NORMAL, Ill. – The 2026 MLB season continues moving along through mid-August, as Illinois State baseball alumni are spread out across various levels of professional baseball. Here is a glimpse at the 14 Redbirds in the pros.
Brent Headrick, LHP, New York Yankees (MLB)
Headrick has recorded a team-high and second-most appearances in the American League with 62 for New York in 2026, last pitching on August 12 against Seattle, collecting three strikeouts in one inning of work. The left-hander continues to have a career season in his second year with the Yankees' organization.
Through August 13, Headrick has a 6-1 record with 19 holds. The Braidwood, Illinois, native has gathered an outstanding 1.47 ERA over 61 1/3 innings, allowing 10 earned runs and 19 walks. He has collected a 1.11 WHIP and a team-best 76 strikeouts among Yankee relievers. His 51 scoreless appearances are the most by a Yankee pitcher through the 119 games in franchise history.
The Yankees currently are in second place in the American League East division with a record of 68-53, trailing the Tampa Bay Rays by 6 1/2 games. The team sits in the top wild-card position in the American League, leading the Boston Red Sox by three games.
John Rave, OF, Kansas City Royals (MLB) / Omaha Storm Chasers (AAA)
Rave has spent the 2026 season between Kansas City and Omaha, appearing in a total of 98 games this year.
In 77 games with the Storm Chasers, Rave has collected impressive offensive numbers, recording a .285 batting average, 13 home runs, 45 RBIs, 18 stolen bases, a .396 on-base percentage, and a team-high 54 walks.
The Canton, Illinois, native was recently called back up to Kansas City on July 29, appearing in 12 games since then. He has a batting average of .241 during this stretch, along with seven hits, one home run, one RBI, two walks, and four runs scored. Rave last appeared Wednesday, August 12, against the Los Angeles Dodgers, where he went 0-for-1 off the bench.
Brock Stewart, RHP, Los Angeles Dodgers (MLB) / Oklahoma City Comets (AAA) / Ontario Tower Buzzers (A)
Stewart has split time between Los Angeles, Oklahoma City, and Ontario during the 2026 season, playing in 26 games.
In 14 appearances with the Dodgers, Stewart has a recorded a stellar 2.45 ERA across 14 2/3 innings with a 0-1 record with a save. He has collected 14 strikeouts with a 0.75 WHIP, helping him earn four holds on the year. The right-hander has allowed six hits and five walks, along with an outstanding .120 batting average against hitters. In his four appearances since the all-star break, Stewart has surrendered one earned run through five innings, tallying four strikeouts. He last appeared on July 28 against Seattle, before being placed on the 15-day injured list with right shoulder discomfort on July 31.
Stewart spent time in Oklahoma City and Ontario on separate rehab assignments throughout the season. He appeared in 12 games, including six with each organization. The Normal, Illinois, native had thrown 10 1/3 innings during his two stints, gathering a fantastic 0.87 ERA and 18 strikeouts. He allowed eight hits and three walks, registering a 1.06 WHIP.
As of August 14, the Los Angeles Dodgers are in first place in the National League West division with a record of 73-49, leading the San Diego Padres by eight games.
Brayden Bakes, OF, Philadelphia Phillies – Clearwater Threshers (A)
Bakes was among one of three Redbirds drafted in the 2026 MLB Draft, where he was chosen by the Phillies with the 399th overall pick in the 13th round.
The Algonquin, Illinois, native signed with the team on July 24 and was immediately optioned to the FCL Phillies. He was assigned to Single-A Clearwater on August 4.
Bakes has played six games with the Threshers, collecting a solo home run in his first game against the Tampa Tarpons on August 4. The outfielder is coming off a three-hit performance on August 13, recording a double and run scored.
Ryan Cermak, SS, Tampa Bay Rays – FCL Rays (R) / Charleston RiverDogs (A) / Bowling Green Hot Rods (A+)
Cermak played two games with the FCL Rays in May before he was placed on the 60-day injured list. He resumed game action on July 17 for the Rays, hitting 4-for-7 with a home run, three RBIs, three walks, and six runs scored.
The Riverside, Illinois, native was called up to Single-A Charleston on July 25, where he appeared in seven games. He registered a .259 average with seven hits, two home runs, five RBIs, five runs scored, two walks, and an .874 OPS. He delivered a walk-off, two-RBI single in his first game with the RiverDogs on July 25, helping the team defeat the Wilson Warbirds 7-6.
Cermak was called up to High-A Bowling Green on August 4, where he has played eight games on the season. Currently, he has a .250 average with seven hits, three RBIs, five walks, and a .382 on-base percentage for the Hot Rods. He last played on August 13, going 0-for-3 against the Frederick Keys.
Tyrelle Chadwick, RHP, Colorado Rockies – Fresno Grizzlies (A)
Chadwick has made eight appearances with the Fresno Grizzlies during the 2026 season, tossing 17 2/3 innings out of the bullpen.
The right-hander has collected a 2-0 record with a 6.62 ERA and 1.75 WHIP. He has allowed eight walks and struck out eight batters throughout the season.
The native of Kamloops, B.C., Canada, was transferred from the seven-day injured list to the 60-day injured list on July 29, having last appeared in a game on April 30.
Paul DeJong, 3B, Detroit Tigers – Toledo Mud Hens (AAA) / New York Yankees – Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (AAA)
In 2026, DeJong has been a part of the Detroit Tigers and New York Yankees' respective AAA teams, appearing in 29 games.
DeJong began the season playing in 23 games for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, hitting .203 with six home runs, 13 RBIs, 13 hits, and 16 walks. He was released from the team on May 1.
The Antioch, Illinois, native signed a minor league contract with the Detroit Tigers on May 5, after which he was optioned to Toledo. He appeared in six games for the Mud Hens, hitting .143 with three hits, five walks, and four runs scored.
DeJong was released by Toledo on May 25 after being placed on the full-season injured list on May 19.
Owen Miller, 2B, Chicago Cubs – Iowa Cubs (AAA)
Miller has spent the 2026 season in Iowa, appearing in 93 games. He signed as a free agent with the Chicago Cubs on a minor league contract, where he was assigned to play in Iowa.
The Fredonia, Wisconsin, native has recorded a fantastic .297 average with seven home runs, 57 RBIs, 106 hits, 25 doubles, 25 walks, and an .811 OPS. He is second in the International League with six triples, trailing fellow teammate BJ Murray's total of seven on the year.
Miller recorded an 11-game hitting streak from July 26 to August 8, going .304 during that stretch with 14 hits, six RBIs, three doubles, and a stolen base. He last played on August 13, going 1-for-4 with a solo home run and two runs scored to help the Cubs defeat the St. Paul Saints 10-3.
Judah Morris, 1B, Athletics – ACL Athletics (R) / Stockton Ports (A)
Morris began the 2026 season in Stockton before being assigned to the ACL Athletics on April 20.
In Stockton, Morris appeared in seven games, hitting .179 with a .554 OPS. He collected five hits, three runs scored, two doubles, two walks, and 10 RBIs.
With the ACL Athletics, the Mather, California, native slashed a .266 average with two home runs and 21 RBIs across 41 games. He tallied 33 hits, 10 doubles, 18 runs scored, 29 walks, and an .844 OPS with the team before the season ended on July 23.
Tanner Perry, RHP, Milwaukee Brewers – Wilson Warbirds (A) / Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (A+) / Biloxi Shuckers (AA)
Perry has split time between Wilson, Wisconsin, and Biloxi across 23 games in the 2026 season.
The right-hander began the season with the Warbirds, gathering an excellent 2.81 ERA with a 2-1 record in nine games. He tossed 25 2/3 innings with 31 strikeouts, allowing 20 hits and 12 walks for a 1.25 WHIP.
Perry was promoted to Wisconsin on May 26, where he appeared in 11 games. He collected a 2-1 record with a 5.32 ERA over 23 2/3 innings pitched, striking out 17 batters along the way, while allowing 22 hits and 10 walks for a 1.35 WHIP on the season.
The O'Fallon, Missouri, native was called up to Double-A Biloxi on August 2, appearing in one game before being reassigned to Wisconsin on August 4. Perry threw 2 1/3 innings for the Shuckers, allowing seven earned runs on five hits, while recording four strikeouts. Since returning to Wisconsin, Perry has appeared in two games, tossing 4 1/3 innings with a 4.16 ERA. He last pitched on August 13, allowing two earned runs across 2 1/3 innings with two strikeouts.
Between the three teams, Perry has registered an overall record of 4-2 with a 4.98 ERA, holding hitters to a .246 batting average over 56 innings.
Michael Addari, RHP, Houston Astros – FCL Astros
Addari was the first Redbird selected in the 2026 MLB Draft, as he was chosen in the sixth round and 182nd overall by the Houston Astros.
The right-hander signed his contract with the Astros on July 27 before being assigned to the FCL Astros. As of August 13, he hasn't appeared in a professional game with the organization.
Carson Cormier, RHP, Toronto Blue Jays – FCL Blue Jays
Cormier was selected by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 16th round and 492nd overall in the 2026 MLB Draft.
The Westford, Massachusetts, native signed with the Blue Jays on July 18 before being assigned to the FCL Blue Jays. As of August 13, he hasn't appeared in a professional game with the organization.
Elijah Dale, RHP, Seattle Mariners – Everett AquaSox (A+)
Dale remains on the 60-day injured list for the Everett AquaSox, having yet to appear in a game in the 2026 season.
He appeared in 24 games for Everett in 2025, collecting a 1-2 record with a 5.52 ERA and 1.39 WHIP. He pitched 31 innings, recording 33 strikeouts and allowing a .179 batting average against hitters.
Shai Robinson, SS, Minnesota Twins – Fort Myers Mighty Mussels (A)
Robinson remains on the full-season injured list with Fort Myers after being placed on it on March 30.
He appeared in four games for the Mighty Mussels in 2025, hitting 1-for-13 with a single, a run scored, and four walks.
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