Illini baseball reaches new heights over summer break
By Rich Eberwein, Staff Writer
August 24, 2020
With the Big Ten postponing all fall sports due to COVID-19, the Illinois baseball team won’t be able to participate in their fall exhibition games and will instead look to the spring and hope their regular season is still on track for a February debut. Until then, we can look back on some highligh...
Former Illini Joey Gerber makes MLB debut
By Rich Eberwein, Staff Writer
August 6, 2020
Former Illini closer Joey Gerber pitched in his first Major League game with the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday. Gerber entered in the sixth inning in a contest against the Angels which took place at T-Mobile Park in Seattle. During his outing, the 23-year-old right-hander set down all three men he faced,...
Remembering Lou Henson: Former Illini, friends honor late Illinois legend
By Gabby Hajduk, Sports Editor
July 31, 2020
Lou Henson is not only a legend in the Illinois and New Mexico State basketball communities but in all of college basketball. Henson, who passed away Saturday at the age of 88, will, more importantly, be remembered as a man of kindness and grace. Henson coached collegiate basketball for 41 years, spending four...
Starting pitchers exceptional for Illini in recent years
By Rich Eberwein, Staff Writer
July 29, 2020
Looking at the Illinois baseball team’s success over the years, quality starting pitching is a consistent factor in each winning season. Head coach Dan Hartleb will have to work his magic to shore up a thin starting rotation for the 2021 season. However, if Hartleb’s past work says anything, it'...
Opening day has finally arrived
By Rich Eberwein, Staff Writer
July 24, 2020
Better late than never, right? After a four-month hiatus thanks to the coronavirus, the first MLB regular season games were played last night. With only 60 games on the schedule, the stakes are a lot higher this year in an all-out sprint to October in a year that has “strange” written all over it. At...
Baseball America ranks Maldonado as top 100 draft prospect
By Rich Eberwein, Staff Writer
July 21, 2020
Illinois junior Aidan Maldonado ranked No. 77 on Baseball America’s top 100 2021 draft prospects list this week. Maldonado was drafted out of high school by the Milwaukee Brewers in 2018. The 5-11 righty was a four-year letter winner at Rosemount high school in Minnesota and was named the No. 2 re...
Illini bullpen impresses in 2010s
By Rich Eberwein, Staff Writer
July 17, 2020
Illinois saw much success over the last decade with four NCAA tournament appearances, two Big Ten Championships and one Super Regional appearance in 2015. A major factor to the last decade’s fortune was a strong bullpen presence that spawned some of the best relievers in Illinois history. Tyler Jay...
Three stand out with best offensive performances in Illini baseball history
By Rich Eberwein, Staff Writer
July 16, 2020
During the brief 2020 baseball season, it looked as though Illinois shortstop Brandon Comia was on his way to a memorable offensive season after finishing with the fourth best batting average in the Big Ten. Perhaps he will add his name to the list below when baseball returns to Illinois Field. Until tha...
Another college baseball program falls victim to virus
By Rich Eberwein, Staff Writer
July 9, 2020
Boise State announced the elimination of its baseball, swimming and diving programs last week. Just three years ago, the Broncos decided to reactivate their baseball team after decades of dormancy dating back to 1980. "Today's decision came after an extensive review and in-depth analysis of the athletics...
Former Illini closer Joey Gerber named to Seattle Mariners’ 60-man roster
By Rich Eberwein, Staff Writer
July 2, 2020
Prior to the announcement of Garrett Acton signing with the Athletics, Joey Gerber, another former Illini closer, was named to the Seattle Mariners’ 60-man roster on Monday. The Maple Grove, Minnesota, native ranks fourth on Illinois’s all-time saves list with 22 over three seasons. Gerber broke...
Garrett Acton heads to Bay Area
By Rich Eberwein, Staff Writer
June 30, 2020
Illinois closer Garrett Acton is the latest Illini senior to move on to a professional career. Following the 2020 MLB draft, the Oakland Athletics offered Acton a free agent contract which he accepted two weeks ago. Acton’s time at Illinois was brief but impactful. Following his sophomore year,...
MLB finally gets 2020 plan in motion
By Rich Eberwein, Staff Writer
June 25, 2020
As if the cancellation of sporting events due to a global pandemic wasn’t enough, MLB owners and the Player’s Association finally wrapped up months of negotiations that were both uncomfortable to watch and embarrassing for the game. For a sport that desperately needed a pick-me-up before the clock...
