Baseball Season Preview Capsules

The spring sports have started! Let’s check out what our coaches have to say about their teams this upcoming season

*All coaches were contacted multiple times for this exercise. Those responses are below.

School: Disney II Titans

Last season’s record: 12-12 overall, 7-5 in conference

Returning starters (name, class, position, stats and honors):

Main returning starting players:

David Herrera, 2028 top starting Pitcher/SS/OF; MVP of team, All Conference Player, .293 Avg, 15 R, 22 RBI, 22 SB; 21 IP, 35 K, 18 BB, 0-0 record.

Avery Coughlin, 2027, Catcher/Pitcher; .237 avg, 17 r, 12 rbi,12 sb.

Ethan Elliott, 2026, can play all positions on field, #3 starting pitcher; .372, 25 r, 8 rbi, 34 sb

Marcus Grier, 2026, CF/LHP; .283, 26 r, 17 rbi, 45 sb

Gio Aponte, 2027, OF/#2 Starting Pitcher

Victor Rivera, 2028, 3B/P

Returning starters that were not every day starting players last year:

Caesar Urquieta, 2028, 2B

Alex Cruz, 2028, OF

Elijiah DeJesus, 2027, 1B

Returning non-starters (name, class, position):

Jonathan Sanchez, 2027 2B/C

Tito Roldan, 2027, OF

Evan Perez, 2027, OF/2B/P

Top newcomers (name, class, position):

Cooper Wollek, 2029, 2B/1B/C

Finn Angel, 2029, SS/OF/P

Coach’s season outlook:

We will be trying to win our conference this year, the 3rd Level on the North Side of CPS. Our main competition for winning our conference will be Prosser HS.

School name: Farragut Career Academy

Last season’s record: 17-8-1

Social media handle: https://www.instagram.com/farragutadmiralsbaseball/?hl=en

College commits: Ben DeMateo (Concordia)

Returning starters (name, class, position, honors):

Yoel Guerra – 2A All State, Infield, Class of 2026

Ben DeMateo – All City Honorable Mention, Infield, Pitcher, Class of 2026

Nico Roman – All Conference, Catcher, Class of 2027

Robert Trejo – 1B, Pitcher, Class of 2026

Freddy Garcia – Infield, Class of 2027

Returning non-starters (name, class, position):

Cristian Flores, 3B, Pitcher, Class of 2026

Jahdiel Zambrana – OF, Class of 2026

Crhistopher Quintero – OF, Pitcher, Class of 2028

Ethan Ocampo – OF, Class of 2027

Games to watch:

Latino Baseball Classic – @ UIC 5/3 vs. Clemente

Battle for the Belt – 5/8 vs. Juarez

Coach’s season outlook: We are looking to build on the success of our 16-inch softball City Championship. Our goal is to win the National North Conference Championship and an IHSA Regional Championship. We came close last year, finishing 10-3 in conference and lost in the Regional title game to Hope Academy. We face a daunting non-conference schedule that will prepare us for the season with games against Brooks, Jones, Solorio, Lake View, Holy Trinity, De La Salle, and Kennedy. This is the strongest team in our programs’ history, and we are ready to surprise the city.

School: Hancock College Prep
Last season’s record: 14-18
Social media handle: @hancockbaseball
College commits: Ryan Ostrowski – Judson University

Returning starters (name, class, position, stats and honors):
Ryan Ostrowski, 3B/1B/P led the state in RBIs, was all-conference, honorable mention city and state

Eddie Hernandez, CF/RHP, led team in stole bases, was all-conference

Laith Ahmad, LHP, was team cy young award winner and all-conference

Emiliano Leon, 1B/RHP, defensive player of the year, all-conference

Returning non-starters (name, class, position):
Gael Martinez Senior RF RHP

David Rosales Senior 2B

Alejandro Porros Junior C RHP

Top newcomers (name, class, position):
Saul Martinez Freshman SS RHP

Earl Huang Freshman C

Coach’s season outlook:
I love our chances of winning our conference we will find out very early how good we are we a loaded non-conference schedule. We have been working very hard in the offseason and now that the season is here we are going to get after from the start. And I tell them I’m giving you the season on a silver platter what are you going to do eat off the platter or let the food sit there.

Jones

School name: Jones College Prep
Last season’s record: 14-18, 6-8 JRSouth
Social media handle: jcp.bsbl (Instagram)
College commits: Renzo Sansonetti RHP, Macalester College

Returning starters (name, class, position, stats and honors):
Madden Asbaty, sophomore, SS/P .356/.500 average, OBP, 2.88 ERA, 2nd team All City

Jack Hiltz, junior, CF/P, .300/.420

Jack Condne, senior, LHP/1B, 3.2 ERA

Christophe DeWijkerslooth, junior, IF/P, .364/.450

Renzo Sansonetti, senior, Utility/P

Gio Delgado. junior, LHP, 4-3, 3.32 ERA

Returning non-starters (name, class, position):

Sam Haruska, senior, DH

Sam Tidmarsh, senior, RHP

Top newcomers (name, class, position):

Henry Kujawa, junior OF/P

Aaron Perez, sophomore, C

Chris Huang, sophomore, OF

Simon Taylor, freshman, IF/P

Games to watch:

Morgan Park at UIC, Jackie Robinson Day, April 15, 6:30 start

Coach’s season outlook:

We have 10 pitchers so we should compete for the conference championship

School: Kennedy HS

Last Season’s record: 23-11

Social media handle: Instagram: jfkcrusaders_baseball; X: @KennedyBSBL; FB, Kennedy Crusaders Baseball

College commits: Alec Mendoza Triton College

Returning starters (name, class, position and honors):

Alec Mendoza, Class of 26, OF

Mason Rychetsky, Class of 27, Pitcher, PBR Ranked 22

Jaycob Solorio, Class of 28, SS

Nicholas Reyes, Class of 28, CF

Christian Estrada, Class of 27, 3B

Luke Zavala, Class of 26, 1B

Returning non-starters (name, class, position):

Jayden Sanders, Class of 27, Catcher

Issac Quintanilla, Class of 27, Pitcher

Top newcomers (name, class, position):

Omari Mosqueda, Class of 29, IF

Games to watch:

5/3 vs Solorio at UIC Granderson Stadium, Latino Baseball Classic

Coach’s season outlook:

Looking to compete in a tough JRS conference and vs a competitive non-conference schedule. Projecting 17-16 season.

Lane

School name: Lane Tech College Prep

Last season’s record: 27-11

Social media handles:

X: @LTBaseball
IG: @lanetechbaseball_

College commits:

Zolan Wyatt: University of Wisc. – Oshkosh
Matt Young: University of Wisc. – Whitewater
Ronan Owens: University of Massachusetts – Amherst
Alex Delaney: Hope College
Alex Zeigler: Grinnell College
Jacob DeVinney: St. Mary’s University
Rory Irwin: University of Dubuque

Returning starters (name, class, position, stats and honors):

SP: Dodger Friedrich – 6-2, 47.1 IP, 2.22 ERA, 1.056 WHIP, 56 K, 5.6 K/BB … All City – First Team
SP Ronan Owens – 5-3, 1 SV, 53.0 IP, 2.51 ERA, 52 K, 1.302 WHIP … All Conference
SP Charlie Lust- 4-1, 40.1 IP, 4.17 ERA, 1.54 WHIP, 36 K/ 10 BB
RP: Alex Delaney – 4-1, 1.93 ERA, 31 K, 29 IP, 1.48 WHIP
RP: Hunter Smith – 4-0, 2 SV, 1 BS, 1.56 ERA, 31 K, 22.1 IP, 1.21 WHIP
C: Jacob DeVinney – 1 HR, 24 RBI, .398 batting average (team high) … All City – Honorable Mention
1B: Miles Mazanowski – .286 AVG / .365 OBP / .365 SLG and .995 Fielding Percentage as sophomore.
3B: Conor Sullivan – 1 HR, 22 RBI, 21 R, .406 OBP
OF: Matt Young – .521 OBP, .395 AVG, 2 2B, 1 3B, 14 R in injury shortened season
UTIL: Alex Zeigler – 1 HR, 15 RBI, 4 3B
C/DH/1B: Zolan Wyatt – 2 HR, 15 RBI, .972 OPS

Returning non-starters (name, class, position, stats):

Donovan Yoest, SR, LHP, 2.0 IP
Rory Irwin, SR, C/OF, .326 AVG, 19 GP
Jake Saltarelli, JR, RHP (N/A Injured)
Luke Kam, 5 GP
Jorge Castellon, 9 GP, 3 R
Jeremiah Aguiniga, 9 GP, .286 AVG

Top newcomers (name, class, position):

Paris Head, FR, IF
Eric Acevedo, JR, SS
Luke Sutkus, SR, OF
Jorge Contes, JR, C
Isaiah Martin, JR, OF
Ethan Data, JR, 1B
JJ Stoner, JR, LHP
Cruz Warren, JR, LHP
Nathan Wong, JR, OF

Games to watch:

@ York, 5/9, 10 a.m.

Coach’s season outlook:

Lane Tech faces heavy turnover up the middle and on offense, while bringing back a majority of its decorated pitching staff for 2026. The graduation of Teo Greco, Tyler Trapp and Henry Murray leaves nine years of varsity experience and big shoes to fill in terms of run production. Helping plug the gaps will be Eric Acevdeo and Paris Head in the infield and UW-Whitewater commit Matt Young in center.

On the mound, the 1-2 combination of sophomore Dodger Friedrich and Ronan Owens (UMass) makes one of the top starting duos in the city, while the bullpen is bolstered by Alex Delaney (Hope) and Hunter Smith. Combined, these four arms were 19-6 and threw 151 innings, while striking out 170 batters in 2025.

Catching is not in short supply for the Champions with all-city nominee Jacob DeVinney (St. Mary’s) returning and fellow college commits Rory Irwin (Dubuque) and Zolan Wyatt (UW-Oshkosh) ready to suit up behind the dish.

The long-time dream is a sectional title and this year’s team of 18 returning players is looking to break through and add that new piece of hardware for the storied Lane Tech program.

Morgan Park

School: Morgan Park High School
Last season’s record: 16-10-3
Social media handle: morganparkbaseball (Instagram), MorganParkBSB (Twitter)
College commits: Keenan Harrell (Triton), Jacque Lewis (Triton), Miguel Villegas (Triton)

Returning starters (name, class, position, and honors (if any)):
Kamerin Green, Junior 2027, Corner Infielder, CPL All Conference
Keenan Harrell, Senior 2026, Pitcher, CPL All Conference
Gabriel Ramirez, Senior 2026, Catcher

Returning non-starters (name, class, position):
Quentin Winston, Sophomore 2028, Utility

Top newcomers (name, class, position):
Miguel Villegas, Senior 2026, Infielder

Coach’s season outlook:
I believe we’ll be a well-rounded team with multiple ways of winning a baseball game. We look to be a more disciplined team than last year looking to be in competitive ball games all year, playing the game hard, with pride, and the right way. We have a great mix of Seniors, Juniors, and Sophomores leading the charge.

School: Payton College Prep

Last season’s record: 19-18

College commits: Nick Linares, Pitcher – Holy Cross University

Returning starters (name, class, position and honors):

Nick Linares – senior, pitcher – infielder. 1st team all-conference. 4 year starter

Sam Merrill – senior, pitcher – centerfielder – catcher. 4 year starter

Caleb Salgado – senior, shortstop. 4 year starter

John Seward – senior, 3rd base – pitcher

Max MacKenzie – senior, outfielder – pitcher

Returning non-starters (name, class, position):

Lee Stratton – senior, infielder – pitcher

Top newcomers (name, class, position):

Jarek Diaz – junior – infielder

Anden Hong – junior – outfielder

Kobe Ferguson – junior – infielder

Lukas Pieper – soph. – outfielder

Evan Hanna – soph – pitcher – infielder

Jack Zaikos – soph – pitcher – infielder

Xavier Zapata – freshmen – infielder

Brock Bentley – senior – outfielder

Thomas Fitchett – senior – outfielder

Coach’s season outlook:

Payton advanced to the sectional final last year – the team has some newcomers that need experience. Pitching staff needs to throw strikes to be successful, The team should show growth as the season progresses. Hoping to play our best baseball by midseason.

School: Rickover Naval Academy High School

Last Year’s Record: 3 – 9

Social Media Page: Rickover Naval Academy HS (on Facebook)

Official Team Roster: Devin Olmo (Sr.), Brandon Carrion (Sr.), Yeriel Aldea (Sr.), Gavin Nunez (Jr.), Ramsse’s Lepe Morales (Jr.), Kyle Begovic (Jr.), Marvin Chinchilla (Jr.), Aydan Moreno (Jr.), Henry Gonzalez (So.), Aydan Galindo-Pena (So.), Noah Ortiz (So.), Thiago Arriaga (Fr.), Nolan Johnson (Fr.), Christian Nagle (Fr.), Ivan Chapple (Fr.)