Funny enough, there’s a lot of news relating to our Illinois baseball program in the deep of the fall season. Let’s start here… The Big Ten has announced its 2025 conference schedule.
The good guys will begin the season on March 7-9 at home against Michigan and will end it on the road versus Ohio State on May 15-17.
It’s worth mentioning that Illinois will be playing coast-to-coast as they will playing both Rutgers and Washington on the road.
Massey in the playoffs!
Former Illini Michael Massey who is in his third season in the majors, has helped spur the Kansas City Royals to the playoffs! I’ve been following the Royals on social media since Massey was near being called up and I can tell you no one in the KC fan base back then would have foreseen the Royals’ success.
In two games, Massey is doing his part. He’s collected three hits and scored a run while batting leadoff. The Royals are up one game against Baltimore and leading in game 2.
Let’s go, Mass!
Fall ball!
I attended last Thursday’s fall ball game against the Great Lakes Canadians managed by former Illini Chris Robinson. Robinson’s name adorned the back wall of the dugout he was managing from so yeah, he’s a big deal here.
I was asked on X/Twitter on my take on the team. I was only able to make Thursday’s game but from reports, Illinois lost a pitchers’ duel on Saturday. Regardless, here are my thoughts…
I love the energy that junior Nick Groves brings to the team. As you can tell from the photo, he almost seems happy to play the game. He’ll be a fun one to watch.
Roughly half of the lineup started for the incredibly tight-knit team from last year. The other half did not. The onus will be on players like Quagliano, Westcott, Shroeder and Chee-Aloy to provide leadership and guide those new to the team on and off the field.
That said, I’m excited to see what players like Groves, Reagan Reeder, Greg LaChance and others can do. Pitching-wise, this is the time for hurlers like Payton Hutchings to shine. Or possibly Sam Reed and Julius Sanchez.
Here are some of my photos from Thursday’s game: