Prep Baseball Report

Top-10 Stories of 2021: Illinois natives break out in the MiLB's return


By Andy Sroka
Illinois and Wisconsin Assistant Director

At the end of each calendar year, our staff reflects on the most interesting stories of the past year. Through the end of the month, we’ll be counting down some of the most impactful headlines that affected Illinois’ baseball community, ending with our No. 1 story of 2021 revealed on New Year’s Day.

We’ll spend our time today covering the Illinois natives who are standing out in pro ball after having been selected from one of the past three MLB drafts (2019-21). For the players from the 2021 and 2020 drafts, you’ll find our draft note that accompanied our coverage in real time, and a snippet on how they’ve performed since. The players noted below representing the 2019 draft have notes stemming from their performance across the 2021 season.

2021 Draft:

  • RHP McCade Brown (Normal West, 2018): “With the No. 79 pick, the Colorado Rockies selected Brown from Indiana, who originally graduated from Normal West HS in 2018. The former Wildcat is the 10th player selected from Normal West since 2002 and the fourth since 2011 to be drafted within the top seven rounds of the draft. In his third spring with the Hoosiers, Brown’s workload substantially jumped, and he pitched well enough to be named to the Second Team All-Big Ten, as well as the Academic All-Big Ten.”

    Since being drafted, Brown signed and pitched eight innings at the Rockies’ complex and he’ll prep for his first full season of pro ball once Spring Training opens up.

  • LHP Drew Gray (IMG Academy/Belleville East, 2021): “We’ll include Gray here, as he spent a chunk of his time as a prep player at Belleville East before transferring to IMG Academy in Florida. He really began to see his prospect stock rise during his time in Illinois, and it peaked in Florida, where he showed some of the most impressive prep pitch data in the class, albeit in a smaller 18-inning sample size this past spring. The live-armed lefty is headed back to Illinois, after the Cubs used their third round pick on Gray.”

    Gray made his first professional appearance within the Cubs’ organization in mid-September. Across two two-inning appearances, he struck out nine without allowing an earned run.

  • LHP Dylan Dodd (Danville, 2016): “The Danville product is a 2016 grad who landed at SEMO and spent this past season affirming his best skills as a strike-throwing lefty with three or four pitches who could one day become a back-end type starter, or a useful bullpen arm for the Braves, selected in the third round. He’s added some velocity in the past year or two, and it’s allowed him to go from effective college starter to pro prospect.”

    Dodd made a rapid splash upon signing his first pro contract, sent directly to affiliated ball in a relief role. He made three appearances with Atlanta’s A-ball affiliate before earning an end-of-the-year start at High-A for his final outing of 2021. Dodd struck out 20 batters in his 14 innings combined.

  • RHP Hayden Juenger (O’Fallon, 2018): “Juenger is an O’Fallon grad – class of 2018 – and was successful in a relief role for Missouri State. This past season, Juenger earned six saves and K’d 31 batters in 21 innings, and his closer-type stuff in college attracted pro attention. It was the Blue Jays that drafted Juenger in this draft, with their sixth round pick.”

    Juenger has swiftly enhanced his prospect stock, looking the part of an impact reliever in pro ball already. Sent directly to the Blue Jays’ High-A affiliate, Juenger pitched 20 innings across 11 appearances and groomed a 2.70 ERA over that span with 34 Ks and only six walks allowed.

  • RHP Ryan Sublette (Lemont, 2017): “Lemont’s Sublette was one of the state’s top prospects within its 2017 class. He eventually found the most success at Texas Tech in the bullpen, and he began to show that in 2020 before flaunting it in 2021. He struck out 62 batters in 42.1 innings as a multi-inning relief man this spring, and it was his highly effective mid-90s fastball that generated the Dodgers’ attention in round seven.”

    The Dodgers quickly pushed Sublette to affiliated ball, where he made six appearances, good for 9.2 innings, and he K’d 12 over that time.

  • RHP Andrew Peters (Morris, 2017): “Peters found success at each of his stops following his graduation from Morris in 2017, beginning with Maryville. There, Peters broke the program’s single-season strikeout record and then decided to transfer to JUCO powerhouse John A. Logan back in Illinois. An injury prevented him from earning much action, though his loose, quick arm was still enticing enough for him to earn offers to prominent programs, and he ultimately committed to South Carolina where he’s spent his past two springs. He was up to 95 mph for our staff in March, with a high spin fastball and power curveball that generated 45 Ks in 32.1 innings. The Angels selected Peters with their 10th round pick.”

    Walks harmed Peters’ first taste of pro ball, but his electric arsenal still shined through, as he struck out 20 of the batters he faced in 11.2 innings at the Angels’ A-ball affiliate.

  • OF Donovan McIntyre (Marian Catholic, 2021): “The Marian Catholic senior outfielder had been generating some under-the-radar draft buzz this spring, and it culminated in an 11th round selection by the San Francisco Giants. McIntyre is an advanced athlete fresh off a very productive senior season for the Spartans, as he hit .430 and stole 36 bases, and he recorded 14 extra-base hits, including three homers. His elite athleticism and foot speed help him fit an up-the-middle defensive profile and it allured pro scouts enough to produce draft looks.”

    McIntyre is representing the Chicagoland area as a teenager in pro ball, making his complex debut in late August, collecting five base hits in his first four games, as well as three steals.

  • RHP Andrew Hoffmann (Plainfield East, 2018): “Hoffmann is another state native who spent some time at John A. Logan JC before getting drafted from his most recent stop, Illinois-Champaign. There, Hoffmann showed as one of the Big Ten’s most effective pitchers, earning a spot on the conference’s all-third team roster at the end of the season. The Plainfield East alum roamed under the radar before breaking out in the Northwoods League in 2019, and continuing to pitch well at John A., before arriving at the top of the Illini’s rotation this past spring. The Braves have since signed Hoffmann, after selecting him in the 12th round.”

    Hoffmann earned a huge helping of pro ball work upon signing with the Braves, starting seven games at the team’s A-ball level. There, Hoffmann made seven starts (29.2 innings) and struck out 37 batters, limiting his opponents to 21 hits, eight walks, good for an ERA of 2.73.

  • 1B Bobby Seymour (Mount Carmel, 2017): “Seymour was a touted prep prospect while at Mount Carmel, where he was also one of the state’s top-ranked players. He was – and remains – a prototypical left-handed-hitting power bat, and he went on to Wake Forest to slug a career 38 homers, eventually garnering career accolades such as the ACC Player of the Year (2019), D1Baseball Second Team All-American (2021), and a Dick Howser Trophy semifinalist (2019). The Rays called on Seymour with their 13th round pick.”

    The former Caravan slugger bopped his first two pro ball home runs at the Rays’ complex – his first of which came in just his second professional game. He tallied five extra-base hits in his first eight games at the level.

  • LHP Nathan Lavender (El Paso, 2018): “The 2018 grad starred at El Paso Gridley and was among the top-ranked prospects in the state, at the time of his graduation. He impressed greatly at the 2018 Super 60 and he went on to earn instant playing time upon his arrival at Illinois, where he struck out 37 batters in 28.2 freshman innings. He K’d another 79 in 57 innings this past spring, against just 15 walks, and he later on became the Mets’ 14th round pick.”

    The Mets opted to place Lavender in their complex for his first go at pro ball, where he thrived. He struck out nearly half the batters he faced in his 6.2 innings across four appearances, garnering three saves over that span. 

  • RHP Glenn Albanese (Batavia, 2017): “Albanese ended his prep career as the No. 8-ranked player in the state, as a big, strong right-hander who wound up fulfilling his commitment to Louisville. Built like a tight end, Albanese starred on both the baseball and football fields at Batavia before reaching the Cardinals’ pitching staff. He saw his first-ever collegiate action in 2019, and injuries unfortunately prevented him from finding consistency during his time at Louisville. Though, when healthy, Albanese looked to possess an impact fastball-curve combo, and that’s what the Angels saw, too, as they used their 15th round pick on the former Batavia stand-out.”

    The Angels sent Albanese to their A-ball affiliate upon completing the signing of their 15th round pick. There, the former Batavia righty pitched in 15.1 innings, K’d 15, walked only four, and limited his opponents to four earned runs.

2020 Draft:

  • LHP Reid Detmers (Glenwood, 2017): “The No. 10 overall pick in the draft, out of Louisville, was Detmers, the former Chatham-Glenwood star. A draft darling headed into the week, Detmers has garnered effusive praise for his competitiveness that we’ve been lucky enough to view first-hand since his high school days. He was a strikeout artist with pinpoint command of a low-90s fastball and knee-buckling breaking ball. Detmers’ ability to pound the strike zone helped him continually improve, year over year, at Louisville and it eventually built him a resume that stacked up alongside the draft’s best arms. The Angels used their first overall pick on him, and he was able to witness his Cardinals’ staffmate land a first-round selection from a neighboring organization."

    Detmers was viewed as a safe, dependable future big league starter at the time of his 10th overall selection in the summer of 2020, and he did nothing but reaffirm those high hopes since. Detmers began the year at Double-A and pitched 52 highly effective innings before earning a tune-up Triple-A start prior to making his MLB debut on Aug. 1 against the Athletics. He made five total big league starts in 2021 – just eight fewer than the total number of minor league starts he’s made in his Angels career – suggesting he’s only just beginning to acclimate to his surroundings. 

  • SS Ed Howard IV (Mount Carmel, 2020): “Howard had been accustomed to wearing the White Sox’s black and white colors as a member of the White Sox Ace program during his prep summers until his junior-to-senior season where he starred on the national showcase circuit. He’ll be wearing different, though familiar, colors from now on since the Cubs selected him 16th overall on Wednesday. The hometown Howard will still be able to represent Chicago at the next level in one of the draft’s most exciting and heartwarming stories, in a year where we were all searching for one. He’s one of the most electric prep prospects in this class, as a true shortstop with wiry strength in his upside right-handed bat.”

    Howard’s exceptional defense has continued to be his calling card in pro ball, despite his ride up and down the developmental learning curve that comes with the territory. The Cubs sent their 2020 first round pick directly to Class-A Myrtle Beach and he’s still maturing offensively, while still flashing the promise he’d shown repeatedly while a member of the Caravan.

  • RHP Bobby Miller (McHenry, 2017): “Both Miller and Detmers repped Illinois at the 2017 PBR Super 60 and at the top of Louisville’s rotation this spring, and both went on to earn first-round selections on Wednesday. If all goes according to plan, the two will also share similar addresses, with Detmers headed to Orange County and Miller headed to L.A. with the Dodgers. Miller’s a muscled-up 6-foot-5 fireballer with mid-90s stuff, capable of reaching back for more, featuring hard arm-side action. His biting slider is a next-level outpitch and he’s finding the feel for a power change that could help him become a more effective starter in pro ball. The former McHenry star is as tough as they come and he’ll be another exciting Illinois prepster to watch ascend to the MLB.”

    Miller has been particularly effective in pro ball, to this point, with an aggressive fastball that contributed to a 1.91 ERA in 47 innings at High-A Great Lakes, as well as 56 punch-outs against only 11 walks. The Dodgers promoted Miller to Double-A Tulsa for a September-long stint this year, where he looked his same ol’ self, and it looks like he’s got a shot to make a 2022 Major League impact at this rate.

  • RHP Ben Hernandez (De La Salle, 2020): “The top-ranked arm in Illinois’ 2020 class, Hernandez, heard his name called early on Day Two, at No. 41 overall on behalf of the Royals. He comes attached to easy low-90s velocity that’s been into the 94-95 mph range, as recently as February at this year’s Super 60 showcase. His separator is a power changeup that was among the best offspeed pitches in this prep class. Hernandez will be tasked with carving out an effective third pitch in pro ball to enhance his chances of sticking inside of a rotation – he’s already improved physically, defining more muscle, to improve those odds.”

    The Royals were careful with Hernandez following a late June injury, but his stint with Class-A Columbia were going to plan otherwise. He recorded a 4.31 ERA in 31.1 innings at the level as a 19-year old. He didn’t make an appearance again until mid-September at the Royals’ complex, but it’s good to know that Hernandez appears to be headed into his offseason back to full strength.

2019 Draft:

  • RHP Quinn Priester (Cary-Grove, 2019): Priester’s hasty acclimation to pro ball is unlike the typical Midwest prep product, and he only continued his impressive stretch of pitching in 2021. Having just turned 21 in September, Priester spent the majority of his year at High-A where he fostered a 3.04 ERA in 97.2 innings, and his results earned him MiLB High-A East Pitcher of the Year honors. He’s quickly become one of the top right-handed pitching prospects in baseball, and one of the best prospects in the Pirates’ system since being selected in the first round of the 2019 draft.

  • INF Michael Massey (Brother Rice, 2016): Massey was a productive piece within Illinois’ lineup during his time in Champaign and he began to gain significant attention from the pro scouting scene during his sophomore spring, ultimately landing a selection in the fourth round of the 2019 draft as a junior. From there, Massey has continued to produce offensively, and he spent a fruitful 2021 at Class-A Quad Cities. In 2021, Massey hit .289 and slugged .531, tallying 21 homers in 99 games at the level. By all accounts, he should be challenged with a promotion in 2022, and a big league debut could be in the not-too-distant future.

  • INF Tyler Fitzgerald (Rochester, 2016): After getting off on the right foot in his draft year, Fitzgerald picked up where he left off in 2021 by bopping 19 homers in 103 games at High-A Eugene. Increasing the rate in which he can connect for his innate power will be the determining factor in his pursuit of climbing the Giants system, and he took some steps in the right direction in 2021.

  • OF John Rave (Bloomington Central Catholic, 2016): Rave, a fifth round pick out of Illinois State, made some developmental strides from 2019 to the start of 2021. He upped his walk rate and increased his quality of contact at High-A Quad Cities, where he finished the season slugging .453 with the help of 14 home runs in 77 games, all while stealing 13 bases and playing above-average defense in the outfield.

  • RHP Tyler Schlaffer (Homewood-Flossmoor, 2019): Schlaffer was a break-out prospect towards the end of his prep career, and it culminated in a ninth round selection by the Cubs in 2019. He’s been handled carefully as a raw, upside talent, but he’s coming along nicely. In 2021, Schlaffer showed a greater feel for three pitches while still reaching mid-90s heights at Class-A Myrtle Beach.

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