The Illinois high school baseball season kicks off on March 16, opening day for regular season action under IHSA regulations. Over the next two weeks, leading up to opening day, we'll be publishing our team previews ahead of the 2026 spring season, touching on programs spanning all state classifications, counting down through the official Prep Baseball Illinois Preseason Power 25 Rankings.
Perennially, we've submitted a preseason questionnaire to high school head coaches across the entire state. Their responses have been flooding in and we're using the detailed insight they've provided in our team-by-team preseason analysis.

Our 2026 preseason coverage continues today.

High School: St. Laurence Vikings
Preseason Rank: No. 1
Head Coach: Pete Lotus
Classification: 4A
Conference: Chicago Catholic League (Blue)
2025 Record (Finish): 37-5 (3A IHSA State Champions)
Key Players Lost: Connor Marino, Ben Geary, Enrique Villanueva, Jon Medina

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ROSTER PREVIEW

Returning Positional Starters: 6
Returning Starting Pitchers: 5
Returning Relief Pitchers: 4
Team Strengths: Returning experience & athleticism.

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DATA CENTER

TEAM RANKS:

This data is sourced from the 2026 Illinois winter showcase circuit and the 2025 Illinois State Games, compiled by Prep Baseball. We took the top-three metrics recorded by players from each high school in the following categories. Here is how St. Laurence's top-three performers averaged across each category:

• Avg. Exit Velocity: 95.83 mph (No. 9 in the state)
• Max Exit Velocity: 103.67 mph (No. 7 in the state)
• Max FB Velocity: 86.67 mph
• Top 60-Yard: 6.72s (No. 8 in the state)

INDIVIDUAL DATA STAND-OUTS:

• Adrian Perez (2026) - 1B/1B - 5-9.4 , 205 lbs
  
  • max EV: 99.0 mph (82nd pctile. in IL, 71st pctile. in 2026 class)
• Cory Les (2026) - SS/3B - 6-1 , 210 lbs
  
  • max EV: 102.0 mph (93rd pctile. in IL, 87th pctile. in 2026 class)
  • avg EV: 93.9 mph (92nd pctile. in IL, 87th pctile. in 2026 class)
  • bat speed: 72.3 mph (81st pctile. in IL, 64th pctile. in 2026 class)
  • rot. accel.: 17.0g (81st pctile. in IL, 71st pctile. in 2026 class)
  • 60-yd. dash: 6.76s (93rd pctile. in IL, No. 23 in 2026 class)
  • 10-yd. split: 1.59s (97th pctile. in IL, T-No. 10 in 2026 class)
  • vert. jump: 28.4 in (95th pctile. in IL, T-No. 19 in 2026 class)
• Daniel Coyle (2026) - 3B/OF - 5-8.2 , 148 lbs
  
  • rot. accel.: 18.0g (85th pctile. in IL, 76th pctile. in 2026 class)
  • 10-yd. split: 1.65s (84th pctile. in IL, 77th pctile. in 2026 class)
  • vert. jump: 27.2 in (91st pctile. in IL, 82nd pctile. in 2026 class)
• Danny Donovan (2026) - OF/2B - 6-1.2 , 189 lbs
  
  • max EV: 99.0 mph (82nd pctile. in IL, 71st pctile. in 2026 class)
  • avg EV: 90.8 mph (81st pctile. in IL, 71st pctile. in 2026 class)
  • bat speed: 77.7 mph (T-No. 19 in IL, T-No. 15 in 2026 class)
  • 60-yd. dash: 6.90s (84th pctile. in IL, 70th pctile. in 2026 class)
  • 10-yd. split: 1.63s (90th pctile. in IL, 84th pctile. in 2026 class)
  • vert. jump: 25.4 in (81st pctile. in IL, 67th pctile. in 2026 class)
• Jacob Hite (2028) - OF/RHP - 6-1.8 , 179 lbs
  
  • max EV: 103.0 mph (95th pctile. in IL, T-No. 8 in 2028 class)
  • avg EV: 94.1 mph (93rd pctile. in IL, No. 13 in 2028 class)
  • bat speed: 73.4 mph (87th pctile. in IL, 90th pctile. in 2028 class)
  • 60-yd. dash: 6.80s (90th pctile. in IL, T-No. 19 in 2028 class)
  • 10-yd. split: 1.64s (87th pctile. in IL, T-No. 23 in 2028 class)
  • vert. jump: 26.7 in (89th pctile. in IL, T-No. 21 in 2028 class)
• John Strzechowski (2026) - RHP - 6-0.3 , 189 lbs
  
  • IVB (rise): 17.2 in (88th pctile. in IL, No. 19 in 2026 class)
• Jonah Sloane (2028) - RHP/OF - 5-8 , 167 lbs
  
  • FB spin: 2360 rpm (No. 22 in IL, No. 2 in 2028 class)
  • CB spin: 2578 rpm (No. 15 in IL, No. 2 in 2028 class)
  • rot. accel.: 26.0g (T-No. 10 in IL, T-No. 3 in 2028 class)
• Mickey Lotus (2026) - SS/OF - 5-8.8 , 136 lbs
  
  • 60-yd. dash: 6.59s (T-No. 15 in IL, T-No. 6 in 2026 class)
  • 10-yd. split: 1.61s (93rd pctile. in IL, T-No. 21 in 2026 class)
  • vert. jump: 26.0 in (86th pctile. in IL, 75th pctile. in 2026 class)
• Samuel Chin (2026) - LHP/LHP - 6-0 , 162 lbs
  
  • FB spin: 2375 rpm (No. 16 in IL, No. 6 in 2026 class)
  • CB spin: 2721 rpm (No. 6 in IL, No. 3 in 2026 class)
  • SL spin: 2754 rpm (No. 5 in IL, No. 3 in 2026 class)
• Tristan Steger (2027) - C/3B - 6-2.2 , 196 lbs
  
  • max EV: 106.0 mph (T-No. 18 in IL, T-No. 9 in 2027 class)
  • avg EV: 97.9 mph (No. 19 in IL, No. 10 in 2027 class)
  • bat speed: 76.5 mph (97th pctile. in IL, No. 7 in 2027 class)
  • 60-yd. dash: 6.84s (87th pctile. in IL, 85th pctile. in 2027 class)
  • 10-yd. split: 1.61s (93rd pctile. in IL, 90th pctile. in 2027 class)
  • vert. jump: 28.5 in (95th pctile. in IL, T-No. 23 in 2027 class)

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X-FACTOR

LHP Jimmy Benson (2027; TCU commit) had one of the better seasons we have seen for a sophomore pitching in arguably the top conference in the entire state, while tying a school record for wins in a season with 11. He earned 2nd Team All-State after posting a 1.09 ERA in 57 ⅔ innings with 71 strikeouts and an 11-1 record, en route to a 3A State Championship. The 6-foot-8, 227-pound southpaw provides a deceptive look on the mound, featuring a mid-80’s fastball that recently worked up to 87 mph, paired with a quality slider and effective changeup. With the Vikings moving up to 4A this year, Benson will be relied upon to be a dominant force again, on one of the more talented rosters in the state.

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NEWCOMER TO WATCH

St. Laurence will be a veteran group in 2026, retaining most of the key pieces that led them to a 3A State Title a year ago. However, they now get to deploy the top catcher in the state’s junior class in Tristan Steger (Kentucky commit), who transferred in last year but was unable to compete at the varsity level due to transfer rules in the Chicago Catholic League. The left-handed hitter will be an instant impact player in the middle of the lineup and behind the dish. He boasts a unique blend of contact and power, recently averaging 98 mph off the bat (T106.1) with a max distance of 401 feet, paired with elite bat speed (avg. 76.5 mph). Defensively, he will be crucial in helping navigate a talented St. Laurence pitching staff, while controlling the run-game with elite arm strength (82 mph), paired with equally elite glove-to-hand ability that posted pop times as low as 1.78 at our recent Preseason All-State: Upperclass. Steger will be a name to follow all spring, and it would not be a surprise to see him garner All-State consideration or even Player of the Year honors come seasons end.

𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗹𝗹-𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗨𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀: 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 ⭐

C Tristan Steger (St. Laurence, 2027; Kentucky commit) is primed for a big spring with the reigning 3A state champs.

◾6-2 | 196 lbs
◾106 mph peak EV; 93.5 mph avg.
◾T401' max distance… pic.twitter.com/DyAfeBo36B

— Prep Baseball Illinois (@PrepBaseballIL) March 6, 2026

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TEAM OUTLOOK

The defending 3A State Champions return the backbone of a program that captured a school-record 37 wins and established new program benchmarks across the board. Coach Pete Lotus, who earned the 2025 IHSBCA 3A Coach of the Year honor, returns a roster loaded with experience and championship pedigree. "We return a lot of our players from last seasons State Championship team and we have a lot of experience," Lotus said. "We will have to replace some key leaders from last year's team but we will have a group that can compete on a daily basis and can compete for a CCL Blue championship and state title."

The Vikings' offensive attack is anchored by a formidable core of returning seniors. INF/OF Cory Les (2026; Louisville) returns as the program's premier position player, having started since his sophomore season and earned All-State recognition. Les slashed .345/.490/.664 as a junior with 25 extra-base hits from 16 doubles, five triples, and four homers, which each led the team in 2025. The Louisville commit has premium left-handed strength combined with 93rd percentile speed (6.76s 60-yard dash). Les is also a key cog for the Vikings' pitching staff, and is due for a big senior season on both sides of the ball.

SS/OF Mickey Lotus (2026; Lewis University) was a First Team All-State and All-Area selection who shattered school records in 2025, setting single-season marks for stolen bases (41), runs scored (56), and tying the hits record (58). His speed remains elite with a 6.59 60-yard dash, one of the fastest in the state, while providing premium on-base ability toward the top of the lineup. 3B/OF Daniel Coyle (2026; Lewis) has been a varsity starter since his freshman year and earned All CCL, All State, and All-Area honors, and like the aforementioned Les, he will also be a factor on the mound. 1B Adrian Perez (2026; South Suburban JC) was a First Team All-CCL Blue selection as the Vikings' anchor in the middle of the lineup, batting .381 with 42 RBIs as a junior. OF/2B Danny Donovan (2026; Wisconsin-Parkside) started all 42 games last season and hit .359 with 33 RBIs and 33 runs scored.

The pitching staff returns virtually intact from the championship run, with the Vikings set to return every single win from their 37-win campaign. The rotation is headlined by LHP Jimmy Benson (2027; TCU) who tied the school's single-season record for pitching wins with 11 victories and earned All-State recognition as a sophomore. Fellow lefty LHP Samuel Chin (2026; Ball State) contributed four wins last season including one in the team's super-sectional victory. RHP John Strzechowski (2026; Lake Land JC) has been a varsity contributor since his sophomore year and was a First Team All-CCL Blue selection. The depth continues with veterans who gained valuable postseason experience. Behind the plate, C/3B Tristan Steger (2027; Kentucky) provides both offensive power and defensive stability, showcasing a 106 mph max exit velocity that ranks among the state's elite, and he'll be eager to contribute to the Vikings in his first season eligible.

St. Laurence's championship foundation was built on record-setting production, as the 2025 team established new school marks in stolen bases (185), RBI (332), hits (392), runs scored (385), walks (208), and plate appearances (1398). The Vikings also captured the Do It Stevie's Way Tournament Championship, adding to their historic season.

The core is back and reinforced by some of the state's most talented up-and-comers, giving St. Laurence more than just a chance to win 4A state in 2026. As the No. 1-ranked school on our board, they're actually our favorites to do so.

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BOTTOM LINE

St. Laurence enters 2026 as the defending 3A state champions with the talent, experience, and perhaps the least amount of question marks to repeat as state title contenders now the 4A state level. The floor is a competitive conference championship run; the ceiling is another state title with this championship-tested core.

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Find more information on the 2026 St. Laurence program below:

+ Follow them on X: @stlbaseball1
+ Follow them on Instagram: @stlvikingsbaseball
+ Visit the Prep Baseball Illinois Preseason Power 25 homepage

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