As the 2026 Major League Baseball regular season concludes, 14 Illinois State University baseball alumni have transitioned into the offseason or postseason play. Notable performances include record-setting relief work by Brent Headrick for the New York Yankees and postseason appearances by Brock Stewart with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Brent Headrick’s Record-Breaking Season
New York Yankees left-handed pitcher Brent Headrick finished the 2026 season with a team-high 81 appearances, establishing a new franchise record for a left-handed reliever. Headrick surpassed the previous mark of 80 appearances set by Boone Logan in 2012. The Braidwood, Illinois, native concluded his campaign with a 7-4 record, 29 holds, and a career-best 2.18 ERA. Across 78 1/3 innings, he recorded 98 strikeouts and a 1.21 WHIP. Headrick is scheduled to compete in the 2026 MLB wild-card round against the Boston Red Sox.
Brock Stewart’s Postseason Run with the Dodgers
Brock Stewart split his 2026 season between the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Oklahoma City Comets, and the Ontario Tower Buzzers. In 28 appearances for the Dodgers, the Normal, Illinois, native recorded a 1-2 record and a 2.70 ERA over 26 2/3 innings, while limiting opposing batters to a career-low .183 average. After being activated from the 15-day injured list on August 19, Stewart recorded five scoreless appearances to finish the month. He is set to represent the Dodgers in the National League Division Series beginning October 3.
Professional Campaigns for Rave, Cermak, and Bakes
Several other Redbird alumni played the 2026 season across various minor and major league levels:
- John Rave: The outfielder played 129 games between the Kansas City Royals and the Omaha Storm Chasers. After his July 29 call-up to Kansas City, Rave slashed .232/.314/.430 in 52 games, ending his season with a strong offensive stretch that included hits in eight of his final nine appearances.
- Ryan Cermak: The shortstop spent the latter portion of his season with the Bowling Green Hot Rods, where he posted a .261/.376/.576 slash line. During his final nine regular-season games, he batted .389 with seven home runs and 17 RBIs. He also appeared in two postseason games for the Hot Rods.
- Brayden Bakes: Drafted in the 13th round of the 2026 MLB Draft by the Philadelphia Phillies, Bakes joined the Single-A Clearwater Threshers on August 4. In 12 games with the club, he recorded a .208 batting average with two home runs and three RBIs.
Summary of 2026 Alumni Contributions
The 2026 season saw significant movement for Illinois State players within professional systems, ranging from high-pressure relief roles in the Bronx to developmental assignments in the lower minor leagues. While Headrick and Stewart prepare for October baseball, other prospects like Cermak and Bakes have completed their initial professional campaigns, providing a foundation for their development in the coming year.