Top 10 Illinois high school baseball players in Class of 2023
10. Ryan Bakes, C, Huntley
Bakes, whose brother and Huntley teammate Brayden is also in the mix as a top-10 player in Illinois’ senior class, will be a welcomed sight back on the diamond for the Red Raiders. Last year, Ryan missed a large portion of the season due to a shoulder injury. However, prior to that, he was hitting an impressive .469 with five home runs and 14 RBIs as the leadoff hitter for Huntley. The 5-foot-10, 180-pound catcher returned to the diamond late in the summer and excelled through the fall. Provided he can get back to last year’s early-season form, Ryan should help lead the Red Raiders to another successful season alongside Brayden, who was an all-state player in 2022. After their senior year, the brothers will split up as Brayden moves on to Indiana, while Ryan joins the SEC with South Carolina.
Ryan Bakes (C/OF, 2023, IL)@RedsScoutTeam
LD single to CF with a compact swing and a long HR to LF. Quick hands and the ability to separate and lift the baseball w/ authority. Impressive today. @GamecockBasebll Commit#PGKernels @PG_Scouting pic.twitter.com/rZCD4cH03Q
— Perfect Game Iowa (@IowaPG) September 17, 2022