As we head into Week 3 of the Division I baseball season, several Illinois natives are already making their presence felt. Though it’s still early, these players have wasted no time stepping into key roles and delivering when it matters most. From clutch performances to consistent production, they’re quickly becoming names to watch this spring. Take a look below at the standout Illinois natives from the first two weeks of D1 baseball.

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CLASS OF 2022

Hitters

1B Víctor Izquierdo⏐Lockport⏐Navy

.333/.484/.667, 1.151 OPS, 2 HR, 8 RBI, 5 BB

• Entering his third season as the everyday first baseman for Navy, Izquierdo is off to one of his fastest starts since setting foot on campus. Led by a 3-for-4 performance against Queens, where he drove in one with a triple, Izquierdo is showing early marks of a breakout year.

C Jayden Lobliner⏐St. Charles North⏐San Diego

.300/.382/.633, 1.015 OPS, 3 HR, 1 2B, 10 RBI, 4 BB

• The everyday catcher for San Diego after transferring in from Kansas State after two years. Lobliner is the reigning WCC Defensive Player of the Year, along with being a member of the All-WCC Second team. Starting hot with the bat, look to him to consistently be a top-of-the-order bat for San Diego this season.

INF Randy Seymour⏐Lincoln-Way East⏐Michigan State

.320/.320/.640, .960 OPS, 2 HR, 2 2B, 6 RBI

• An everyday starter for the past two seasons now, Seymour looks to have officially settled in and taken stride with the bat. The power has developed well from the year prior, highlighted in his first weekend against Louisville, where he racked up five hits, six RBIs, one double, and two home runs.

INF Christian Mitchelle⏐Plainfield East⏐Cincinnati

.292/.333/.333, .666 OPS, 1 2B, 4 RBI, 2 BB

• A utility man for the Bearcats this season, already seeing time at third base and the outfield, Mitchelle is able to do it all for Cincinnati. The bat has flashed some power this past weekend and will look to find a more consistent stride, as Mutchelle plays an important role for this roster this season.

Pitchers

LHP Brandon Bak⏐Plainfield North⏐UIC

12.1 IP, 2.19 ERA, 9 SO, 11 H, 0 BB

• Taking the mound every Saturday for the Flames, Bak has been exceeding what they could have dreamed for to start the year. This past Saturday against Sam Houston, the left-hander tossed 7.0 innings, allowing one run, walking zero, and striking out five.

RHP Michael Addari⏐Libertyville⏐Illinois State

6.0 IP, 0.00 ERA, 8 SO, 4 H, 2 BB

• One of many Illinois State arms to make it on this list, Addari is looking to play a bigger role out of the bullpen this season after only tossing nine innings the year prior. Already passing his prior year numbers almost across the board, look for him to have a bigger role this season.

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CLASS OF 2023

Hitters

OF Brenden Stressler⏐New Trier⏐Michigan

.455/.500/.636, 1.136 OPS, 1 HR, 1 2B, 3 RBI, 2 BB

• Transferring in after two seasons with St. Louis, Stressler has taken Big 10 baseball by storm. Helping lead Michigan to victories over #12 Oregon State, #24 Arizona, and #15 Louisville.

INF Graham Mastros⏐New Trier⏐Illinois State

.357/.438/.898, 1.336 OPS, 4 HR, 3 2B, 10 RBI, 3 BB

• An all-around bat that can do anything you ask of it. Masters has been a top producer at the top of the Red Brids lineup, looking to continue his dominance after a strong 2025 campaign.

C Colin Barczi ⏐Naperville Central⏐Vanderbelt

.286/.348/.714, 1.062 OPS, 3 HR, 5 RBI

• Barczi reintroduced himself this season with a loud performance against #10 TCU, where he left the park three times in a 3-for-5 performance.

OF Hunter Warren⏐Moline⏐Wright State

.368/.478/.684, 1.162 OPS, 2 HR, 2 RBI, 4 BB

• After being a top producer last year, Warren leaves off right where he started. This past Saturday, he went 2-for-4, with a homerun, a walk, and one RBI.

C Tyler Stack⏐Oswego⏐Ohio

.389/.429/.500, .929 OPS, 2 2B, 6 RBI, 1 BB

• After spending his first couple of years spent at Xavier, Stack transferred to Ohio, where he fit into the middle of the lineup. His breakout game came during week one against Murray State, where he went 4-for-5, with 4 RBIs, and a double.

OF Luke Stulga⏐St.Laurence⏐Illinois State

.344/.371/.594, .965 OPS, 1 HR, 1 2B, 7 RBI

• The centerfielder has been a consistent producer for the Redbrids, and he continues this trend in his junior year. Normally, a contact bat, the power has ticked up and will be something to watch this season.

OF Brayden Brkes⏐Huntley⏐Illinois State

.296/.434/.481, .915 OPS, 1 HR, 6 RBI, 5 BB

• After taking a medical redshirt year with Indiana, Brkes enters his second year with the Redbirds and is making the most of it. He has shown the ability to consistently reach base and put himself in a position to score runs.

INF Jaden Correa⏐De La Salle⏐Morehad St

.308/.321/.423, .744 OPS, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 1 BB

• The John A. Logan transfer, Correa, enters a long list of Illinois natives to find success after the JUCO level. The bat will be a consistent contact producer as it looks to continue its development in the power department.

C Ryan Bakes⏐Huntley⏐Illinois State

.231/.375/.500, .875 OPS, 2 HR, 1 2B, 3 RBI, 6 BB

• The final Illinois State bat front from his class, Bakes line to start the year won't jump out, but his opening weekend is what makes hims atbd out. Going 5-for-11, with two homeruns, and two RBIs. Bakes will look to build off that momentum after a hitless past weekend.

Pitchers

RHP Josh McDevitt⏐Effingham⏐Missouri

10.0 IP, 1.80 ERA, 13 SO, 2-0, 3 H, 5 BB

• Another Saturday night arm for the SEC to come out of Illinois. McDevitt has put together impressive outings as the strikeout arm looks to anchor the rotation.

RHP Matt Sauser⏐Normal University⏐UCF

6.0 IP, 0.00 ERA, 6 SO, 0 H, 0 BB

• His lone start came during the first weekend against Miami, where he was perfect through six innings. Despite UCF falling in the end, Sauser gave one of the most dominant performances in all of College baseball this season.

RHP Joseph Martin⏐Newark⏐SIU-Edwardsville

7.0 IP, 2.57 ERA, 12 SO, 2-0, 3 H, 2 BB

• A key piece within the bullpen for the Courgars, Martin has played a crucial role early this season and is looking to play a vital middleman role this season.

RHP Adam Behrens⏐Warren Township⏐LMU

8.1 IP, 3.24 ERA, 7 SO, 1-0, 1 SV, 9 H, 0 BB

• Looking to be the closer for LMU this season, Behrens is set to play in high-leverage situations and be leaned on wihtih LMUs bullpen.

RHP Cole Van Assen⏐Brother Rice⏐Purdue

7.1 IP, 4.91 ERA, 8 SO, 12 H, 3 BB

• The Friday night guy on the mound for Purdue, Van Assen, started the season with a bang, tossing four scoreless innings, striking out five, and walking two against Portland. After a tough start last Friday, the right-hander looks to bounce back on Friday as the ace of Purdue's staff.

RHP Ryan Geraghty⏐Mundelein⏐Jax State

6.2 IP, 4.05 ERA. 6 SO, 3 H, 7 BB

• After playing a key role in the bullpen as a sophomore, Gerahty looks to have stepped right back into the role this season. Nearly hitless to start the season, the right-hander is poised for a strong spring.

RHP Owen Kelly⏐Belleville East⏐Ole Miss

3.1 IP, 0.00 ERA, 3 SO, 6 H, 1 BB

• Transferring in from St. Louis, Kelley looks to start taking an important step toward becoming a weekend bullpen piece. Seeing most of his time in midweek action to start.

RHP Zach Kwasny⏐Lincoln-Way East⏐Ball State

4.1 IP, 4.15 ERA, 5 SO, 5 H, 1 BB

• Kwasny has seen solid time out of the bullpen, rebel tossing 3.1 innings and striking out four this past Friday.

RHP Dominic Voegele⏐Columbia⏐Kansas

9.0 IP, 7.00 ERA, 12 SO, 1-1, 5 H, 7 BB

• The ERA doesn't show an ideal start out of the bullpen for Voegele, but where he has impressed is in his ability to generate whiffs and limit hard contact.

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CLASS OF 2024

Hitters

INF Jimmy Janicki⏐Downer Grove North⏐Troy

.417/.531/.750, 1.281 OPS, 2 HR, 2 2B, 12 RBI, 4 BB

• Returning after one of the more impressive years out of the Illinois 2024 class, Janicki has yet to skip a beat. He's so far had two games where he went 3-for-5 with a homerun, and nine total RBIs.

INF Jameson Martin⏐St. Laurence⏐Minnesota

.500/.500/.786, 1.386 OPS, 1 HR, 1 2B, 6 RBI

• Starting to see more consistent playing time, making two starts this past weekend, Martin had his best game yet this Saturday. The right-handed bat went 3-for-4, with 3 RBIs.

INF James Love⏐Joliet West⏐EIU

.435/.563/1.130, 1.693 OPS, 3 HR, 1, 3B, 5 2B, 11 RBI, 5 BB

• Potentially swinging one of the hottest bats in the state, Love has taken this season by storm. Living on the barrel, becoming the top producer in the Panthers' lineup.

INF Cooper Malamazian⏐Nazareth Academy⏐Indiana

.360/.452/.520, .972 OPS, 1 HR, 1 2B, 10 RBI, 5 BB

• Coming off being named to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team selection, Malamzazia's season started slowly, but picked up with an impressive showing this past weekend. He has been able to show production against top-level teams such as UNC, LSU, UCF, and Notre Dame.

INF Landon Mensik⏐Lincoln-Way Central⏐Xavier

.241/.313/.552, .865 OPS, 3 HR, 5 RBI, 1 BB

• Set up to be the power bat in the Xavier lineup, Mensik will look to find more consistency, but has caught eyes with the raw power.

Pitchers

LHP Ethan Eberle⏐Normal Community⏐Louisville

10.0 IP, 2.70 ERA, 10 SO, 9 H, 5 BB

• The Friday night guy for Louisville, Eberle, is set to continue his dominance after an impressive first year on the mound. After impressive performances against Michigan State and Nebraka the left-hander looks to be a threat for the Cardinals all season long.

RHP Nate Harris⏐Yorkville⏐Kentucky

9.0 IP, 2.00 ERA, 12 SO, 1-1, 4 H, 2 BB

• The official Saturday arm for the Wildcats, the right-hander is another arm in this class who has impressed at the highest level of collegiate ball. After spending his first year as a weekend are Harris looks set to maintain his position as a weekend guy.

LHP Max Kaplan⏐New Trier⏐USC Upstate

6.2 IP, 0.00 ERA, 7 SO, 1-0, 2 H, 2 BB

• Seeing most of his time as a midweek arm, Kaplan is looking to insert his name into the weekend mix out of the bullpen.

RHP Owen Roberts⏐Waubonsie Valley⏐Indiana State

2.0 IP, 4.50 ERA, 2 SO, 0 H, 3BB

• In his lone appearance this season, Roberts gave a real strong look against Wake Forrest during the first weekend of the year.

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CLASS OF 2025

Hitters

INF AJ Putty⏐Huntley⏐Illinois

.414/.438/.828, 1.266 OPS, 2 HR, 6 2B, 13 RBI, 2BB

• Putty exploded onto the scene this season and capped off an impressive two-week stretch with what would be considered a career game if it wasn't only his seventh start. Against sixth-ranked Coastal Carolina, the right-handed bat went 5-for-6, with one homerun, seven RBI, and three doubles.

C Enzo Infelise⏐Providence Catholic⏐Cincinnati

.324/.343/.412, .755 OPS, 3 2B, 2 RBI, 1 BB

• A catalyst for the Bearcats' lineup, the freshman has been swinging a hot bat as he looks to be a mainstay within the lineup.

OF Ari Fivelson⏐Hampshire⏐Bradley

.313/.371/.719, 1.090 OPS, 3 HR, 1 3B, 2 2B, 16 RBI, 2 BB

• The freshmen bursted onto the scene in his first game to open up the year, going 3-for-4, a single shy of the cycle, with 5 RBIs.

OF Wyatt Wawro⏐Downers Grove South⏐NIU

6 AB, .667/.750/.667, 2 RBI, 2 BB

• Seeing limited time, Wawro has made the most of it, making it a harder decision to keep him out of the lineup for much longer.

Pitchers

LHP Cameron Appenzeller⏐Glenwood⏐Tennessee

7.0 IP, 2.57 ERA, 8 SO, 2-0, 2 H, 2 BB

• Seeing the majority of his time during the mid-week matchups, Appenzeller has looked like a bright spot in the Vols' freshman class. With the depth on the mound within this roster, expect the majority of his impact to be felt next season.

LHP Joshua Holst⏐Libertyville⏐Air Force

10.0 IP, 2.70 ERA, 9 SO, 2 GS, 11 H, 1 BB

• Taking over the Saturday job on the mound for Air Force Host has been a steady presence, able to go around five innings in each of his starts. While holding a 0-2 record, the left-hander put together a strong outing against Iowa and Army.

RHP Connor Blue⏐O’Fallon⏐Cincinnati

4.0 IP, 2.25 ERA, 4 SO, 1 H, 3 BB

• After a pair of experience the right-hander has looked solid on the mound as a viable bullpen piece for the Bearcats

LHP Aidan Flinn⏐Marist⏐Illinois

3.0 IP, 6.00 ERA, 5 SO, 2 H, 0 BB

• Making a weekend start this past weekend, Flinn is looking set to that th next steps into a more fiend role for the Fighting Illini

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