Prep Baseball Report

Top-10 Stories of 2024: No. 1 Ten Prep Products selected in the MLB Draft


By: Peter Hamot
Assistant Scouting Director, Illinois & Wisconsin

Despite being a cold weather state, Illinois has been well represented in the MLB draft over the years. This has become increasingly more true as of late, with names such as Noah Schultz (Oswego East, 2022), Owen Murphy (Riverside-Brookfield, 2022), Bobby Miller (McHenry, 2017), Quinn Priester (Cary Grove, 2019) and Ed Howard (Mount Carmel, 2020) coming to mind as some recent first-round selections out of high school. 

This past year’s class was one of the deepest Illinois has had in some time - seeing 17 total Illinois products selected and 10 of them coming out of high school. Today, we will be taking a look at each of the prep players that were selected in the draft this past July.

High School Draft Selections

Ryan Sloan RHP / York, IL / 2024

Regarded as one of the top prep pitching prospects in his class, Sloan being the first high school product from the state drafted was no surprise at all, coming off the board as the 55th overall pick to the Seattle Mariners and signing for well above slot value at $3 million. The 6-foot-4, 225-pound right-hander will be an exciting prospect for the Mariners, boasting starter upside and a power fastball that can already reach near triple-digits. His spring campaign helped cement his prospect status and early selection, firing 46 innings with a 0.30 ERA while surrendering only 19 hits, striking out 90 against five walks and limiting opponents to a .117 batting average - good enough to also earn him First-Team All-State and Player of the Year honors for the state of Illinois. 

 

Tyler Bell SS / Lincoln-Way East, IL / 2024

Bell was the next prep product off the board as the 66th overall selection to the Tampa Bay Rays, though he would go on to honor his commitment to Kentucky. The switch-hitting shortstop earned Second-Team All-State honors this past spring after he hit his way to a .400 average with eight doubles, four home runs, 25 RBIs, 45 runs scored, 32 walks and 30 stolen bases. He’s a natural defender up the middle of the infield and has the actions to stay there at the next level as a high-level glove, and his bat-to-ball skills paired with premium bat-speed make him an extremely intriguing prospect at the plate as well.  

Ethan Bagwell RHP / Collinsville , IL / 2024

Bagwell came off the board in the 6th round as the 191st pick to the Atlanta Braves. The physical right-hander boasts an explosive fastball that we clocked up to 97 mph this past spring, routinely collecting swing and miss in the zone. To pair off his fastball he also features a firm slider in the low-80s and he’ll flash a changeup in the upper-80s as well. The Collinsville native twirled 48.1 innings this past spring to the tune of a 1.59 ERA, scattering 24 hits with 90 strikeouts and just 20 walks, earning him Prep Baseball Illinois Third-Team All-State honors. 

 

Brendan Tunink OF / Newman Central Catholic, IL / 2024

Tunink came off the board in the 8th round as the 250th overall pick to the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Newman Central Catholic product stormed onto the scene in the summer heading into his junior year and never looked back, finishing as the No. 3 ranked player in the state and No. 69 nationally. He’s a well above-average runner with all sorts of upside in his left-handed swing, also boasting present twitch and power. His broad-shouldered 6-foot-1, 189-pound frame has continued to trend upwards throughout his prep career, and there's clearly much more strength to come. This past spring he earned Third-Team All-State honors after recording a .557 average with four doubles, three triples, seven home runs, 27 RBIs and 44 runs scored.  

 

Ethan Dorchies RHP / Cary-Grove, IL / 2024

The Milwaukee Brewers snagged Dorchies in the 10th round as the 305th overall pick. Listed at 6-foot-5, 200-pounds, the ceiling is quite apparent for the slender right-hander. Dorchies dominated the Fox Valley Conference for his varsity tenure, earning Third-Team All-State honors his junior year and following it up with a strong senior campaign. The long-levered right-hander gives opposing hitters a tough look with his low-90s fastball, tight curveball and tumbling splitter - and his frame in addition to his loose arm/movement patterns indicate more in the tank. 

Jude Warwick SS / Downers Grove North, IL / 2024

The Detroit Tigers selected Warwick with the 356th pick in the 12th round, making him the second Downers Grove North product in as many years to be selected in the draft (OF George Wolkow, 2023, 7th round, pick 209). Warwick was one of the more fun players to watch in the state, routinely making acrobatic plays on the infield while also proving to be one of the state’s most reliable bats with still much more to dream on. This past spring he took home Third-Team All-State honors after he turned in a .391 average with 14 doubles, six triples, five home runs, 26 RBIs, 51 runs scored, just 13 strikeouts and 22 stolen bases. 

 

Sir Jamison Jones C / St. Rita, IL / 2024

The Washington Nationals selected Jones with the 440th overall pick in the 15th round as the lone catcher of the group. Right-handed prep catchers typically don’t get much love in the draft, but it was clearly hard to pass up on the raw power that Jones possesses and slugging potential at the next level. In addition to his power, there’s also some present bat-to-ball skills and feel to hit that make him more of a complete hitter. He's also quite toolsy behind the plate, boasting premium arm-strength (T84 mph) and the ability to limit the run game. 

Nate George OF / Minooka , IL / 2024

George was taken by the Baltimore Orioles as the No. 489 pick in the 16 round. Few players in the country rival the run-tool of George with a 6.39 laser-timed 60, and his raw power paired with feel for the barrel only added to his intrigue from scouts. He was one of the top performers in the state this past spring, earning First-Team All-State honors after he recorded a .404 average with 13 doubles, four triples, nine home runs, 40 RBIs, 41 runs scored, just 12 strikeouts and 22 stolen bases. 

Cooper Malamazian SS / Nazareth Academy, IL / 2024

Malamazian came off the board in the 17th round as the 515th pick to the Milwaukee Brewers, but he decided to honor his commitment to Indiana. Malamazian has long been a cornerstone in Nazareth’s lineup, acting as a key piece in both of their state titles. Despite coming up short this past spring, Malamazian still put up impressive numbers to earn himself Second-Team All-State, recording a .396 average with nine doubles, two triples, five home runs, 32 RBIs, 45 runs scored and 18 stolen bases. The athletic shortstop has plenty of upside to dream on with his athletic right-handed swing and natural glovework on the infield. All of this paired with his premium arm-strength and run-tool makes him an intriguing and well-rounded prospect to keep tabs on in Bloomington. 

Henry Brummel RHP / Pontiac, IL / 2024

The Milwaukee Brewers were clearly heavily involved in the state of Illinois as they also grabbed Brummel in the 20th round with the 605th pick, but he would opt to honor his commitment to Indiana as well. The 6-foot-4, 200-pound right-hander will run his fastball up to 94 mph with two sharp breaking balls and a fading changeup to pair. He’s a premium athlete, known also for his prowess on the basketball court, and his athleticism is quite apparent with the way he moves down the mound, looking to have much more in the tank. This past spring he earned Second-Team All-State honors with 44.2 innings pitched, just 13 hits allowed, 103 strikeouts, 18 walks and a miniscule 0.63 ERA. 

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