RANTOUL, Ill. (WAND) - The Rantoul Family Sports Complex hosted the fifth annual Illinois State Games organized by Prep Baseball Report.
The invite-only, two-day event features the top baseball players in Illinois from graduating classes from 2027 to 2030.
Beginning Monday morning, players participated in various workout examinations that evaluated hitting, defense, athleticism and eye-to-brain tracking. Performances in each category help players get a baseline score for their overall abilities.
Following testing and from Monday night through Tuesday, more than 20 teams were constructed at random for players to cycle in and out at various positions and against different opponents. With around 20 players per team, around 400 competitors were in attendance at the showcase.
"It's just good to see the talent out here," said John Timmons, a Champaign Central senior catcher. "Good to see good pitching and where you stand in your class because, at the end of the day, that's how you're gonna get better."
Throughout the event, dozens of scouts from various collegiate programs monitored testing and performance on the field. Data was collected during games using motion-tracking technology, cameras and statistical logging.
"For me, it's really fun playing with a bunch of people who want to do the same thing," said Sam Ferris, a Rochester senior catcher. "I mean, everybody wants to go play college baseball, so when you have that one thing in common, it's pretty easy to get along with everybody. You just kinda have to loosen up and have fun."
Prep Baseball is one of the largest scouting and promotional services in the U.S. and Canada. The company hosts events, shares news and posts rankings for amateur ballplayers in 41 states.
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