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. Joseph Ogden Spartans
Preseason Rank: No. 17
Head Coach: Josh Haley
Classification: 2A
Conference: Illinos Prairie Conference
2025 Record: 32-4 - Regional Championship Loss
Key Players Lost: Nolan Earley

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ROSTER PREVIEW

Returning Positional Starters: 7
Returning Starting Pitchers: 4
Returning Relief Pitchers: 2
Team Strengths: Depth, Experience, Starting Pitching, Team Speed, Team Defense, Offense

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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. Joseph Ogden's top-three performers averaged across each category:

• Avg. Exit Velocity: 87.8 mph 
• Max Exit Velocity: 97.0 mph
• Max FB Velocity: 87.33 mph
• Top 60-Yard: 6.90s 

INDIVIDUAL DATA STAND-OUTS:

• Asher Pruemer (2026) - RHP/2B - 5-11 , 140 lbs
  
  • CB spin: 2478 rpm (T-No. 25 in IL, T-No. 8 in 2026 class)
• Bryson Houchens (2026) - 1B/RHP - 6-1.6 , 283 lbs
  
  • bat speed: 75.6 mph (No. 48 in IL, No. 30 in 2026 class)
• Logan Rosenthal (2026) - OF/RHP - 5-8.7 , 173 lbs
  
  • rot. accel.: 17.0g (T-No. 188 in IL, T-No. 57 in 2026 class)
  • 60-yd. dash: 6.74s (T-No. 59 in IL, T-No. 21 in 2026 class)
• Trevor Ames (2026) - OF/RHP - 6-1.7 , 163 lbs
  
  • bat speed: 74.9 mph (T-No. 66 in IL, T-No. 35 in 2026 class)
  • max fastball: 88.0 mph (T-No. 152 in IL, T-No. 77 in 2026 class)
  • IVB (rise): 15.7 in (T-No. 150 in IL, No. 40 in 2026 class)
  • FB spin: 2089 rpm (T-No. 194 in IL, No. 67 in 2026 class)
  • CB spin: 2229 rpm (No. 114 in IL, No. 40 in 2026 class)
  • SL spin: 2379 rpm (No. 47 in IL, No. 25 in 2026 class)

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X-FACTOR

The collective experience of this senior class may be the biggest factor working in St. Joseph-Ogden's favor this spring. Six players are committed to play college baseball, headlined by a rotation that returns three senior arms in Asher Pruemer, Trevor Ames and Parker Fitch, who combined for over 116 innings a season ago. At the plate, the Spartans bring back a proven core in Logan Rosenthal, Bryson Houchens and Will Haley, all of whom were key contributors in a 32-win season. If this group performs to its ceiling, St. Joseph-Ogden has the makings of one of the deeper senior classes in the state.

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TEAM OUTLOOK

St. Joseph-Ogden enters 2026 with plenty of momentum following a 32-win campaign that ended with a regional championship loss. "We will return seven starters off a 32-win season," said head coach Josh Haley, who brings a 477-204-2 career record to the dugout. "The rotation will include four returning pitchers in Asher Pruemer, Parker Fitch, Bryson Houchens and Trevor Ames. The offense will be led by top of order hitters Logan Rosenthal and Will Haley, and middle of order hitters Bryson Houchens and Trevor Ames."

The pitching staff is headlined by RHP/2B Asher Pruemer (2026; Kaskaskia College), who went 8-0 with a 0.31 ERA across 45 innings last spring. RHP/OF Trevor Ames (2026; Morton College) provides another frontline option after posting a 0.30 ERA across 23.2 innings while also hitting .437 at the plate. RHP/1B Parker Fitch (2026; Lake Land College) and RHP Bryson Houchens (2026; Morton College) round out a deep rotation, with Fitch logging 47.2 innings a season ago, and Houchens being another arm that our staff has seen work in the low-80s with a fastball up to 85 mph.

The offensive attack will be spearheaded by OF Logan Rosenthal (2026; Heartland College), who hit .322 with 44 runs scored and 27 stolen bases last spring. RHP/1B Houchens (2026; Morton College) brings pop in the middle of the order, hitting .466 with seven home runs and 43 RBI while also contributing on the mound. C/OF Will Haley (2026; Kankakee CC) provides veteran leadership behind the plate, while SS Kodey McKinney (2026) and Pruemer will provide positional depth.

INF/P Finn Miller (2027), OF/RHP Tyler Wright (2027), and INF/RHP Dalton York (2027) are three more names expected to contribute to this year's team.

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BOTTOM LINE

St. Joseph-Ogden has the pitching depth and offensive firepower to make a deep postseason run, and with this much experience returning, the Spartans are well-positioned heading into the spring.

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Find more information on the 2026 St. Joseph Ogden program below:

+ Follow them on social media: @SJOBaseball
+ Visit the Prep Baseball Illinois Preseason Power 25 homepage

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