Here is the list of the top baseball players to watch from Illinois for 2012 in the Missouri Valley Conference.
Projected Relief Pitcher of the Year:
Kenny Long, Illinois State, Kenny is from Dundee Crown HS and lives in Fox River Grove Illinois. Long set the ISU record with 15 career saves, went 4-1 with a .092 ERA last season.
Projected Player of the Year:
1B Chris Serritella, Southern Illinois Carbondale, Chris attended Loyola Academy and lives in Glenview Illinois. Chris redshirted in 2011 but was drafted anyway by the Royals in the 31st round.
Top Players to Watch:
OF Kevin Hall, Wichita State, Kevin is from Glenwood HS and lives in Springfield Illinois. Kevin hit .254 with 3 homers, 13 doubles and stole 24 bases last season.
SS Alex Staehely, Creighton, Alex attended Benet Academy and lives in Sugar Grove Illinois. Staehley hit .285 with 3 homers, 23 doubles and 36 rbi's in 2011.
2B Kevin Tokarski, Illinois State, Kevin went to Downers Grove North HS and lives in Downers Grove Illinois. Tokarski hit .282 with 3 homers, 30 rbi's and stole 25 bases last season.
Catcher Matt Mirabal, Illinois State, Matt is from Mount Carmel HS and lives in Chicago Illinois. Mirabal hit .247 with 6 doubles and 25 rbi's last season.
Pitcher Chris Razo, Illinois State, Razo is a transfer from Heartland and lives in Chillicothe Ilinois. Chris was the pitcher of the year at Heartland.
Pitcher Otto Roberts, Illinois State, Otto is a transfer from Southwestern Illinois and lives in Belleville Illinois.
Outfielder Jordan Siversten, Southern Illinois, Jordan is from Carmel Catholic and lives in Richmond Illinois. Siversten hit .297 with 9 homers, 16 doubles and 48 rbi's in 2011.
Outfielder Nick Johnson, Southern Illinois, Nick attended O'Fallon HS and lives in O'Fallon Illinois. Johnson hit .271 with 4 homers, 8 doubles and 38 rbi's last season.
LHP Cody Forsythe, Southern Illinois, Cody is from Calvert City KY.
LHP Nathan Dorris, Southern Illinois, Nathan is a transfer from Rend Lake CC and lives in Marion Illinois.
RHP Dakota Bacus, Indiana State, Dakota is a transfer from Southeastern CC, attended Moline HS and lives in Moline Illinois.
RHP Sam Johns, Evansville, Sam attended Civic Memorial HS and lives in Bethalto Illinois. Sam was injured in 2011.
SS Jason Leblebijian, Bradley, Jason is from Prospect HS and lives in Arlington Hts. Illinois. Jason Hit .315 with 14 doubles last season.
2B Rob Elliott, Bradley, Rob attended Nequa Valley HS and lives in Naperville Illinois. Elliott hit .276 with 4 homers, 21 rbi's and stole 28 bags last year.
LHP Joe Bircher, Bradley, Joe is from Omaha NE.
RHP John Nasshan, Bradley, John is from Niles West HS and lives in Niles Illinois. Nasshan went 3-8 with a 4.55 ERA last season.
Projected Relief Pitcher of the Year:
Kenny Long, Illinois State, Kenny is from Dundee Crown HS and lives in Fox River Grove Illinois. Long set the ISU record with 15 career saves, went 4-1 with a .092 ERA last season.
Projected Player of the Year:
1B Chris Serritella, Southern Illinois Carbondale, Chris attended Loyola Academy and lives in Glenview Illinois. Chris redshirted in 2011 but was drafted anyway by the Royals in the 31st round.
Top Players to Watch:
OF Kevin Hall, Wichita State, Kevin is from Glenwood HS and lives in Springfield Illinois. Kevin hit .254 with 3 homers, 13 doubles and stole 24 bases last season.
SS Alex Staehely, Creighton, Alex attended Benet Academy and lives in Sugar Grove Illinois. Staehley hit .285 with 3 homers, 23 doubles and 36 rbi's in 2011.
2B Kevin Tokarski, Illinois State, Kevin went to Downers Grove North HS and lives in Downers Grove Illinois. Tokarski hit .282 with 3 homers, 30 rbi's and stole 25 bases last season.
Catcher Matt Mirabal, Illinois State, Matt is from Mount Carmel HS and lives in Chicago Illinois. Mirabal hit .247 with 6 doubles and 25 rbi's last season.
Pitcher Chris Razo, Illinois State, Razo is a transfer from Heartland and lives in Chillicothe Ilinois. Chris was the pitcher of the year at Heartland.
Pitcher Otto Roberts, Illinois State, Otto is a transfer from Southwestern Illinois and lives in Belleville Illinois.
Outfielder Jordan Siversten, Southern Illinois, Jordan is from Carmel Catholic and lives in Richmond Illinois. Siversten hit .297 with 9 homers, 16 doubles and 48 rbi's in 2011.
Outfielder Nick Johnson, Southern Illinois, Nick attended O'Fallon HS and lives in O'Fallon Illinois. Johnson hit .271 with 4 homers, 8 doubles and 38 rbi's last season.
LHP Cody Forsythe, Southern Illinois, Cody is from Calvert City KY.
LHP Nathan Dorris, Southern Illinois, Nathan is a transfer from Rend Lake CC and lives in Marion Illinois.
RHP Dakota Bacus, Indiana State, Dakota is a transfer from Southeastern CC, attended Moline HS and lives in Moline Illinois.
RHP Sam Johns, Evansville, Sam attended Civic Memorial HS and lives in Bethalto Illinois. Sam was injured in 2011.
SS Jason Leblebijian, Bradley, Jason is from Prospect HS and lives in Arlington Hts. Illinois. Jason Hit .315 with 14 doubles last season.
2B Rob Elliott, Bradley, Rob attended Nequa Valley HS and lives in Naperville Illinois. Elliott hit .276 with 4 homers, 21 rbi's and stole 28 bags last year.
LHP Joe Bircher, Bradley, Joe is from Omaha NE.
RHP John Nasshan, Bradley, John is from Niles West HS and lives in Niles Illinois. Nasshan went 3-8 with a 4.55 ERA last season.