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: Father McGivney Griffins
Preseason Rank: N/A
Head Coach: Chris Erwin
Classification: 2A
Conference: Gateway Metro
2025 Record (Finish): 38-4, 1A state runner up
Key Players Lost: Kannon Kamp, Drew Kleinheider, Justin Terhaar

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ROSTER PREVIEW

No. of Returning Positional Starters: 4
No. of Returning Starting Pitchers: 3
No. of Returning Relief Pitchers: 2
Team Strengths: Pitching and defense, playoff experience

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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-five metrics recorded by players from each high school in the following categories. Here is how Father McGivney ranked among them:

INDIVIDUAL STAND-OUTS (DATA MENU):

• Isaac Wendler (2026) - 1B/RHP - 6-1, 209 lbs
  
  • 60-yd. dash: 6.83s (T-No. 107 in IL, T-No. 41 in 2026 class)

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X-FACTOR

Perhaps no player embodies the Father McGivney aggressive play style more than OF Omar Avalos (2027; Southern Illinois-Edwardsville), who will be entering his third season at the varsity level. The SIUE commit slashed .390/.531/.724, as well as clubbing a team-leading 8 home runs and stole 34 bases, which is the most of any returning player. Avalos has been everything you could ask for a Griffins offense that loves to be aggressive on the basepaths, and he will be looked upon to help lead an offense for a program that has been one of the state’s best over the past few seasons.

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TEAM OUTLOOK

Coming off a 38-4 season that culminated in a 1A state runner-up finish, the Griffins have the tough task of replacing the production left behind by graduating seniors on both sides of the ball. Despite the difficult task at hand, making a state final run remains the same goal. With the success the program has had since head coach Chris Erwin took over in 2021, Father McGivney has given us little reason to doubt that they cannot make another run at state.

A strong foundation of the team remains intact, with a pair of two-way Illinois-Springfield commits set to lead the team on both sides of the ball. 1B/RHP Isaac Wendler (2026; Illinois-Springfield)  had a dominant 2025 season, hitting .402 on the season with 5 home runs and 44 RBIs, and was just as effective on the mound, going 6-1 with a 1.91 ERA on the year. P/CF Ben Sink (2026; Illinois-Springfield) will help anchor the rotation and play an important role in the lineup as well. A lefty option on both sides of the ball, Sink was dominant last spring, hitting .340 on the season and compiling a perfect 5-0 record and logging a team-leading 1.50 ERA. 

Along with the previously mentioned Omar Avalos (2027; Southern Illinois-Edwardsville), C Scott Phelps (Kaskaskia, 2026) will return to the lineup after an impressive 2025 campaign. His .398 average last spring was good enough for the second highest average of any returning player to this lineup. INF Ty Etchison (2026; John Wood) will likely make a regular appearance in the lineup after a solid 2025 season. Juniors INF Jack Rolves (2027), INF Max Reznack (2027) and INF Jacoby Danco (2027) are a few names to keep in mind for everyday roles after seeing limited varsity action in 2025. "Despite having a healthy amount of turnover in a 2025 lineup that was laden with college bound seniors, we return 4 key pieces and reload with juniors and a sophomore who are hungry to prove themselves," Coach Erwin noted.

The aforementioned Etchison and RHP Aiden Willis (2027) both saw limited action in the rotation in 2025, but that should change this spring with the holes left by the recent departures. Underclassmen such as C/P Grant Reed (2028; uncommitted) and INF/P Paddy Martin (2028; uncommitted), and  RHP Will Heinz (2029) will likely be thrust into varsity action for the first time in their high school career.

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BOTTOM LINE

The ceiling for this team is still very high, but this will likely be a more difficult road to state than in years past. The Griffins will face 2A action in the playoffs for the first time since 2023, but they are still primed to make a deep state run. With the talent on this team and recent success that they have had, do not be surprised if you see the Father McGivney Griffins making another run for state. 

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Find more information on the 2026 Father McGivney program below:

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

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