The state of Illinois offers a very deep and talented group of players eligible for this June’s draft, as 2007 could be a banner year for high school players from the Land of Lincoln. Much of that talent was on display this past weekend at the Perfect Game Indoor Pitcher Catcher Showcase.

Pitching predominantly represents this class, a continuing trend in the state that has produced early-round talents such as Zach McAllister, Michael Bowden, and Mike Broadway in recent years. Listed below are a dozen of the most notable draft-eligible high school prospects the state has to offer.

Kyle Ayers - RHP - Oswego

Ayers has been improving his draft stock of late, touching the low-90s in recent indoor outings. He sat in the 86-88 range with his fastball, touching 90, at the PG Indoor last weekend, and also showed a nice mid-70s sweeping curveball. Ayers has a big, strong frame and nice athletic proportions that lead many to believe the low-90s he flashed this winter is a sign for bigger and better things to come. He already looks like a big-leaguer, as durability should never be an issue. Ayers has committed to play for Parkland College, a two-year school in Champaign.

Seth Blair – RHP – Rock Falls

Blair reportedly had his wisdom teeth removed the Friday before last weekend’s event, an event he made the year before as a high school junior. He did participate at the Perfect Game National last June, touching 94 with his sinking fastball. That fastball crept up to 95 at the WWBA World Championship in Jupiter last October, and as his fastball improves, so does Blair’s draft stock. He is a prototypical sinker/slider pitcher with a power arsenal that has committed to play for Arizona State.

Nick Chmielewski – RHP – Orland Park

Chmielewski joined Blair at last summer’s PG National in Fayetteville, Arkansas, and his fastball was clocked just a tick lower at 93, although he has touched 94 in the past. Again like Blair, Chmielewski’s fastball has very good late life as he does a very good job inducing weak ground balls to allow his defense behind him to do their jobs. He is very competitive and aggressive on the mound, and also projects well as a power hitting outfielder. Given his power arsenal, his future lies on the mound, and he has committed in-state to play for the Fighting Illini.

Casey Crosby - LHP - Elburn

The comparisons continue to run from player to player on this list. Crosby joins Chmielewski as an Illinois recruit, which would be a boon for the program should either one of them step onto the campus. If Crosby keeps it up, he’ll never sniff college. The 6’4” lefty has been steadily improving over the past year, seeing his fastball jump up nearly 10 miles per hour since he has focused more on his baseball career. He pitched in the 87-91 range in Jupiter last fall, and touched 94 last weekend. Crosby displayed a solid repertoire overall with a very good difference in speeds, including a slow 67-71 curveball, a mid-70s slider and a 80-82 mph changeup. Given his size, repertoire and athleticism, if he continues to improve this spring, he could very well be a first-round pick come June.

John Flanagan – LHP – Belleville

Flanagan is the second of two big, athletic lefties that figure to draw quite a bit of scouting interest this spring. Built tall, long and lanky, Flanagan continues to add strength to his projectable frame. He participated at the Perfect Game Aflac Showcase last summer, as well as the Area Code Games, where he showed an upper-80s fastball with an easy, low-effort delivery. His fastball has natural darting movement, and has touched 92 in the past. He also throws a very good curveball and solid changeup.

Rafael Garcia – SS - Chicago

The University of Illinois-Chicago is looking for a pesky shortstop to replace Mark Hallberg, who transferred to Florida State for his junior year. Garcia could be the man to do just that. He was impressive at last summer’s Area Code Games, showing that he can make any play at the shortstop position with very good balance, acrobatic ability and a very strong arm. At the plate there isn’t much power in his swing, and the sooner he realizes that the better, but he can drive the ball from gap to gap while letting his speed take care of the rest.

Michael Kaczmarek - LHP - Tinley Park

It was a joy to watch Kaczmarek pitch last weekend, whose arm action is just so simple and effortless. He employs a slow windup and that arm action to pepper the strike zone with 87-88 mph fastballs, touching 90, and he maintained that velocity throughout his performance. Kaczmarek also showed off a nifty mid-70s curveball and a changeup that hovered right around 80 mph that gives him a nice three-pitch repertoire to go along with his pitching moxie. He has committed to play for Kentucky, a University that often goes overlooked when it comes to producing solid professional pitchers.

Al McCormick – SS - Chicago

McCormick had some pretty notable D1 programs pursuing his services before he committed to UNLV, as Miami and Oklahoma were also in the mix. He’s a wiry and thin fast-twitch athlete who’s tool-set is highlighted by his speed. McCormick is solid at the shortstop position, with good range, soft hands and a strong arm. He profiles as a top of the order hitter, as he will need to bulk up and add strength to his relatively small frame if he’s ever going to hit double-digit home runs at the next level. McCormick has good enough bat speed to drive the ball to the gaps, which allows him to let his wheels do the rest.

Mike Recchia – RHP – Crestwood

Recchia took part in the Midwest Blazers Winter Showcase at Carroll College in Waukesha, Wisconsin the weekend prior to the Perfect Game Indoor Showcase. A 6’2”, 200 pound right-handed pitcher, Recchia has a very sturdy, compact build with a wide base and strong upper legs. He fastball sat in the 87-89 range at the showcase, and has been clocked as high as 90 at other Perfect Game events. Recchia’s best pitch is a very sharp 74 mph curveball that he commands extremely well. He also throws a good low-80s changeup that gives him a solid three-pitch repertoire. Recchia has committed to play for Eastern Illinois.

Cody Scarpetta - RHP – Rockford

Add another big, strong, well-built pitcher to the Illinois prep list. Scarpetta checks in at 6’3”, 220 pounds, and uses his size to sit consistently in the 88-92 range while touching 94, as he did at the Indoor Showcase. He also showed a pretty good mid-70s breaking pitch, a pitch that could use a little more bite to it, but he still showed the ability to throw strikes with it, giving him the foundation for two very solid offerings. Scarpetta is also a pretty good hitter, and he could play two ways should he honor his commitment to Creighton University, but at the pro level his future lies on the mound.

Jake Smolinski - 3B – Rockford

If you’re not paying attention to Smolinski at the plate, you’ll perk up quick when you hear the sound the ball makes off of his powerful bat. Everything he hit at the Indoor Showcase he hit very, very hard, and he faced some pretty good pitchers in Leslie Williams, Chris Wakefield and Scarpetta. Most impressive was his pitch selection, as he did a very good job waiting for his pitch, and when he got it, whether it was the first pitch he saw or the eighth, he crushed it. Smolinski made quite the impression at the Area Code Games last summer, and hasn’t seemed to let up, leading to a commitment to ACC perennial powerhouse Clemson.

Brett Zawacki – RHP – Peru

Zawacki’s name has been shooting up follow lists as his velocity continues to improve. Late last year he touched 94 in Jupiter, and 93 at the Perfect Game Midwest Top Prospect Showcase. Zawacki has a sharp curveball, a solid average changeup, and he is also an accomplished hitter. He doesn’t have the most projectable of pitching frames, but he has good mechanics and he continues to improve. Like Blair, Zawacki has committed to play for Arizona State, and he is a darkhorse candidate to sneak up into the top two to five rounds of the draft come June.

Others

Right-handed pitcher Kyle Kaminska went 10-1 a year ago leading the 2006 state champion Naperville Central High School. He has committed to Michigan State along with first baseman/outfielder Jeff Holm of St. Charles, whose father John played with Dave Winfield for the College World Series participant Minnesota Gophers in 1973, and projectable left-handed pitcher Tyler Newsome of Chicago, who can pump his fastball into the upper-80s.

Notre Dame always makes sure to keep an eye on their neighbors to the West, and their recruiting class boasts two notable Illinois prep players: Shortstop Mick Doyle of LaGrange Park and catcher Cameron McConnell of Bannockburn. Doyle is a scrappy do-everything middle infielder, while McConnell is a very good defensive, catch and throw catcher with a very strong arm.

Catcher Ian Tomkins of Wilmette could join Kaczmarek at the University of Kentucky. Tomkins, who also participated at the PG Indoor, doesn’t have the pure, physical upside, but he’s a solid catcher that would be expected to hold down a solid pitching staff in the always-tough SEC.

UIC recruit Eric Wyman is a projectable and athletic left-handed pitcher that also starred on the football field as the starting quarterback for West Chicago High School.

Casey McMurray of LaGrange is a solid all-around player, with good hitting skills, a quick bat, solid speed and sound defense. His 5’9” frame is holding him back from being placed among the top 12 as listed above, and should he honor his commitment to Illinois he could be proving his doubters wrong while terrorizing the Big Ten at this time next year.

PG Indoor Showcase

While the collection of the impressive 2007 draft eligible Illinois prep players was the most interesting grouping at the 2007 Perfect Game Indoor Pitcher Catcher Showcase, there were plenty of other intriguing talents to be seen. Here is a list of the players that caught my eye the most (please note that the Illinois players listed below are not high school seniors, and that I only attended the first of two days of the showcase).

Trevor Edwards - C - Toronto, ON

Edwards looked a lot taller than his listed height of 6’1” due to his long and rangy limbs (and pants that were way too big on him), and as a ’08 prospect you can tell he’s nowhere near done filling out. One of the top high school draft eligible prospects from Canada for next year’s draft, it was obvious that he has some history catching fellow Toronto native Leslie Williams (as he does playing for Team Toronto). I didn’t get much of a feel for his left-handed swing during his at-bats, but his athleticism is evident, and to me he stood out more than any other catcher in attendance.

Jon Gilmore - SS - Iowa City, IA

A prominent prospect as a former Aflac All-American and possible first-round pick in the upcoming June draft, Gilmore looks and carries himself as if he were already playing in the big-leagues. Some players carry a certain swagger that helps separate them from the rest of the pack, and Gilmore definitely has that feel. Blessed with a tall and strong athletic frame with broad shoulders and a narrow, high waist, he uses extremely quick and strong hands to whip his bat through the strike zone. He was visibly pressing on himself a little too much at the event, but when he focused and stayed within himself he crushed several pitches against a few of the better pitchers in attendance. Gilmore has committed to play for Wichita State, although at this point in time it would seem unlikely that he would ever slip far enough in the draft to consider heading to college.

Justin Grimm - RHP - Bristol, VA

Grimm, an overlooked ’07 from Virginia, was easily the most pleasant surprise at the event, working easily in the 88-91 range with his fastball and touching 92. He also showed a very nice curveball that he easily snapped out of his hand, as well as a promising changeup. He employs an angular, high leg kick in which he rocks back slightly as part of his delivery, generating his velocity using the momentum from toe to head. I found out after he pitched that he had missed most of his junior year due to elbow surgery, and had only been cleared to pitch one week prior to the event, making his performance even that much more impressive.

Corey Kimes - LHP - Ottawa, IL

At 6’5”, 235 pounds, Kimes certainly didn’t look like a high school junior. His fastball sat in the 80-83 range, and caught one 86 that I saw on the gun. He also mixed in a solid 73 mph slurvy breaking ball that projects as a plus pitch when he learns to tighten it up and throw it with greater consistency. While Kimes’ velocity wasn’t overly impressive, I’m a sucker for left-handed pitchers, and it’s hard not imagining him throwing much harder at this time a year from now.

Patrick Lala - RHP - Marion, IA

This 2008 Marion, Iowa native didn’t have far to travel to show his stuff, and I think he opened a few eyes after he sat in the 86-88 range with his fastball. He also mixed in a very nice looking and sharp mid-70s breaking ball. As a left-handed hitting middle infielder, he didn’t look quite as good with the bat in his hands, but after his performance on the mound, I don’t think anyone bothered to care.

Eric Lavoie - C/1B - Geneva, FL

Lavoie, a 2008 prospect who made the trek to Cedar Rapids from Florida, was a lot like Smolinski in that the sound of the ball off of his bat commanded your attention. He smoked everything he made contact with employing a very quick and short stroke. While Lavoie’s bat is very exciting, he needs a lot of work physically. Built short and stout, he needs to commit himself to the weight room over the next year and a half and he also needs to improve his arm strength should he hope to stick behind the plate.

Nick Rice - LHP - Kenosha, WI

Rice was among just a handful of players that found their names on the debut of the Perfect Game’s 2007 Hot List after reports of him pitching in the 90-92 range just a couple of weeks earlier. His fastball didn’t reach 90 mph last weekend, but he did pitch comfortably in the 85-88 range, and given his tall and lanky frame more consistent low-90s readings are expected from him. Not a stranger to high profile events, Rice participated at the PG National last June and at the PG Aflac Showcase last August in San Diego, and he has committed to play at Southern Illinois University.

Chris Wakefield - RHP - Green Bay, WI

I had the opportunity to watch Wakefield, a 2008 right-handed pitcher, pitch the weekend before at the Blazers Showcase, and he was one of the sharpest pitchers at both events. Given the collection of talent, that’s high praise, as his fastball sat in the 88-90 range, touching 92, and his curve was in the 73-75 range. He seemed to lose a little steam which affected his command during his performance in Cedar Rapids, and while he doesn’t have the most projectable of bodies, he does do a good job repeating his delivery.

Leslie Williams - RHP - Toronto, ON

Arguably the most athletic player in attendance, Williams is currently ranked as the second-best Canadian high school prospect to Phillippe Aumont. While he is also an accomplished hitter, his future is more promising as a pitcher, and he sat in the 88-91 range with his fastball and twirled a very sharp mid-70s curveball, both from a low three-quarters delivery. His athleticism makes that delivery look effortless, and offers promise for added velocity as he continues to mature and improve.

Tony Zych - IF/RHP - Monee IL

I arrived just after Zych, the first pitcher to throw on the first day of the showcase, got done throwing, but the first thing I learned upon arriving was that he touched 91 and looked pretty good in doing so. While I didn’t get to see Zych, a 2008 prospect, pitch, I did get to see him hit in a lineup that included Gilmore and Smolinski, and while he’s not as dynamic of a hitter as those two, he showed very good offensive promise, and established himself as a two-way player to watch with great interest over the next year and a half.