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: Brother Rice Crusaders
Preseason Rank: No. 4
Head Coach: Sean McBride
Classification: 4A
Conference: Chicago Catholic League (Blue)
2025 Record (Finish): 37-5 (IHSA 4A State, Fourth Place)
Key Players Lost: Gavin Triezenberg (Arizona), Aidan Nohava (Eastern Michigan), Jackson Natanek (Illinois State), Conner Stack, Danny Sheehan

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ROSTER PREVIEW

Returning Positional Starters: 6
Returning Starting Pitchers: 3
Returning Relief Pitchers: 4
Team Strengths: Deep lineup with elite team speed. High level defensive capabilities. 

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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 Brother Rice's top-three performers averaged across each category:

• Avg. Exit Velocity: 100.47 mph (No. 1 in the state)
• Max Exit Velocity: 109.33 mph (No. 1 in the state)
• Max FB Velocity: 89.0 mph (T-No. 19 in the state)
• Top 60-Yard: 6.55s (No. 1 in the state)

INDIVIDUAL DATA STAND-OUTS:

• Anthony Cartolano (2027) - OF - 5-8.5 , 193 lbs
  
  • max EV: 101.0 mph (90th pctile. in IL, 84th pctile. in 2027 class)
  • avg EV: 91.6 mph (85th pctile. in IL, 82nd pctile. in 2027 class)
  • bat speed: 73.4 mph (87th pctile. in IL, 87th pctile. in 2027 class)
  • rot. accel.: 21.0g (94th pctile. in IL, 92nd pctile. in 2027 class)
  • 60-yd. dash: 6.60s (T-No. 17 in IL, No. 9 in 2027 class)
  • 10-yd. split: 1.61s (93rd pctile. in IL, 90th pctile. in 2027 class)
  • vert. jump: 30.9 in (T-No. 8 in IL, T-No. 5 in 2027 class)
• Brady Cunningham (2027) - 3B/RHP - 6-3.3 , 225 lbs
  
  • max EV: 109.0 mph (No. 2 in IL, No. 2 in 2027 class)
  • avg EV: 98.7 mph (No. 10 in IL, No. 5 in 2027 class)
  • bat speed: 76.6 mph (97th pctile. in IL, No. 6 in 2027 class)
  • max fastball: 93.0 mph (T-No. 16 in IL, T-No. 10 in 2027 class)
  • 60-yd. dash: 6.52s (T-No. 6 in IL, No. 3 in 2027 class)
  • 10-yd. split: 1.58s (T-No. 21 in IL, T-No. 13 in 2027 class)
• Braydon McKendrick (2026) - LHP/OF - 5-11 , 189 lbs
  
  • IVB (rise): 17.5 in (90th pctile. in IL, T-No. 13 in 2026 class)
  • FB spin: 2204 rpm (84th pctile. in IL, 77th pctile. in 2026 class)
  • vert. jump: 28.0 in (94th pctile. in IL, T-No. 23 in 2026 class)
• Carson Ramoley (2028) - OF - 5-10 , 155 lbs
  
  • bat speed: 75.0 mph (94th pctile. in IL, No. 10 in 2028 class)
  • rot. accel.: 18.0g (85th pctile. in IL, 87th pctile. in 2028 class)
  • 60-yd. dash: 6.90s (84th pctile. in IL, 90th pctile. in 2028 class)
  • vert. jump: 27.2 in (91st pctile. in IL, T-No. 14 in 2028 class)
• Curtiss Crossley (2027) - OF/OF - 5-9 , 161 lbs
  
  • avg EV: 91.4 mph (85th pctile. in IL, 81st pctile. in 2027 class)
  • vert. jump: 28.0 in (94th pctile. in IL, 91st pctile. in 2027 class)
• Gavin Helpingstine (2028) - OF/RHP - 5-11 , 186 lbs
  
  • max EV: 101.0 mph (90th pctile. in IL, T-No. 16 in 2028 class)
  • avg EV: 91.7 mph (86th pctile. in IL, 89th pctile. in 2028 class)
  • IVB (rise): 17.1 in (87th pctile. in IL, T-No. 24 in 2028 class)
  • rot. accel.: 18.0g (85th pctile. in IL, 87th pctile. in 2028 class)
  • 60-yd. dash: 6.62s (No. 22 in IL, No. 2 in 2028 class)
  • 10-yd. split: 1.58s (T-No. 21 in IL, No. 1 in 2028 class)
  • vert. jump: 35.4 in (No. 2 in IL, No. 1 in 2028 class)
• Gavin Stanislawski (2027) - 3B/OF - 6-2.1 , 222 lbs
  
  • max EV: 111.0 mph (No. 1 in IL, No. 1 in 2027 class)
  • avg EV: 103.9 mph (T-No. 3 in IL, No. 1 in 2027 class)
  • bat speed: 81.5 mph (T-No. 2 in IL, No. 1 in 2027 class)
  • 60-yd. dash: 6.81s (89th pctile. in IL, 88th pctile. in 2027 class)
  • 10-yd. split: 1.65s (84th pctile. in IL, 79th pctile. in 2027 class)
  • vert. jump: 25.6 in (82nd pctile. in IL, 77th pctile. in 2027 class)
• Joey Escobarete (2027) - SS/2B - 5-10 , 154 lbs
  
  • avg EV: 90.6 mph (80th pctile. in IL, 76th pctile. in 2027 class)
  • 60-yd. dash: 6.61s (T-No. 21 in IL, T-No. 11 in 2027 class)
  • 10-yd. split: 1.58s (T-No. 21 in IL, T-No. 13 in 2027 class)
  • vert. jump: 29.1 in (97th pctile. in IL, T-No. 14 in 2027 class)
• Luca Agne (2027) - SS/C - 5-7.1 , 166 lbs
  
  • max EV: 101.0 mph (90th pctile. in IL, 84th pctile. in 2027 class)
  • bat speed: 74.5 mph (91st pctile. in IL, 93rd pctile. in 2027 class)
  • rot. accel.: 24.0g (T-No. 24 in IL, T-No. 10 in 2027 class)
  • 60-yd. dash: 6.83s (88th pctile. in IL, 86th pctile. in 2027 class)
  • 10-yd. split: 1.65s (84th pctile. in IL, 79th pctile. in 2027 class)
  • vert. jump: 28.4 in (95th pctile. in IL, T-No. 25 in 2027 class)
• Myles Broome (2027) - C/OF - 5-9.2 , 182 lbs
  
  • avg EV: 93.6 mph (91st pctile. in IL, 88th pctile. in 2027 class)
  • rot. accel.: 20.0g (91st pctile. in IL, 89th pctile. in 2027 class)
  • vert. jump: 30.9 in (T-No. 8 in IL, T-No. 5 in 2027 class)
• Nolan Ramoley (2026) - OF - 6-0.7 , 209 lbs
  
  • max EV: 108.0 mph (T-No. 10 in IL, T-No. 6 in 2026 class)
  • avg EV: 98.8 mph (No. 9 in IL, No. 5 in 2026 class)
  • bat speed: 80.2 mph (No. 5 in IL, No. 4 in 2026 class)
  • rot. accel.: 29.0g (T-No. 6 in IL, T-No. 4 in 2026 class)
  • 60-yd. dash: 6.52s (T-No. 6 in IL, No. 2 in 2026 class)
  • 10-yd. split: 1.57s (T-No. 9 in IL, No. 3 in 2026 class)
  • vert. jump: 32.0 in (No. 3 in IL, No. 1 in 2026 class)
• Terry Smith (2026) - OF/SS - 5-10.6 , 205 lbs
  
  • avg EV: 90.8 mph (81st pctile. in IL, 71st pctile. in 2026 class)
  • 60-yd. dash: 6.90s (84th pctile. in IL, 70th pctile. in 2026 class)
  • 10-yd. split: 1.58s (T-No. 21 in IL, T-No. 7 in 2026 class)
  • vert. jump: 31.0 in (No. 6 in IL, No. 2 in 2026 class)
• Trey Webster (2026) - C/3B - 5-7.8 , 198 lbs
  
  • 10-yd. split: 1.64s (87th pctile. in IL, 81st pctile. in 2026 class)

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X-FACTOR

Coming off a Second-Team All-State selection by us last spring, CIF/RHP Brady Cunningham (2027; Texas A&M commit) will be looked to more than ever to produce on both sides of the ball. He returns a .395 average with 18 doubles, four triples, four home runs, 29 RBIs and 39 runs scored - while also boasting a perfect 6-0 record on the mound with 53 innings, 58 strikeouts to only 18 walks and a 1.85 ERA. Currently the No. 3 ranked player in the state, Cunningham is a special talent on both sides of the ball - combining power with minimal swing/miss and elite speed. He’s also a strike thrower on the mound with a fastball that recently touched 93 mph, pairing with a curveball/slider mix and a changeup. If Cunningham can produce at a high clip once again on both sides of the ball, he could be the piece that takes this team to Joliet when it’s all said and done.

𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗹𝗹-𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗨𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀: 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 ⭐

CIF Brady Cunningham (Brother Rice, 2027; Texas A&M commit) continues to look like one of the premier right-handed bats in the Midwest.

◾109 mph peak EV; 97 mph avg.
◾T437' max distance… pic.twitter.com/Zu6pOyNCuN

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

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NEWCOMER TO WATCH

UTIL Luca Agne (2027) is entering his first year at Brother Rice, and the Crusaders are surely happy to have him. He’s a swiss army knife on the field with the ability to catch and also play on the dirt at a high level, pairing with a 6.85 in the 60 and good instincts on the bases. On top of that, he’s a switch hitter with aptitude from both sides of the plate, peaking over 100 mph in recent looks in-event with control of the barrel. Currently ranked No. 45 in the state, Agne is one of the top utility players in all of Illinois with a chance to make a huge impact for the Crusaders.

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TEAM OUTLOOK

Brother Rice enters 2026 with championship expectations after a remarkable 2025 season that saw them win 26 straight games, capture the Chicago Catholic League crown, and reach the 4A state semifinals. The Crusaders return some elite power bats led by Cunningham and 3B/OF Gavin Stanislawski (2027) – the two hardest-hitting right-handed hitters in the state. Cunningham's 109 mph max EV ranks No. 2 in the state alongside a 93 mph fastball on the mound. Stanislawski posted state-leading exit velocity numbers with a max of 111 mph and 103.9 mph average at our Preseason All-State event a couple weeks ago.

𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗹𝗹-𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗨𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀: 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 ⭐

CIF/OF Gavin Stanislawski (Brother Rice, 2027)

◾6-2 | 222 lbs
◾111 mph peak EV; 104 mph avg.
◾T401' max distance
◾T91 mph INF; T90 mph OF@Gavin_Stan13 | #ILPAS

👤… pic.twitter.com/O9tSQBT8gk

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

"We are hungry and talented," said head coach Sean McBride, whose team finished 37-5 a season ago. "This team is highly capable of winning a state championship. Our junior class is elite." That elite junior class extends to OF Anthony Cartolano (2027), who hit .385 with 25 RBIs while showcasing elite speed with a 6.60 60-yard dash time and provides outstanding defense in center field. 

𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗹𝗹-𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗨𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀: 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 ⭐

OF Anthony Cartolano (Brother Rice, 2027)

◾5-9 | 193 lbs
◾101 mph peak EV; 91.6 mph avg.
◾T387' max distance
◾6.60 runner @AnthonyCartola1 | #ILPAS

👤 https://t.co/zRttuSe6Ef pic.twitter.com/IofLCnth2b

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

MIF/RHP Colin Campbell (2027; Louisville commit) is another huge piece for them as he already has a plethora of varsity experience under his belt. He's a highly athletic left-handed hitter that provides high-level defense up the middle of the infield, and he will also likely see some innings on the mound with his strong arm. 

The aforementioned Agne and INF Joey Escobarete (2027) will help add depth both in the lineup and defensively, with Escobarete providing elite speed (6.61 60-time) - something the Crusaders have a lot of.

OF Nolan Ramoley (2026; Northwestern commit) is back and looking to finish off his prep career on a high note, and he's one of the more talented prospects in the state's senior class. He brings elite power (108 mph EV) and speed (6.52 60-time) to his game, looking to be yet another high-profile athlete and veteran presence for the Crusaders who hit .302 last spring. 

C Trey Webster (2026; Purdue Northwest commit) will be another veteran in the lineup, returning a .278 average with 16 RBIs in 2025 - while INF Charlie Rosynek (2026) will look to be another senior contributor.

Outfielders Carson Ramoley (2028) and Gavin Helpingstine (2028) are a couple underclassmen that could make an impact, and both are elite runners as well (Ramoley 6.65; Helpingstine 6.62) with athletic right-handed swings and defensive aptitude. 

The Crusaders' top returning starting pitchers include LHP Braydon McKendrick (2026; John A. Logan), who posted an 11-0 record with a 1.57 ERA and 61 strikeouts, and Cunningham, creating a formidable one-two punch atop the rotation. LHP Aidan Dillon (2027) adds depth after going 6-1 in 2025 with a mid-80s fastball and four-pitch mix.

LHP Jacob Manos (2026; Butler) is another talented option for the Crusaders in their rotation, boasting an upper-80s fastball and a pair of quality breaking balls. 

The bullpen will likely feature arms like Stanislawski, Campbell, RHP Shea Leahy (2026; Purdue Northwest commit) and RHP Austin Mrskos (2026). 

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BOTTOM LINE

The Crusaders are year in and year out one of the more talented teams in the state and this year proves no different with a plethora of impactful returners. The offense will be loaded top-to-bottom with their top two arms returning as well, making them one of the early favorites heading into the spring. 

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Find more information on the 2026 Brother Rice program below:

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

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