With winter training fully underway across the state, and the new year coming soon, our staff is going to dedicate some time to highlight a multitude of players that stood out to us throughout 2025. 

 

The next wave of prospects to come through the state is the 2028 class, as many of them will step in as sophomores and provide impacts to their varsity clubs this spring, if they didn’t already do so as freshman. 

 

The summer after sophomore year has long been viewed as an integral one for recruiting, and while the college landscape continues to change rather quickly, college coaches across the country are still formulating their lists of top prospects to know heading towards that August 1st date. 

 

Below we’ve highlighted 25 current sophomores in Illinois that caught our staff’s attention this year, whether it be at our events, during the high school season, or throughout our tournament cycle. For all information regarding ScoutConnect events, click HERE.

 

We’ll have a list of sophomores to know from Missouri in the coming days, but for now, continue reading below to learn more about 25 Illinois’ 2028 grads to know, listed alphabetically. 

 

Aiden Saracco, C/RHP, Staunton
Saracco attended our Illinois Fall Showcase this past October and was the day’s top prospect, showing well on both sides of the ball. He was on the barrel through the middle of the field consistently in BP, repeating hard line drives that way with a peak exit velocity of 94.6 mph. As one of the younger players in attendance, Saracco led that event in average bat speed (72.4 mph) and he was also 78 mph from the crouch, running a 7.07 60-yard dash to boot. In his bullpen, Saracco’s four-seam and two-seam fastballs both sat at 82 mph, and he landed a short, tight breaking ball off it for strikes in the low-70s. 

 

Aiden Saracco

 

Anderson Kaufmann, C/RHP, Alton 
Kaufmann helped set the tone for a successful Alton club this past spring, providing immediate impact on both sides of the ball throughout his freshman campaign. He’s an athletic, highly competitive right-handed arm that blends arm talent, pitchability, and a clear presence on the mound. His fastball’s climbed up to 89 mph, pitching in the mid-to-upper-80s consistently, and he’ll regularly throw two secondaries for strikes off it. His slider, which plays at 75-77 mph, has tight shape with depth, and he creates heavy arm-side run on a 78-80 mph changeup. Positionally, Kaufmann can move around the diamond, logging innings behind the plate, on the infield, and in the corner outfield. It’s a strong, uphill right-handed swing that has shown easy juice to the pull-side, and should continue to develop into more as he gets stronger. Kaufmann looks like a staple in the area for the 2028 class and is definitely a high-follow prospect for college coaches to keep close eyes on. 

Anderson Kaufmann

 

Andrew Potthoff, INF/OF, Pleasant Plains
Potthoff, like a teammate of his who is also on this list, made an impact on a talented Pleasant Plains club as a freshman this past spring, and he was a performer all summer in our staff’s looks. It’s a short, compact left-handed stroke that has no issue spraying line drives to all fields and has the potential to profile near the top-of-the-order as he continues to get older. 

Andrew Potthoff

 

Austin Thompson, OF/LHP, Charleston
It was a brief look by our staff at Thompson this fall during our Fall Invite: Underclass tournament in mid-October. He’s an athletic 6-foot, 180-pound athlete that currently carries lean strength with room for more. It’s a short, direct right-handed swing with strength and advanced bat speed for his age, working on the barrel twice in our in-game look. Thompson also intrigued on the mound, running his fastball up to 80 mph and spinning two breaking balls; a steep, bendy curveball and short, tighter slider. 

 

Austin Thompson

 

Avner Christian, RHP, Waterloo
One of a few talented sophomores for Waterloo, Christian is a simple, athletic mover with a clean arm swing whose fastball played in the low-80s at our Winter Showcase last February. He’s added more strength to his frame and gotten more physical since then, and we’re excited to see the progress he’s made at our upcoming Winter Showcase – IL on Feb. 14th. 

 

Avner Christian

 

Chase Zimmerman, 1B/LHP, Waterloo
A massive winner from our Fall Showcase – IL event this past October, Zimmerman provides all sorts of intrigue on both sides of the ball. He’s plenty physical right now – a strong, square-shouldered athlete with lower half strength to pair – but there’s room for more, and it’s likely he only continues to add more muscle mass as he gets older. He took a pair of really impressive rounds of BP, backspinning baseballs on repeat to the right-center gap from a short, uphill left-handed swing. He’s also a fairly intriguing follow on the mound, working downhill with an athletic, in-line delivery and short, tight arm stroke that creates some deception on the front side. His fastball played easy out the hand without much effort, sitting 80-81 mph, and for strikes to both sides of the plate. Zimmerman’s curveball played at 68-69 mph and flashed as his best secondary in this look, showing short, lateral shape, and he also threw a straight changeup at 73-74 mph.

 

Chase Zimmerman

 

Connor Basinski, RHP, Columbia
Columbia has produced a multitude of name-to-know prospects over the past few years, and Basinski is plenty suited to be the next in line. As a freshman, he logged 45 innings this past spring, pitching to a 1.71 ERA and punching out 42. His arm works clean and quick with easy arm speed, peaking in the upper-80s with his fastball, and it’s easy to project more rather quickly. 

 

Davis Venters, MIF, Mt. Zion
Venters popped up on our radar at the SBA Scout Day last February, and he looked the part at one a ScoutConnect June summer tournament, too. It’s an athletic right-handed swing that carries plenty of impact and leverage through contact, with power that will develop as he continues to get stronger. On the infield, Venters stays in control on the move and is athletic through release with the actions capable of sticking on the dirt at the next level. 

 

Davis Venters

 

Dax Randolph, MIF, Harrisburg
Our staff was introduced to Randolph in a high school matchup between conference rival Carterville, where the scrappy, competitive right-handed hitter showed well in all aspects of his game. In that look, Randolph took mature and competitive at-bats against an upper-80s arm, minimizing on the in-zone swing-and-miss, and pushing a single through the right side of the infield. He’s a gamer-type on the infield with plenty confident glove-to-hand and the ability to play in rhythm on the move. 

 

Dax Randolph

 

Elijah Johnson, CIF, Quincy Notre Dame
Johnson may be the most physical offensive presence of the names highlighted in this article. Each time our staff saw him in a ScoutConnect tournament this summer, he hit, and the ball really carried off his barrel. His ability to blend bat-to-ball skills with notably advanced raw power for his age stands out, and it’s why we’re confident projecting him as a middle-of-the-order type thumper at the next level. Expect him to continue to elevate his prospect status over the next year, and we’re excited to see him this winter at our Winter Showcase – IL. 

 

Elijah Johnson

 

Haiden Lange, RHP, Carterville
Lange looks the part as one of the top arms in the state’s sophomore class. He’s been up to 86 mph with his fastball already, pitching in the low-to-mid-80s, and the way his arm works, coupled with plenty of room to keep stacking strength, suggests that number should only continue to jumping up. He throws a sharp, tight slider with intent in the low-70s at the moment, and he’s also shown our staff advanced feel for a mid-70s changeup. There’s a real chance Lange steps in as the ace of Carterville’s staff this spring and he’s a name in Southern Illinois that college coaches must become familiar with. 

 

Haiden Lange

 

Hudson Wesley, C/RHP, Civic Memorial
Our staff first saw Wesley at our Winter Showcase – IL last winter, and most recently did so again at our Fall Showcase – MO, where he made considerable jumps in all avenues of his game. He’s gotten more physical, adding both height and mass to a strong, sturdy frame with room to add even more so. In this look, he showed easy hand strength and an impact right-handed barrel, consistently elevating middle/pull with a chance to be a middle-of-the-order type bat as he continues to get more physical. On the mound, Wesley is a clean mover downhill that was in the zone with his four-pitch mix, starting with a fastball that played at 80-81 mph. He showed above-average spin feel for both his curveball (2548 RPM) and slider (2321 RPM) that played in the upper-60s, and also turned over a changeup at 73-75 mph.

 

Hudson Wesley

 

Jack Vicik, CIF/RHP, Triad
It’s hard to miss Vicik, who’s packed with advanced physicality and strength for his age. We saw him at the Triad Scout Day this summer, where he produced some of the day’s loudest batted ball metrics – 87 mph average EV, 96.5 mph max, 345 ft. peak batted distance. We’ve heard positive things about him on the mound as well, and he’ll be one to follow heading into the spring for the Knights.

Jack Vicik

 

Jordan Harmon, LHP, Charleston 
Harmon worked out of the ‘pen this fall at our Fall Invite, Underclass event and provided our scouts with a plenty intriguing look. He’s a long-levered, athletic southpaw that’s easy to project on with arm speed out front through release. In this look, Harmon’s fastball played in the low-80s, touching 84 mph, and he matched it with a big, sweeping slider that he was able to land for strikes, but also backfoot to right-handed bats for whiffs. 

Jordan Harmon

 

Kale Bacus, MIF, Normal Community 
The ease and athleticism that Bacus works with at the plate are standouts off the rip when you watch him play. He’s able to repeat a loose, athletic right-handed swing consistently and keeps a level plane through the hitting zone that produces backspun line drives as a result. He took an excellent round of BP at the SBA Scout Day in February and parlayed that offensive intrigue to our in-game tournament look this summer. Just a sophomore, Bacus could play his way into a role on a loaded Normal Community club this upcoming spring. 

Kale Bacus

 

Landon Maisenbacher, MIF, Pleasant Plains 
Maisenbacher was one of two youngsters to impact Plains’ club this spring as a freshman, serving as an everyday regular in his first full season of high school ball. His defensive acumen doesn’t need much explanation, as he’s arguably the best infield defender on this list, and amongst the best Illinois has to offer. The glove-to-hand, ability to play on the move, and adjustability are highly advanced for his age. He’ll only up his prospect profile more so by continuing to make strides at the plate – something he’s already shown throughout the year. 

Landon Maisenbacher

 

Lucas Sloan, C, Olympia 
Sloan is a 6-foot, 185-pound backstop from central Illinois that’s shown our staff above-average bat strength in past looks. He swings a strong, high-intent right-handed barrel that looks to consistently elevate through the middle/pull part of the field. Defensively, Sloan has a short, quick release and was accurate to the bag in his defensive workout at the SBA Scout Day. 

Lucas Sloan

 

Matt Morris, RHP, Triad
Morris logged varsity innings for a state-caliber Triad club as a freshman this past spring, a testament to the talent that the southern Illinois right-hander has. It’s what it should look like on the mound; athletic, clean arm action, strikes. His fastball plays in the low-80s at the moment, though he’s certain to continue jumping in that regard, and he has feel for both his BB/CH mix. 

Matt Morris

 

Nolan Miller, OF, Triad 
Miller was the talk of our first tournament this summer, as the right-handed hitter did nothing but find the barrel for extra bases; two home runs, a pair of doubles. It’s an athletic, well-proportioned frame with present lean muscle mass and plenty of room to continue adding. The ball sounds different off his barrel, and as Miller continues to clean up a few mechanical cues, he’ll only find more consistent impact at the plate. Triad graduated a bulk load of at-bats from last year’s club and there is a chance for Miller to earn his way into playing time as a sophomore. 

Nolan Miller

 

Nick Chiarodo, MIF/RHP, Edwardsville
It’s rare for a freshman to see playing time at perennial powerhouse Edwardsville, but Chiarodo did so last spring, and he’ll almost certainly be one of the Tigers’ top talents this upcoming spring. The younger brother of Alabama commit Joe Chiarodo, Chiarodo is a long, lean athlete that’s already added muscle mass to his frame this winter and will continue doing so. He keeps his barrel through the hitting zone and on a flat plane, allowing him to backspin the baseball with adjustability as needed. Our staff believes he’s really going to hit, and as he gets stronger, that present bat-to-ball will upgrade to consistent extra-base impact. Additionally, Chiarodo has a fairly intriguing ceiling on the mound as well. It’s a simple delivery with a short, clean arm stroke, running his fastball up to 84 mph this fall and landing a big, bendy curveball for strikes. 

 

Nick Chiarodo

 

Quincy Fulton, 1B/OF, Newton 
Fulton’s physicality is nothing short of evident, as the 6-foot-2, 210-pound sophomore is already built like a college baseball player. He’s a tremendous athlete, garnering Division I interest on the football field and also having a successful freshman year for Newton’s Track and Field team last spring. On the diamond, Fulton’s carrying tool is his huge raw power and his ability to impact the baseball at a higher rate than almost everyone in his class. He’s a special athlete with next-level tools that should certainly be on college coaches’ radars if he wasn’t already. 

 

Quincy Fulton

 

Trey Hrasky, OF/LHP, O’Fallon
Hrasky is another high level athlete on this list, carrying an advanced run tool that’s among the most impactful compared to his peers and especially shows up from a defensive standpoint in the outfield. He swings a twitchy left-handed barrel that flashed pull-side power in a look this fall as he flicked a triple deep to right-center field in front of our staff. On the mound, Hrasky’s a strike-thrower with a quick arm and a big, bendy breaking ball. 

Trey Hrasky

 

Tyler Mehrtens, OF/LHP, Highland 
Mehrtens came away from our Fall Showcase – MO as a big winner, showing well on both sides of the ball. The lean, wiry 5-foot-10, 145-pound southpaw showed an athletic, up-tempo delivery and a quick arm that worked from a high ¾ slot. His fastball played in the zone at 81-82, touching 83.1 mph on his last bullet. The separator for Mehrtens is his feel to spin a sharp, slurvy slider in the upper-60s (1.1 VB, 17.2 HB) that has the potential to be a real swing-and-miss pitch with added velocity. He also showed a 74-75 mph changeup with gradual arm-side run for strikes, rounding out a three-pitch mix with plenty of potential. Mehrtens also showed well at the plate, leading the event in both average bat speed (73.6 mph) and average hand speed (22.9). He swung a short, quick left-handed barrel that worked primarily to the pull-side, squaring his hardest ball up at 93.8 mph, and sending his furthest batted ball 340 feet, per TrackMan. 

Tyler Mehrtens

 

Tyson Wampler, RHP/OF, Edwardsville
Wampler’s performance on the mound at our Fall Invite, Underclass event has really stuck with our staff. He was absolutely dominant in that look, punching out eight over five innings of two-hit ball, walking none. Wampler repeats a simple, controlled delivery often with a short, continuous arm stroke on the backside. He has true command of his fastball, placing it where he wants for strikes in the low-80s, but that number is certain to climb as he continues to fill out a long, lean, and lanky frame. Added velocity will help Wampler’s breaking ball as well, though it’s already an above-average pitch, spinning with sharp, downer shape at 68-71 mph. We’re fans of his at the plate too, as Wampler controls his levers well and works short to the baseball with all-fields feel. A productive off-season could have him poised to be an impact for Edwardsville this spring as a sophomore and firmly put him on the collegiate radar heading into the summer. 

Tyson Wampler

 

Wyatt Robinson, OF, Belleville West
Robinson emerged this fall as a follow left-handed hitter, showing well over a handful of tournament looks. At 6-foot, 190-pounds, Robinson’s feel for the barrel and impact off it separate him from his peers. He’s already showing extra-base ability with regularity and if he can consistently leverage the baseball to the pull-side, Robinson has a chance to cement himself as a middle-of-the-order left-handed bat. It’s likely we see him impact Belleville West’s varsity club this spring in some capacity and we’re eager to see the progress he’s made this winter at our February event. 

 

Wyatt Robinson