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Draft  | State Preview  | 5/29/2018

State Snapshots: Great Lakes

Patrick Ebert     
Photo: Jarred Kelenic (Perfect Game)

 


Perfect Game 2018 MLB Draft Preview Index

South Atlantic
– FL, GA, NC, SC
Southeast – AL, KY, MS, TN
South Central – AR, LA, OK, TX
Mountain – AZ, CO, ID, MT, NV, NM, UT, WY
Pacific – AK, CA, HI, OR, WA
Great Plains – IA, KS, MO, NE, ND, SD
Great Lakes – IL, IN, MI, MN, OH, WI
Mid-Atlantic – DE, DC, MD, NJ, NY, PA, VA, WV
New England – CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT
Canada and Puerto Rico


Illinois

Best College Team:
 Illinois
Best Junior College Team: Wabash Valley
Best High School Team: Neuqua Valley

Prospect on the Rise: Trey Riley, rhp, John A. Logan
Wild Card: Bren Spillane, of/1b, Illinois

Best Out-of-State Prospect, Illinois Connection:
 Zach Haake, rhp, Kentucky
Top 2019 Prospect: Quinn Priester, rhp, Cary-Grove Community HS
Top 2020 Prospect: Benjamin Wiegman, rhp, Carmel Catholic HS

Highest Draft Picks

Draft History:
Danny Goodwin, c, Central HS (1971, White Sox/1st round, 1st pick)
2013 Draft: Daniel Lietz, lhp, Heartland CC (Blue Jays/5th round)
2014 Draft: Jeremy Rhoades, rhp, Illinois State (Angels/4th round)
2015 Draft: Tyler Jay, lhp, Illinois (Twins/1st round, 6th pick)
2016 Draft: Cody Sedlock, rhp, Illinois (Orioles/1st round, 27th pick)
2017 Draft: Brendan Murphy, lhp, Mundelein HS (Brewers/4th round)

2017 Draft Overview

College Players Drafted/Signed:
 12/12
Junior College Players Drafted/Signed: 6/4
High School Players Drafted/Signed: 10/2

Prospects in the Top 500:

• Alek Thomas, of, Mt. Carmel HS (36)
• Trey Riley, rhp, John A Logan (61)
• Joey Gerber, rhp, Illinois (131)
• Bren Spillane, of/1b, Illinois (164)
• Owen Miller, ss, Illinois State (195)
• Aaron Ackerman, c, UIC (379)
• Jack Yalowitz, of/lhp, Illinois (420)
• Luke Shilling, rhp, Illinois (425)
• Jacob Maton, rhp, Glenwood HS (427)


Indiana

Best College Team:
 Indiana
Best High School Team: Roncalli

Prospect on the Rise: Jonathan Stiever, rhp, Indiana
Wild Card: Nicholas Schnell, of, Roncalli HS

Best Out-of-State Prospect, Indiana Connection:
 Reid Schaller, rhp, Vanderbilt
Top 2019 Prospect: Andrew Belcik, rhp, Notre Dame
Top 2020 Prospect: Ryan Lynch, lhp, Penn HS

Highest Draft Picks

Draft History:
 Andy Benes, rhp, University of Evansville (1988, Padres/1st round, 1st pick); Bryan Bullington, rhp, Ball State University (2002, Pirates/1st round, 1st pick)
2013 Draft: Trey Ball, lhp, New Castle HS (Red Sox/1st round, 7th pick)
2014 Draft: Kyle Schwarber, c, Indiana University (Cubs/1st round, 4th pick)
2015 Draft: Ashe Russell, rhp, Cathedral Catholic HS (Royals/1st round, 21st pick)
2016 Draft: Alex Call, of, Ball State (White Sox/3rd round)
2017 Draft: Peter Solomon, rhp, Notre Dame (Astros/4th round)

2017 Draft Overview

College Players Drafted/Signed:
 17/15
Junior College Players Drafted/Signed: None
High School Players Drafted/Signed: 4/1

Prospects in the Top 500:

• Nicholas Schnell, of, Roncalli HS (40)
• Jonathan Stiever, rhp, Indiana (78)
• Jack Perkins, rhp, Kokomo HS (190)
• Matt Vierling, of/rhp, Notre Dame (213)
• Nick Dalesandro, c/of, Purdue (271)
• Luke Miller, 3b, Indiana (281)
• Carter Lohman, lhp, Hamilton Southeastern HS (297)
• Nick Podkul, 2b, Notre Dame (303)
• Jared Poland, 2b/3b, Cathedral HS (305)
• Hayden Jones, c, Carroll HS (313)
• Tim Borden, ss, Our Lady of Providence HS (353)
• Charlie Cerny, rhp, UIC (308)
• Zaid Walker, of, Homewood-Flossmoor HS (366)
• Tanner Andrews, rhp, Purdue (415)


Michigan

Best College Team:
Michigan
Best Junior College Team: Kellogg
Best High School Team: Bay City Western

Prospect on the Rise: William English, rhp/of, Detroit Western International HS
Wild Card: Bryce Bush, 1b/of, De La Salle HS

Best Out-of-State Prospect, Michigan Connection:
 Luke Shilling, rhp, Illinois
Top 2019 Prospect: Dillon Kark, ss, St. Mary's Prep
Top 2020 Prospect: Jesse Franklin, of, Michigan

Highest Draft Picks

Draft History:
 Mark Mulder, lhp, Michigan State (1998, Athletics/1st round, 2nd pick)
2013 Draft: Michael O'Neill, of, Michigan (Yankees/3rd round)
2014 Draft: Jordan Foley, rhp, Central Michigan (Yankees/5th round)
2015 Draft: Nick Plummer, of, Brother Rice HS (Cardinals/1st round, 23rd pick)
2016 Draft: Keegan Akin, lhp, Western Michigan (Orioles/2nd round)
2017 Draft: Oliver Jaskie, lhp, Michigan (Mariners/6th round)

2017 Draft Overview

College Players Drafted/Signed:
 21/21
Junior College Players Drafted/Signed: 1/1
High School Players Drafted/Signed: 5/1

Prospects in the Top 500:

• William English, rhp/of, Detroit Western International HS (169)
• John Malcom, 1b, Detroit Country Day HS (181)
• Bryce Bush, 1b/of, De La Salle HS (189)
• Riley McCauley, rhp, Michigan State (325)
• Jonathan Engelmann, of, Michigan (337)
• Will Tribucher, lhp, Michigan (341)
• Spencer Schwellenbach, rhp/ss, Heritage HS (373)
• Michael Brettell, rhp, Central Michigan
• Ako Thomas, 2b, Michigan (484)


Minnesota


Best College Team:
Minnesota
Best Junior College Team: Riverland
Best High School Team: Cretin-Derham Hall

Prospect on the Rise: Terrin Vavra, ss, Minnesota
Wild Card: Seth Halvorsen, rhp, Heritage Christian HS

Best Out-of-State Prospect, Minnesota Connection:
 Sean Hjelle, rhp, Kentucky
Top 2019 Prospect: Will Frisch, rhp, Stillwater HS
Top 2020 Prospect: Mac Horvath, ss/rhp, Century HS

Highest Draft Picks

Draft History:
 Joe Mauer, c, Cretin-Derham Hall HS (2001, Twins/1st round, 1st pick)
2013 Draft: Tom Windle, lhp, Minnesota (Dodgers/2nd round)
2014 Draft: Sam Hentges, lhp, Mounds View HS (Indians/4th round)
2015 Draft: Lance Thonvold, rhp, Minnesota (Mariners/24th round)
2016 Draft: Nick Hanson, rhp, Prior Lake HS (Reds/3rd round)
2017 Draft: Sam Carlson, rhp, Burnsville HS (Mariners/2nd round)

2017 Draft Overview

College Players Drafted/Signed:
 4/4
Junior College Players Drafted/Signed: None
High School Players Drafted/Signed: 3/1

Prospects in the Top 500:

• Seth Halvorsen, rhp, Heritage Christian HS (107)
• Aidan Maldonado, rhp, Rosemount HS (226)
• Terrin Vavra, ss, Minnesota (230)
• Gus Varland, rhp, Concordia (328)


Ohio

Best College Team:
 Ohio State
Best Junior College TeamSinclair
Best High School Team: Mason

Prospect on the Rise:
Nicholas Northcut, 3b, William Mason HS
Wild Card: Austin Becker, rhp, Big Walnut HS

Best Out-of-State Prospect, Ohio Connection:
 Adam Wolf, lhp, Louisville
Top 2019 Prospect: Mack Anglin, rhp, Highland HS
Top 2020 Prospect: MacKenzie Wainwright, of, St. Edward HS

Highest Draft Picks

Draft History:
Tim Belcher, rhp, Mount Vernon Nazarene College (1983, Twins/1st round, 1st pick); Ken Griffey Jr., of, Moeller HS (1987, Mariners/1st round, 1st pick)
2013 Draft: David Ledbetter, rhp, Cedarville University (Rangers/3rd round)
2014 Draft: Cameron Varga, rhp, Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy (Rays/2nd round)
2015 Draft: Ian Happ, of, Cincinnati (Cubs/1st round, 9th pick)
2016 Draft: Eric Lauer, lhp, Kent State (Padres/1st round, 25th pick)
2017 Draft: Zac Lowther, lhp, Xavier (Orioles/2nd round)

2017 Draft Overview

College Players Drafted/Signed:
 15/14
Junior College Players Drafted/Signed: None
High School Players Drafted/Signed: 5/1

Prospects in the Top 500:

• Austin Becker, rhp, Big Walnut HS (45)
• Nicholas Northcut, 3b, William Mason HS (73)
• Ryan Weiss, rhp, Wright State (197)
• Ryan Feltner, rhp, Ohio State (210)
• Zane Collins, lhp, Wright State (253)
• Zach Spears, lhp, Miami (289)
• Ross Adolph, of, Toledo (345)
• Conor Grammes, rhp, Xavier (365)
• Joey Murray, rhp, Kent State (368)
• Cole Ayers, rhp, Loveland HS (461)
• Lane Flamm, rhp, New Richmond HS (478)


Wisconsin

Best College Team:
Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Best Junior College Team: Madison
Best High School Team: Sun Prairie

Prospect on the Rise: Jacob Campbell, c, Janesville Craig HS

Best Out-of-State Prospect, Wisconsin Connection:
 Jonathan Stiever, rhp, Indiana
Top 2019 Prospect: Nathan Stevens, c, Waunakee HS
Top 2020 Prospect: A.J. Vukovich, 3b/rhp, East Troy HS

Highest Draft Picks

Draft History:
 Kevin Brandt, of, Nekoosa HS (1979, Twins/1st round, 11th pick)
2013 Draft: Josh Uhen, rhp, Wisconsin-Milwaukee (Brewers/5th round)
2014 Draft: J.P. Feyereisen, rhp, Wisconsin-Stevens Point (Indians/16th round)
2015 Draft: Justin Langley, lhp, Wisconsin-Milwaukee (Marlins/16th round)
2016 Draft: Gavin Lux, ss, Indian Trail Academy (Dodgers/1st round, 20th pick)
2017 Draft: Daulton Varsho, c, Wisconsin-Milwaukee (Diamondbacks/2nd round)

2017 Draft Overview

College Players Drafted/Signed:
 3/3
Junior College Players Drafted/Signed: None
High School Players Drafted/Signed: 1/0

Prospects in the Top 500:

• Jarred Kelenic, of, Waukesha West HS (5)
• Jacob Campbell, c, Janesville Craig HS (180)