ST. LOUIS, Mo. – The Missouri Valley Conference league office announced its All-MVC teams on Tuesday morning.
The Illinois State baseball program had nine student-athletes recognized on the conference teams, with five Redbirds being selected for the All-MVC First Team, marking the most in program history since 2013. All nine players from Illinois State earned honors for the first time in their careers.
Redshirt Sophomore Brayden Bakes earned his first career All-MVC First Team selection after a historic performance across 2026. On Saturday, May 16, Bakes tallied four hits to surpass former Redbirds Owen Miller and Joe Aeilts for the most hits in a single season with 90 hits this season. Bakes led the Valley with four MVC Player of the Week selections and finished second in MVC Player of the Year voting, receiving three first-place votes.
Junior Graham Mastros earned All-MVC First Team honors following a career year in his second season with the Redbirds. The Northfield, Ill. native tallied a career best in hits (76), home runs (14), RBIs (46), and batting average (.365), and earned two MVC Player of the Week honors on Feb. 17 and March 10. On Monday, May 18, Mastros received his first career MVC Scholar-Athlete Team selection for his performance on the field and in the classroom across 2026.
Graduate Camden Karczewski was selected to the All-MVC First Team following an impressive debut season with the Redbirds in 2026. Karcewski matched a career-best total with 60 hits and set a new career-high with 38 runs scored in 2026. The Joliet, Ill. native becomes the first Redbird shortstop named to the All-MVC First Team since Owen Miller in 2018.
Junior Michael Addari received his first career All-MVC First Team honor after a dominant display on the mound for the Redbirds in 2026. Addari finished the regular season leading the MVC and ranked eighth in the nation with a 2.17 ERA. The Libertyville, lll. native recorded nine straight appearances from Feb. 28 to April 24 with at least five or more innings pitched and four strikeouts. Addari finished second in MVC Pitcher of the Year voting after receiving three first-place votes.
Graduate Reece Clapp earned his first career All-MVC First Team selection after playing a pivotal role out of the Redbirds' bullpen in 2026. The Columbia, Mo. native served as the closer in his first season with Illinois State, tallying a career-best total of nine saves across the campaign. Clapp stands one save shy of becoming the third player in program history to record 10 or more saves in a single season.
Junior Luke Stulga was recognized with All-MVC Second Team honors after recording career-best totals in hits (74) and runs scored (35). With six triples in 2026, Stulga recorded the most in a single season for a Redbird and is tied for the fifth most in program history. On March 17, Stulga earned his first career MVC Player of the Week selection.
Junior Ryan Bakes earned All-MVC Honorable Mention honors after a strong performance in his first season with Illinois State. The Algonquin, Ill. native tallied a single-season career-best total in hits (47), RBIs (35), and home runs (12).
Junior Michael Carrano Jr. received All-MVC Honorable Mention recognition for his contributions in his first season with the Redbirds. On May 5, Carrano Jr. was named the MVC Newcomer of the Week and earned his first career MVC Weekly Award selection. The Burbank, Ill. native becomes the first Redbird since former first baseman Judah Morris to earn All-MVC Honorable Mention recognition.
Redshirt Sophomore Carson Cormier was recognized with an All-MVC Honorable Mention honor in his first season with the Redbirds. Cormier led Illinois State with 72 strikeouts across the campaign and led the Valley with a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 7.20. On May 18, Cormier added a career-best 13 strikeouts against Murray State and became the first Redbird since Tyrelle Chadwick to record a double-digit punchout total in a game.
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