Program: Joliet Junior College 
Head Coach: Gregg Braun, 7th year
NJCAA Region/Division: Region IV, DIII
Last Year’s Record: 32-27
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: JJCbaseball
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Roster link                                          

The Wolves have plenty to be excited about this upcoming season as they will be returning a strong core of talent on both sides of the ball. Coach Braun will aim to push the program over the hump once again after a 32-27 campaign that resulted in a runner-up finish at the Region IV Tournament. The seventh-year coach is no stranger to success, having previously captured the Region IV title and secured a Division III World Series berth in 2023. The Wolves are returning 21 players from last season, many of whom are expected to step into expanded roles this spring. With a strong core and several key additions, it will be interesting to see how the season shapes up for this promising group.

PITCHING

One major strength of this Wolves roster is the sheer volume of innings returning on the mound. Joliet brings back 199 innings of experience, with several arms positioned to make an even greater impact this season. The pitching staff will be anchored by a pair of returning starters in SO RHP Daniel Police and SO RHP Holden Burokas. Police emerged as the workhorse among freshman arms last year, throwing 48.2 innings and finishing with a 4.62 ERA and a 4-1 record. Burokas complements him with advanced pitchability from a four-pitch arsenal, contributing 47.2 innings with a 3.59 ERA and a 5-1 record. Joining the returning group is SO RHP Danny O’Malley, who served as the Wolves’ main closer last season. The recent Georgia Gwinnett commit was lights out last season, tossing 20.1 innings with six saves and a 1.77 ERA to earn Second-Team All-Region IV honors. Marking the final key returner on the mound, SO RHP Kyle Bader is a lively arm who will add depth out of the bullpen. The right-hander, whose fastball sits in the upper 80s and has touched 91 mph, contributed 26 innings last season and posted a 5.19 ERA. Also expected to contribute on the mound is FR RHP Andrew Ronek, who showed an intriguing three-pitch arsenal during the program’s scout day. It will be interesting to see how the true freshman develops as he continues to mature and refine his game. Another freshman arm the Wolves could potentially look to out of the pen is FR RHP Jaxson Strom, who features a mid-80s fastball along with a deceptive changeup and a developing curveball offering.

• So. RHP Holden Burokas (Bolingbrook, IL) 6-foot, 160-pounds, lean and wiry frame with room to add more strength. Gave a polished look in his ‘pen, clean and easy mover, controlled throughout, works with some tempo, medium leg-lift that gets his momentum moving down the mound, slight drop/drive, works in-line. Longer arm action from the glove, loose and whippy, high ¾ slot. Fastball played 84-85 mph with carry through the zone, able to work it around the strike zone. Curveball showed developing shape, shorter action, 73-75 mph with feel around the zone. Changeup is a quality offering with feel in the zone, plays with fading action and sells it with arm-speed, 75-78 mph. Cutter showed a short wrinkle at times at 78 mph, thrown in the zone, backed up on him at times.
  
• So. RHP Daniel O’Malley (Andrew, IL) 6-foot-2, 200-pounds, strong, broad shoulders, lean strength throughout. Gave the loudest look on the day with a lively three-pitch mix. Intentful delivery, stretch only, holds bend in the back knee into a coiling leg-lift, drop/drive with an in-line stride. Longer arm action from the glove, works behind the back leg and hides it, high ¾ slot. Fastball sat 90-91 mph, topping at 92 with life at the top of the zone, big carry traits with up to 18.4” IVB, also played between 2,500-2,600 rpm. Curveball showed some depth and slurvy action at times, 75-76 mph with 2,700-2,800 rpm (T-20.6” IVB; T-12” HM). Slider showed more sweep and lateral break with up to -16.4” HM, 77-79 mph with 2,600-2,700 rpm.
  
• Fr. RHP Andrew Ronek (Oswego, IL) 6-foot, 185-pounds, proportionate and athletic build, some strength in the lower-half. Stretch only, medium leg-lift with some pace into balance point, works in-line with a tall/fall lower-half. Clean arm, high ¾ slot, medium/longer reach from the glove in the back. Fastball played in the 84-86 mph range with carry (18” IVB avg; T20.5” IVB). Set up a slider in the 76-78 mph range with a short 10/4 shape, some feel around the zone. Changeup showed heavy arm-side run at times (T18” HM), kept around the zone at 78-80 mph.

OFFENSE

The Wolves will also return three starters from last year’s lineup, highlighted by SO 1B Isaiah Rhodes, the reigning Region IV Player of the Year and a First-Team All-American. Rhodes has shown the ability to consistently put up quality at-bats, slashing .400/.508/.579 with four home runs and only seven strikeouts across 145 at-bats. Also returning to the lineup are RSO SS Charlie Martin and SO 3B Jose Granados, both of whom will look to build on the experience they gained last season. Martin brings quality tools on both sides of the ball, pairing a reliable bat with a steady glove and a lively arm in the field. Granados complements him in the lineup, showing feel for the barrel and the ability to drive the ball to all fields. The right-handed hitter displayed plenty of promise last season, slashing .317/.401/.444 with two home runs and will look to improve on those numbers this spring. The Wolves also have several returning players who appear poised to take on larger roles in the lineup this spring. Leading that group is SO C Max Miller, an athletic defensive catcher who brings present bat strength and a lively arm behind the dish. Also providing depth at the catcher position is SO C/OF Mark Flisk, who showed promise at the plate in limited action last season. The right-handed hitter slashed .362/.439/.397 across 58 at-bats and is expected to split time between catching and the outfield this spring. RFR OF Will Withers is another player adding depth from the outfield, showing range in the outfield with a line-drive approach at the plate. Also joining the list of key returners is a duo of sophomore infielders: SO INF Daniel McCauley and SO INF Luke Tillotson. McCauley brings easy pop at the plate and pairs it with a smooth glove and fluid actions at third base. Tillotson complements him by offering advanced bat-to-ball skills and sure-handed actions that allow him to move around the infield.

Another promising aspect of this Wolves team is the freshmen bats they will be bringing in this season. This group is headlined by FR C Ryan Bumpous, who brings loud tools on both sides of the ball. Bumpous impressed at the program’s scout day, delivering one of the louder rounds of BP while showing fluid defensive actions behind the dish. Also bringing notable power to the lineup is FR OF Brendan Henderson, who posted the top exit velocity at the program’s scout day at 102 mph. He also showcased a strong arm from the outfield, reaching 90 mph during the event. Finally, rounding out the list of impact freshman bats is FR OF Declan DeMent who showcased some easy jump off the barrel at the scout day event.

• So. INF Charlie Martin (Carlsbad, CA) 5-foot-10, 150-pounds, lean and athletic with plenty of room to add strength. Athletic and fluid right-handed swing, starts in a balanced stance with a short load, hands work back slightly and move into a flat path, creates length through the zone with a line-drive oriented swing, balanced through impact, 92 mph peak EV. Smooth defender on the dirt, soft hands, natural actions, fluid footwork, plays low and through the ball, moves well to each side of his glove, quick release with clean transfers. Arm is strong across with life, T89 mph, loose and athletic, high ¾ release.

• So. INF Jose Granados (Joliet Catholic, IL) 5-foot-7, 185-pounds. One of the top returners for the Wolves with a .317 average in 2025 across 126 at-bats, also collected six doubles, two triples, two home runs and 28 RBIs. Right-handed hitter, fluid and hitterish look, simple and controlled load, easy stride and subtle hand load, flat path with length through the zone and control of the barrel, balanced swing through impact, 91 mph peak EV. Steady glove at third base, clean glove-to-hand and transfers.
  
• So. C Max Miller (New Trier, IL) 6-foot, 185-pound frame, strong and durable build with present strength. The right-handed hitter took a loud round of BP with some pull-side intent, shorter toe-tap load, quick from launch with torque, flat path through the zone with balance - 98 mph peak EV, 360’ max distance. Quality actions from behind the plate, clean glove-to-hand, quick to release, works in-line, present arm-strength (T77 mph), 2.03 pop-time.
  
• Fr. OF William Withers (Providence Catholic, IL) 6-foot, 180-pounds, long-levered and projectable frame, room to add strength. Clean left-handed swing, longer stride, fluid hand load that creates some separation into footstrike, works on top of the baseball with a flat path, 91 mph peak EV. Athletic and fluid actions in the outfield, soft hands.
  
• So. 3B Daniel McCauley (Plainfield South, IL) 6-foot-1, 200-pounds, evenly distributed strength throughout. Wide, open setup, hangs foot slightly into a medium stride, smooth and controlled hands that stay direct to the baseball, some intent to lift the baseball to the big part of the field, 95 mph peak EV, 347’ max distance. Steady glove at third base, soft hands, secures the ball into his body, plays low and through the ball.
  
• So. INF Luke Tillotson (Schaumburg, IL) 5-foot-10, 170-pound frame, athletic and trim build with room to add strength. Fluid left-handed swing, rhythm with a short load, hands work on top of the baseball, flat path, 94 mph peak EV. Smooth natural action on the infield, confident hands, crisp transfers, quick release, arm can play on the move and from different angles.
  
• Fr. C Ryan Bumpous (Dwight, IL) 5-foot-10, 180-pounds, durable and present strength. Strong right-handed hitter, smooth and controlled load with some rhythm in the hands, works on top of the baseball with some length through the zone at times, middle of the field and pull-side approach, 101 mph peak EV, 91 mph average, 349’ max distance. Clean actions from behind the plate, steady and not rushed, works low and in-line from the chute, short arm and high ¾ release (T75 mph, 2.09 pop-time).
  
• Fr. OF Brendan Henderson (Plainfield North, IL) 6-foot, 190-pounds, broad shoulders, some present muscle throughout. Right-handed hitter, wide base that sits in his legs, smooth and controlled load, minimal stride or hand movement, intent to elevate the baseball pull-side with loud results, 102 mph peak EV, 90 mph average, 389’ max distance. Plays hard through the baseball in the outfield, steady hands, moves well into a crowhop, ¾ release with arm-strength (T90 mph).
  
• Fr. OF Declan DeMent (Providence Catholic, IL) 5-foot-11, 165-pounds, wiry build with room to add more strength. Right-handed hitter, loose and handsy swing, flat path, some jump off the barrel with a 96 mph peak EV, middle of the field approach with line-drives and some lift at times.

COMMITMENTS

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