NORMAL, Ill. – Illinois State head coach Steve Holm and his staff have announced their 2027 signing class.
The class of 2027 consists of four new Redbirds who have officially signed their scholarship agreements, continuing their athletic and academic careers at Illinois State University.
Incoming Redbirds include Brandon Beasley (Oak Park, Ill.), Easton DeBernardi (Ottawa, Ill.), Cooper Doan (St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada), and Jack Spielmann (Milton, Wis.).
"We're really excited about this 2027 recruiting class," said Holm. "We feel each of these young men is a great fit for our program and the direction college baseball is moving. They bring the ability to compete for opportunities on the field early in their careers while continuing to develop and grow within the program. Most importantly, we believe this group has the talent and makeup to help us win baseball games."
Brandon Beasley joins the Redbird program as the third-ranked outfielder and 21st-ranked player in Illinois by Perfect Game, competing at Oak Park River Forest High School. Throughout his career, Beasley has gathered a .371 batting average with four home runs, 60 RBIs, 52 hits, and an OPS over 1.100 in 58 games. The senior has made the Honor Roll every semester in high school.
Easton DeBernardi heads to Normal as the 14th-ranked outfielder in Illinois. He set the home run record at Marquette Academy High School with 13 during his junior year. The native of Ottawa, Illinois, earned Varsity Defensive Player and Most Improved Baseball Player awards with the Crusaders, along with being a state champion following the 2025 IHSA Class 1A State Championship Game against Father McGivney Catholic High School. Away from baseball, DeBernardi was a Student Council Class Officer and member of the National Honors Society with a 4.05 GPA. He competed on the football team, earning Second-Team All-Conference honors. His sister, Cabella, is a current member on the Illinois State cheer team.
Cooper Doan comes to Illinois State from St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada, ranked as the seventh-best right-hander and 25th-best player in Canada, according to Perfect Game. He attends Parkside Collegiate Institute and competes for the London Badgers AAA program, where he helped his team win their division as a freshman and sophomore. Doan competed in the 2025 Prep Baseball Futures Games, where he was named a Top Performer. Prior to his sophomore year in 2024, he represented Team Canada at The World Comes to Palm Beaches tournament in Florida.
Jack Spielmann joins the Redbirds as the 10th-ranked player and second-ranked catcher in the state of Wisconsin. The Milton, Wisconsin, native has recorded a .381 batting average with 74 hits, 45 RBIs, 40 walks, and 56 runs scored over 80 career games played. He is a four-year team captain for Milton, helping the Red Hawks reach the WIAA 1A Quarterfinals in the 2026 State Tournament. Spielmann was named the team's MVP during his freshman season. His father, Brian, played collegiate baseball at Bradley University.
"I also want to recognize and thank our assistant coaches for the work they put into bringing this class together," Holm mentioned. "Our recruiting coordinator, Brad Jarreau, has been relentless throughout the process. We continued to add talented players right up until the final week or two, and that kind of persistence, attention to detail, and commitment to our program is something we greatly appreciate. I'm proud of the work our staff put in to assemble this class, and we're excited about what these young men will bring to our program."
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