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NORMAL, Ill. – The 2026 MLB regular season concluded Sunday evening, as Illinois State baseball alumni move along into the offseason and postseason. Here is a glimpse at the 14 Redbirds in the pros.

Brent Headrick, LHP, New York Yankees (MLB)

Headrick wrapped up a fantastic year with the Yankees. He recorded a team-high and second-most appearances in the MLB with 81 in 2026, gathering the highest all-time by a left-handed pitcher in Yankees history, surpassing Boone Logan’s 80 appearances in 2012.

The Braidwood, Illinois, native finished with a 7-4 record and 29 holds. He registered 98 strikeouts across 78 1/3 innings, tied for the seventh-most among active relievers. Headrick completed the season with a career-best 2.18 ERA along with a 1.21 WHIP.  He made his last appearance on September 25, pitching an inning against the Baltimore Orioles with two strikeouts.

Headrick is one of two Illinois State alumni to advance to the 2026 MLB postseason, competing in the wild-card round against the Boston Red Sox, beginning Tuesday at 7 p.m. CT.

John Rave, OF, Kansas City Royals (MLB) / Omaha Storm Chasers (AAA)

Rave spent the 2026 season between Kansas City and Omaha, appearing in a total of 129 games this year.

Rave competed in 77 games with the Storm Chasers, finishing with a .285 batting average, 13 home runs, 45 RBIs, 18 stolen bases, a .396 on-base percentage, and 54 walks.

The Canton, Illinois, native remained with Kansas City after being called up on July 29, appearing in 52 games throughout 2026. He slashed .232/.314/.430 with the Royals, tallying 33 hits, 26 runs, 17 walks, 13 RBIs, eight doubles, and six home runs. The outfielder had a strong finish to his campaign, recording at least one hit in eight of his final nine games. He went 1-for-4 with a single in his last game on September 26 against Cleveland.

Brock Stewart, RHP, Los Angeles Dodgers (MLB) / Oklahoma City Comets (AAA) / Ontario Tower Buzzers (A)

Stewart split time between Los Angeles, Oklahoma City, and Ontario during the 2026 season, playing in 40 games.

In 28 appearances with the Dodgers, Stewart notched a 1-2 record with a 2.70 ERA across 26 2/3 innings. He tallied 25 strikeouts with a 1.01 WHIP, helping him earn nine holds on the year. The right-hander limited batters to 17 hits and 10 walks, allowing a career-low .183 batting average. He competed in 14 games after being activated from the 15-day injured list on August 19, allowing four earned runs in 12 innings of work. Stewart put together five scoreless appearances after being activated, finishing August without allowing an earned run.

The Normal, Illinois, native spent time in Oklahoma City and Ontario on separate rehab assignments throughout the season. He appeared in 12 games, including six with each organization. Stewart tossed 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.

Stewart is the second Redbird alum to advance to the 2026 MLB postseason, beginning play on Saturday, October 3, for the Dodgers in the National League Division Series.

Brayden Bakes, OF, Philadelphia Phillies – Clearwater Threshers (A)

Bakes was the second Redbird 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 played 12 games with the Threshers, hitting .208 with 10 hits, five runs scored, three doubles, three walks, two home runs, and three RBIs. He made his final appearance on August 21 against the Dunedin Blue Jays, finishing 1-for-4 with a single.

Ryan Cermak, SS, Tampa Bay Rays – FCL Rays (R) / Charleston RiverDogs (A) / Bowling Green Hot Rods (A+)

Cermak concluded his 2026 season with the Bowling Green Hot Rods, playing in 25 games with the organization after being called up on August 4. He slashed .261/.376/.576 with 24 hits, 27 runs scored, 13 walks, 25 RBIs, and nine home runs. He recorded a hit in eight of his final nine regular-season games, batting .389 (14-for-36) during that stretch with seven home runs and 17 RBIs. Cermak competed in two postseason games with the Hot Rods, hitting 2-for-9 with a solo home run against Winston-Salem.

The Hinsdale, Illinois, native spent time with Single-A Charleston from July 25 to August 4, appearing in seven games. He registered a .259 average with seven hits, two home runs, five RBIs, five runs scored, two walks, and an .854 OPS. The shortstop 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 began his season with the FCL Rays, playing two games 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, before eventually moving up to Charleston.

Tyrelle Chadwick, RHP, Colorado Rockies – Fresno Grizzlies (A)

Chadwick made eight appearances for the Fresno Grizzlies during the 2026 season, tossing 17 2/3 innings out of the bullpen.

The right-hander registered a 2-0 record with a 6.62 ERA and 1.75 WHIP, allowing eight walks and striking out eight batters.

The native of Kamloops, B.C., Canada remained on the 60-day injured list to conclude his season, transferring from the seven-day injured list on July 29. He last appeared in 2026 back on April 30.

Paul DeJong, 3B, Detroit Tigers – Toledo Mud Hens (AAA) / New York Yankees – Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (AAA)

In 2026, DeJong was a part of the Detroit Tigers and New York Yankees’ respective Triple-A 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 (MLB) / Iowa Cubs (AAA)

Miller spent the 2026 season predominantly with Triple-A Iowa, appearing in 113 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 recorded totals of .295/.345/.443 throughout 2026, tallying 129 hits, 63 runs scored, 30 doubles, 28 walks, 61 RBIs, seven home runs, and the second-highest total of seven triples in the International League, trailing fellow teammate BJ Murray.

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.

Miller made a brief appearance with the Chicago Cubs on August 17, entering their game against the Chicago White Sox as a defensive replacement in extra innings with no at-bats taken. He was sent back to Iowa on August 24 after being designated for assignment.

He concluded his season with 17 games in Iowa, hitting .285 (20-for-70) during that stretch with 13 runs scored, four doubles, four RBIs, and a triple.

Judah Morris, 1B, Athletics – ACL Athletics (R) / Stockton Ports (A)

Morris concluded his 2026 season with the ACL Athletics, appearing in 41 games. He slashed .266/.417/.427 with 33 hits, 10 doubles, 18 runs scored, 29 walks, 21 RBIs, and two home runs.

The Mather, California, native began his season with the Stockton Ports. He appeared in seven games, hitting .179 with five hits, three runs scored, two doubles, two walks, and 10 RBIs. Morris was assigned to the ACL Athletics on April 20, where he remained throughout the year.

Tanner Perry, RHP, Milwaukee Brewers – Wilson Warbirds (A) / Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (A+) / Biloxi Shuckers (AA)

Perry split time between Wilson, Wisconsin, and Biloxi across 29 games in 2026.

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.

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.

Perry concluded his season with Wisconsin, making eight relief appearances for the Timber Rattlers across 13 2/3 innings with nine strikeouts. He made his final appearance on September 6 against Beloit, allowing two runs in two innings.

Between the three teams, Perry registered an overall record of 5-2 with a 5.51 ERA, striking out 61 batters over 65 1/3 innings of work.

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. Addari never appeared in a professional game in 2026.

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. He didn’t appear in a professional game in 2026.

Elijah Dale, RHP, Seattle Mariners – Everett AquaSox (A+)

Dale concluded his season on the 60-day injured list for the Everett AquaSox, never appearing in a game in 2026.

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 remained on the full-season injured list with Fort Myers in 2026 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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