2025 Daily Chronicle baseball preview: 5 players to watch

Martin Ledbetter, Hinckley-Big Rock, sr., C/P/1B

The reigning Daily Chronicle Baseball Player of the Year hit .492 with nine home runs, 28 RBIs and a 1.774 OPS. Those numbers were with him aggravating his rotator cuff midseason, which limited him to 21⅔ innings pitched, going 2-0 with a 0.97 ERA, 49 strikeouts and 16 walks.

DeKalb's Jackson Kees (right) is fired up after scoring a run during their game against Naperville Central Tuesday, April 30, 2024, at DeKalb High School. — DeKalb's Jackson Kees (right) is fired up after scoring a run during their game against Naperville Central last season. (Mark Busch)

Jackson Kees, DeKalb, sr., SS/P

Keys hit .387 with 31 RBIs and a .996 OPS. In 57⅔ innings he went 6-4 with a 2.43 ERA, striking out 78 and walking 23. In the field, he made only five errors, finishing with a .951 fielding percentage. He was an all-DuPage Valley Conference selection and a Daily Chronicle All-Area first-team selection.

Sycamore’s Davis Collie comes in to score against Morris Monday, June 3, 2024 in the Class 3A Geneseo supersectional. — Sycamore’s Davis Collie comes in to score against Morris last season. (Alex T. Paschal)

Davis Collie, Sycamore, sr., 1B

The Bradley signee hit .371 for the Spartans with a team-best 1.051 OPS among players with more than three at-bats. The I-8 all-conference selection hit three home runs, drove in 32 runs and scored 27 times. He was an all-area first-team selection.

Kaneland's Tom Thill fields a grounder at second during their game against Sycamore Monday, April 22, 2024, at the Sycamore Community Sports Complex. — Kaneland's Tom Thill fields a grounder at second during their game against Sycamore last season. (Mark Busch)

Tom Thill, Kaneland, sr., 2B

The three-year starter and St. Mary’s College commit hit .326 last year and reached base at a .435 clip. The speedster stole 10 bases in 11 attempts. Eight of his 21 RBIs last season came with two outs. He also fielded his position well, making just five errors all season.

Sycamore's Tyler Townsend (44) makes contact with the ball but was thrown out at first during the game on Wednesday May 1, 2024, while taking on Morris High School. — Sycamore's Tyler Townsend (44) makes contact with the ball but was thrown out at first during the game last season. (David Toney for Shaw Local/David Toney)

Tyler Townsend, Sycamore, jr., OF/P

The all-area second-team selection hit .250 last season with a pair of home runs despite battling through injuries throughout the year. He also had the third-most innings pitched on the team. He was 1-1 with a save and a 1.44 ERA. He struck out 36 and walked 13 over 34 innings.