBR Future Games, Izzi has continued to see his velocity tick up since. He was up to 88 mph last fall and, over what must have been a diligent offseason, he reached a 94 mph high at the Joliet Preseason I.D. at the end of March.

The former #PBRFutureGames participant, RHP Ashton Izzi (@OEHSbaseball, 2022), has added velocity over the offseason and sharpened his breaking ball; T93.8 mph with improved SL feel/action. A live arm committed to @GoShockersBSB.#JolietID pic.twitter.com/1gsYzHlz9y

— PBR Illinois (@PBRIllinois) March 28, 2021

Our report from his performance that day: “At 6-foot-3, 175 pounds, he’s always been a live-armed righty with upside that was still feeling out his repertoire. Well, since last August’s PBR Future Games, he’s added some velocity – now sitting 92-93 mph, touching 94 – and he showed a much improved slider that he threw with greater conviction and consistency than we’ve seen in the past. It showed true 10/4 shape with the ability to land it for strikes while missing in spots that would help him expand the strike zone. Same goes for his changeup that showed above-average action and consistency, where he landed and expanded the zone.”

MORE TOP-50 RISERS

+ C Hayden Christiansen (Richmond-Burton; Xavier): Christiansen, who spends most of his time in the winter in Wisconsin, showed off one of the better right-handed bats in the class at the South Milwaukee Preseason ID. The 6-foot-2, 198-pound right-handed hitter, stays direct and on top of the baseball, has advanced feel for the barrel, is in the zone a long time and makes consistent, impactful contact with relative ease. In his round of BP he recorded three balls off the bat in excess of 100 mph with five balls struck over 300’. Christiansen also ran a 7.02 and was 85 mph out of the crouch. 

+ OF Brendan Summerhill (Whitney Young; Kentucky commit): Summerhill, a 6-foot-3, 185-pound, high-waisted, outfielder has one of the higher-ceilings in the class and continues to improve his measurables every time we see him. The 6.83 runner is one of the more polished left-handed bats in the class and his outfield actions (transitioned from catcher over the past year or so) and arm strength continue to improve. It would not be a surprise to continue to see Summerhill rise on this list over the next couple of updates. 

+ RHP Alex Alberico (Providence Catholic; uncommitted): Alberico is a mature, strong-bodied 6-foot, 201 pounds with an equally strong arm. He was able to sit at 90-91 mph with a high IVB fastball and well above average feel for the zone. Pounding with three pitches, Alberico threw one of the better ‘pens of the day at Preseason All-State.

+ INF Easton Harris (Washington Community; uncommitted): Harris impressed throughout multiple looks in 2020, and came out of the offseason looking even better. At Preseason All-State, he ran a 6.75 and took a smooth, savvy round of infield defense, reaching a 93 mph high across the diamond while showing the same high-level hands we have become accustomed to seeing. His quick, loose right-handed swing that’s added some strength; reached a 96.1 mph max exit speed during batting practice. Harris is one of the top-ranked uncommitted infielders in the state.

Easton Harris (3/20/21)

+ OF Ramon Jimerson Jr. (Sacred Heart-Griffin; Oklahoma): Jimerson continues to impress with his right-handed hit tool. Jimerson profiles in the middle-of-an-order with his knack for the barrel and gap-to-gap approach, which should rack up plenty of extra-base hits this spring for No. 19 Sacred Heart-Griffin. Jimerson also saw his arm strength tick up, topping out at 90 mph from the outfield this winter.

+ INF Patrick Graham (Naperville North; uncommitted): Graham, attended the Preseason All-State this winter and solidified himself as one of the top defensive shortstops in the state. Finding high-level shortstops in the Midwest is hard to come by and Graham, still uncommitted, should be highly-coveted moving forward. Graham also runs a 6.75 60 and started the spring season with a string of multiple games with at least one extra-base hit. 

Patrick Graham (3/20/21)

+ C/INF Israel Delgado (Sandburg; Missouri): Delgado is a versatile defender with advanced actions behind the plate and on the infield. On the infield he plays with ease and confidence, looking natural on the move with the ability to handle all the plays necessary to stick up the middle moving forward. At the plate, he has an athletic, quick right-handed bat with surprising thump off the barrel.

+ LHP Dylan Warda (Brother Rice; Wichita State): Warda is an easy-armed southpaw continuing to show pitchability with little effort. His fastball plays straight and heavy at times flashing some cut action too. At Preseason All-State, he sat 86-88 mph with low effort, mixing in a deceptive circle change thrown at arm speed, in addition to an aggressive 1/7 breaking ball, 74-76.

+ LHP Brady Banker (Carmel Catholic; Illinois): Banker, one of the top strike-throwing, pitchability left-handers in the state continues to show his polish with increased velocity. Banker, now sits 86-88 mph and has a starter profile at the next level.

+ OF Lucas Pajeau (Lockport Township; uncommitted): A strong overall performance at Preseason All-State has him coming away from that event as one of the biggest uncommitted winners. Pajeau showed a repeatable, polished, easy right-handed swing, consistently finding the barrel and lining balls into both gaps. Pajeau recorded an average exit velocity of 90.4 mph off the bat during BP with the furthest struck ball of the day at 376 feet, even more impressive given his 5-foot-10, 175-pound frame. Not to be outdone Pajeau showed off some of the best outfield actions of the day and was 95 mph from the outfield. High-follow uncommitted 2022 outfielder.

+ LHP Michael Kelly (Mount Carmel; uncommitted): Kelly was one of the top left-handed arms in Preseason All-State’s attendance. The 6-foot, 180-pound southpaw is also an accomplished wrestler for the Caravan. On the mound, he has a clean, easy arm and was filling up the zone with a fastball that sat 88-89 mph, topping 2,533 rpm. Kelly also showed feel for three-pitches with his 79-81 mph changeup showing feel for the zone and his curveball spinning with a max spin rate of 2,318 rpm.

Michael Kelly (3/20/21)

+ C Charlie Marisca (Grayslake Central; Missouri): The 6-foot, 185-pound, left-handed hitting catcher has advanced bat strength in the barrel with the ability to leverage the baseball to the pull-side. Marisca works uphill through the zone with pull-side power potential while showing the ability to stick behind the plate defensively. He is clean and efficient out of the crouch with a strong, accurate arm that tops at 82 mph from the crouch.

+ INF/RHP Casey Hintz (Saint Viator; uncommitted): Hintz showed as one of the more impressive two-way players at Preseason All-State, where he was up to 90 mph on the mound, paired with a sharp, high-spin slider. He also showed above-average actions on defense, presenting shortstop traits long-term.

+ C/RHP Matthew Tarr (West Aurora; uncommitted): Tarr produced another one of the top two-way performances at Preseason All-State. Listed at 6-foot-1, 195 pounds, Tarr started his day on the mound sitting 87-90 mph, up to 91, with a biting, downer curveball at 76-78, measured at an average spin rate of 2,568 rpm. He then proceeded to top at 84 mph from the crouch, with his low pop time hovering around the 2.00 mark. From there, he took one of the loudest BP rounds of the day, showing present pull-side power and a feel to hit. Tarr registered the third highest average exit velocity of the day (94.5 mph), as well as the second furthest batted ball of the day, measured at an estimated 374 feet. He’s a high-follow two-way prospect.

CLICK HERE FOR THE ILLINOIS 2022 RANKINGS

Stay tuned for more in-depth coverage of the Illinois 2022 class as we look at some of the top newcomers in the coming days.

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