The Illinois 2020 rankings were updated and expanded yesterday and the overall rankings will be released soon. Today we take an inside look at some of the notable risers and newcomers to the updated list.

In yesterday’s updated rankings story we touched on two of the top risers in the rankings, both of whom now sit in the top five, INF Christian Knapczyk (Joliet Catholic) and INF/RHP Alec Gonzalez (Mount Carmel).

The next prospect to take a big step forward this fall was Tre Hondras (Homewood-Flossmoor), who climbed almost 10 spots. Hondras, who started on varsity as a freshman, took his game to a new level this fall. The determined, 6-foot, 180-pounder showed improved foot speed, running a 6.80 60 at the Underclass Showcase and can play almost any position on the diamond. The right-handed hitter has confidence in the box, works both gaps and projects as a middle of the order type of bat.

Tre Hondras (10.22.17)

RHP Connor Best (Coal City) bumped up in the rankings, showing this fall that he has one of the stronger arms in the class. The 6-foot-2, 210-pound right-hander sat 84-87 mph in a bullpen setting and showed feel for three pitches.

A trio of newcomers now sit in the top 20 of the rankings; RHP/INF Ben Vitas (Providence Catholic), RHP Drew Detmers (Chatham-Glenwood) and RHP Jack Crowder (Plainfield East). Vitas, who has legitimate two-way potential, was the top overall prospect at the Underclass Showcase in October. As a position player, Vitas makes everything he does look easy. He has loose hands, feel for the barrel at the plate and should be able to stick on the left-side of the diamond at the next level. On the mound he works fast, has feel for the zone and sits in the low-80’s. Detmers and Crowder have very similar profiles. Both are strong-bodied right-handers with live arms, mid-80s fastballs and more velocity to come.

Drew Detmers (10.9.17)

Catcher Isaac Crabb (Harrisburg) was yet another prospect to make a statement at the Underclass Showcase and climb into the rankings for the first time. Despite playing quarterback two nights before the event, Crabb looked primed for baseball season to start, showing improved defensive numbers. The 6-foot-1, 200-pound, backstop, topped at 77 mph from the crouch, had a low pop time of 2.03 and did not take a pitch off catching bullpens; showing agility and soft hands behind the plate.

Another newcomer sitting inside the top 30 is RHP Alberto Lamas (Joliet Catholic). Lamas adds to an already deep pitching staff at Joliet Catholic and may have to wait his turn for varsity innings. There is no doubt he has the stuff though, Lamas is 6-foot-2, 175-pounds and has a live arm that sat 83-84 in a bullpen session earlier this fall. His changeup is a plus offering for his age working with sink, deception and feel.  

RHP Reece Lawler (Warren) is one of nine early commits in Illinois’ 2020 class as he verballed to St. Louis earlier this fall. Lawler is a wiry 6-foot-1, 155-pound with a loose lively arm. His most notable attribute may be his polish and feel on the mound. Lawler attacks the strike zone with multiple pitches at an uptempo pace, not to mention a fastball he can reportedly run into the mid-80’s.

Brother Rice HS may be looking for a young arm to step up this spring with the graduation of RHP’s Ryan Kutt, Jack Guzek and Jake Ridgway, among others. One arm to help fill the void could be RHP Micah Gouwens, now ranked in the top 40. The 6-foot-2, 160-pound, Gouwens, has long levers and a fastball that he ran up to 85 mph this fall. His breaking ball is still a work in progress but there is a lot to like about the projectable right-hander.

There were also a number of intriguing left-handed hitters new to the rankings. OF Jacob Ferry (Oswego East), INF Brandon Micetich (Plainfield Central), C Zachary Schwartz (Elk Grove), 1B Vincent Esposito (Rock Island), OF Dane Thomas (Marist), OF Isaiah Coupet (Homewood-Flossmoor) and INF Dylan Robertson (Brother Rice), all found their way into the top 60 for the first time.

CLICK HERE for complete 2020 Illinois Rankings.

CLICK HERE for the updated 2020 Illinois rankings story.

RELATED CONTENT