Inside the Illinois 2020 Rankings: Names To Know
November 8, 2019
The Illinois 2020 rankings got updated and expanded to 300 players earlier this week. Our coverage of the 2020 rankings concludes today with a look at some risers, newcomers and a few of the top unsigned seniors still on the board.
RISERS
When it comes to risers in the class, nobody made a bigger move towards the top of the list than Illinois State commit, LHP/OF Josh Dima (Belleville West). Dima, now ranked No. 17, rose almost 50 spots, mainly due to the performance he put on at the St. Louis Open this fall. Dima is a 6-foot-1, 180-pound, left/left prospect with premium arm strength and the potential to be a two-way performer at the next level. At the St. Louis Open Dima sprayed line-drives all over the diamond. was 93 mph from the outfield and ran his lively fastball up to 90 mph on the mound along with a swing and miss changeup.
Josh Dima (10.12.19)
Another left/left OF to make a jump in the rankings was Mike Koszewski (Montini). The cincinnati commit climbed over 60 spots and now sits inside the top 100 at No. 95. Koszewski has a simple, fluid left-handed swing and controls the barrel. Defensively, he has natural outfield actions and can play all three spots.
RHP Zachary Ward (Lincoln-Way Central) was one of the biggest buzz names this fall and showed well at the PBR Fall Championships, warranting a climb in the rankings. Ward, recently committed to Navy and is now ranked No. 101 in the state, up over 100 spots. Ward has a highly-athletic, 6-foot-2, 176-pound frame, clean easy arm and a fastball that sits comfortably in the mid-to-upper 80’s. There seems to be much more in the tank as Ward can run his fastball into the low-90’s in bullpen settings.