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: Lane Tech Champions
Preseason Rank: No. 10
Head Coach: Sean Freeman
Classification: 4A
Conference: Jackie Robinson North
2025 Record: 27-11 (sectional semi-finalist)
Key Players Lost: Teo Greco (MATC), Bennett Levinson (Tufts), Henry Murray (Dartmouth), Tyler Trapp (Triton) 

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ROSTER PREVIEW

Returning Positional Starters: 5
Returning Starting Pitchers: 3
Returning Relief Pitchers: 4
Team Strengths: Pitching and overall depth

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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 Lane Tech's top-three performers averaged across each category:

• Avg. Exit Velocity: 94.97 mph (No. 13 in the state)
• Max Exit Velocity: 105.0 mph (T-No. 4 in the state)
• Max FB Velocity: 91.67 mph (No. 1 in the state)
• Top 60-Yard: 6.88s (No. 25 in the state)

INDIVIDUAL DATA STAND-OUTS:

• Dodger Friedrich (2028) - RHP/OF - 6-4.1 , 243 lbs
  
  • max fastball: 94.0 mph (T-No. 7 in IL, No. 1 in 2028 class)
• ET Data (2027) - 3B/1B - 5-11 , 209 lbs
  
  • max EV: 104.0 mph (97th pctile. in IL, T-No. 20 in 2027 class)
  • bat speed: 72.2 mph (80th pctile. in IL, 78th pctile. in 2027 class)
• Isaiah Martin (2027) - OF/2B - 5-10.2 , 178 lbs
  
  • max EV: 99.0 mph (82nd pctile. in IL, 74th pctile. in 2027 class)
  • bat speed: 73.2 mph (85th pctile. in IL, 86th pctile. in 2027 class)
  • rot. accel.: 20.0g (91st pctile. in IL, 89th pctile. in 2027 class)
  • 60-yd. dash: 6.69s (96th pctile. in IL, T-No. 16 in 2027 class)
  • 10-yd. split: 1.60s (95th pctile. in IL, 92nd pctile. in 2027 class)
  • vert. jump: 27.9 in (94th pctile. in IL, 91st pctile. in 2027 class)
• Miles Mazanowski (2027) - 3B/RHP - 6-1.5 , 210 lbs
  
  • max EV: 103.0 mph (95th pctile. in IL, T-No. 25 in 2027 class)
  • avg EV: 96.9 mph (No. 23 in IL, No. 12 in 2027 class)
  • bat speed: 74.7 mph (92nd pctile. in IL, T-No. 22 in 2027 class)
  • max fastball: 91.0 mph (93rd pctile. in IL, T-No. 20 in 2027 class)
  • IVB (rise): 16.6 in (84th pctile. in IL, 82nd pctile. in 2027 class)
  • FB spin: 2356 rpm (No. 23 in IL, No. 11 in 2027 class)
  • CB spin: 2709 rpm (No. 7 in IL, No. 3 in 2027 class)
  • SL spin: 2905 rpm (No. 3 in IL, No. 2 in 2027 class)
• Ronan Owens (2026) - RHP - 6-2.7 , 198 lbs
  
  • max fastball: 90.0 mph (89th pctile. in IL, 82nd pctile. in 2026 class)
  • FB spin: 2370 rpm (T-No. 19 in IL, No. 7 in 2026 class)
  • CB spin: 2345 rpm (85th pctile. in IL, No. 25 in 2026 class)
  • SL spin: 2316 rpm (81st pctile. in IL, 69th pctile. in 2026 class)
• Tanner Toback (2027) - SS/3B - 5-6.5 , 168 lbs
  
  • avg EV: 91.7 mph (86th pctile. in IL, 82nd pctile. in 2027 class)
  • bat speed: 74.3 mph (91st pctile. in IL, 92nd pctile. in 2027 class)
  • vert. jump: 25.3 in (80th pctile. in IL, 75th pctile. in 2027 class)
• Zolan Wyatt (2026) - C/1B - 6-2 , 192 lbs
  
  • max EV: 108.0 mph (T-No. 10 in IL, T-No. 6 in 2026 class)
  • avg EV: 96.3 mph (97th pctile. in IL, No. 14 in 2026 class)
  • vert. jump: 26.3 in (87th pctile. in IL, 78th pctile. in 2026 class)

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X-FACTOR

RHP Dodger Friedrich (2028) is one of the more exciting pitching prospects across all of the Midwest right now, recently giving a loud look at our Preseason All-State Underclass event. He was a dominant presence a year ago as just a freshman, turning in a 6-2 record with 47.1 innings pitched, a 2.22 ERA and 56 strikeouts to only 10 walks. The fastball will sit in the low-90s, topping out at 94 mph a couple weeks ago with a firm slider and wipeout splitter to go along with it. Currently ranked No. 2 in the state and No. 43 in the country, the talent is clearly there, and if he can dominate and be a true ace, the Champions will be in really good shape this coming spring.

𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗹𝗹-𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗨𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀: 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 ⭐

RHP Dodger Friedrich (Lane Tech, 2028) was an impact varsity starter as a freshman for @LTBaseball in 2025. He continued to showcase one of the strongest arms in the class.

◾ 6-foot-4,… pic.twitter.com/agRt4NwEdV

— Prep Baseball Illinois (@PrepBaseballIL) March 5, 2026

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NEWCOMER TO WATCH

Staying on the topic of exciting prospects, the Champions have another one in INF/RHP Paris Head (2029), our top-ranked freshman in the state. Head brings an advanced skillset to the diamond with him, looking to be a premier defender on the infield with enormous upside at the plate. The Champions are already loaded on the mound, but Head could also potentially see some innings with an upper-80s fastball and a couple different breaking balls. No stranger to talented underclassmen who contribute right away, Lane Tech looks to have yet another with Head. 

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TEAM OUTLOOK

Lane Tech enters the 2026 season looking to build on a successful 2025 campaign that saw the Champions capture 27 wins, the most during Sean Freeman's tenure as head coach. 

"We have a lot of returning players (18) from last year's team that are battle tested and lots of young talent pushing those guys," Freeman said. "This will be the deepest and most experienced group we've had since I've been the coach with a talented and deep pitching staff." The pitching rotation will be anchored Friedrich, whose 94 mph fastball ranks as the top velocity among all 2028 prospects in Illinois. Senior RHP Ronan Owens (2026; Massachusetts) brings a 90 mph fastball along with 53 innings from a season ago and a 2.51 ERA.

Junior 3B/RHP Miles Mazanowski (2027) offers two-way versatility with a 91 mph fastball and elite spin rates on his breaking balls, along with a physical right-handed bat. 

Offensively, the Champions return significant production led by 1B Zolan Wyatt (2026; Wisconsin-Oshkosh), whose 108 mph max exit velocity ranks T-6th among all 2026 prospects statewide. On top of the measurables, he posted a .306 average with two home runs and 15 RBI in 2025. 

Eric Acevedo (2027) and Tanner Toback (2027) are a couple names that could see time on the infield, both showing upside at the plate with sound gloves defensively. CIF ET Data (2027) brings significant power with a 104 mph max exit velocity, while OF/2B Isaiah Martin (2027) adds speed and athleticism with a 6.69-second 60-yard dash. C Jacob DeVinney (2026; St. Mary's) returns behind the plate after hitting .398 with 24 RBI in 98 at-bats in 2025.

C/OF Rory Irwin (2026; Dubuque), INF Connor Sullivan (2026) and OF Matt Young (2026; Wisconsin-Whitewater) are three more names that coach Freeman will look to in order to help boost the offense. 

The 2025 season highlighted the program's rising trajectory, featuring Tyler Trapp (2025; Triton) earning City Player of the Year honors, with six seniors earning college commitments. Lane Tech won their conference at 13-1 and advanced through a state regional before falling to Maine South in the sectional semifinals. With five returning positional starters and seven returning pitchers, Freeman's squad has the depth and experience to make another strong postseason run in 2026.

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BOTTOM LINE

The Champions are coming off a 27-win year with one of the youngest teams coach Freeman has had. The pitching will be a strong point with a mix of some young talent and returners, but all have been battle-tested nonetheless, providing plenty of depth both in the rotation and in the ‘pen. Their lineup is also very deep, with once again some key returners and talented newcomers, making this one of the more talented teams from top-to-bottom that Lane Tech has had in quite some time. 

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Find more information on the 2026 Lane Tech program below:

+ Follow them on social media: X: @LTBaseball IG: @lanetechbaseball_
+ Visit the Prep Baseball Illinois Preseason Power 25 homepage

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