Brent Headrick Makes History with New York Yankees as Redbirds Chase October Glory
As the 2026 Major League Baseball regular season came to a dramatic close on Sunday evening, fourteen Illinois State baseball alumni have officially transitioned into the high-stakes rhythms of the offseason and postseason. Leading the Redbird professional pack is left-handed pitcher Brent Headrick, who carved his name into the storied history books of the New York Yankees.
Brent Headrick’s Historic Bullpen Campaign in the Bronx
The Braidwood, Illinois, native put together a phenomenal year anchoring the Yankees’ bullpen. Headrick recorded a team-high 81 appearances in 2026, which also stood as the second-most in the entire major leagues. More impressively, that total marks the highest single-season appearance mark by a left-handed pitcher in franchise history, eclipsing Boone Logan’s previous record of 80 set in 2012.
Headrick finished the grueling campaign with a 7-4 record, 29 holds, and a career-best 2.18 ERA. Across 78 1/3 innings of work, he racked up 98 strikeouts and maintained a stingy 1.21 WHIP, tying him for the seventh-most strikeouts among active relievers. His final regular-season outing came on September 25 against the Baltimore Orioles, where he tossed an inning with two strikeouts. Headrick now shifts his focus to the postseason, as the Yankees prepare to open the wild-card round against the Boston Red Sox.
John Rave and Brock Stewart Balance Triple-A Reps with Big League Impact
Outfielder John Rave split his 2026 campaign between the Kansas City Royals and the Triple-A Omaha Storm Chasers, appearing in 129 total games. Down in Omaha, Rave swung a hot bat over 77 games, slashing .285 with 13 home runs, 45 RBIs, 18 stolen bases, a .396 on-base percentage, and 54 walks. Following a July 29 call-up to Kansas City, the Canton, Illinois, native appeared in 52 games in the majors, slashing .232/.314/.430 with six home runs and 13 RBIs. Rave finished the season on a strong note, collecting a hit in eight of his final nine games, concluding with a 1-for-4 performance against Cleveland on September 26.
Meanwhile, right-handed pitcher Brock Stewart moved across three organizational levels, playing in 40 total games for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Triple-A Oklahoma City Comets, and Single-A Ontario Tower Buzzers. In 28 appearances with Los Angeles, Stewart posted a 1-2 record with a 2.70 ERA over 26 2/3 innings, punching out 25 batters and holding opponents to a career-low .183 batting average. Following a stint on the 15-day injured list, Stewart returned on August 19 to throw five consecutive scoreless outings. Between his rehab assignments in Oklahoma City and Ontario, the Normal, Illinois, native dazzled with a 0.87 ERA and 18 strikeouts in 10 1/3 innings. Stewart joins Headrick as the second Redbird alum bound for the postseason, with the Dodgers slated to begin the National League Division Series on October 3.
Rising Prospects Finish Strong Across Minor League Affiliates
Down in the minor league system, recent draftees and prospects are making their mark. Brayden Bakes, selected by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 13th round (399th overall) of the 2026 MLB Draft, signed on July 24 and quickly advanced to Single-A Clearwater in August. The Algonquin, Illinois, native appeared in 12 games for the Threshers, hitting .208 with two home runs and three RBIs before wrapping up his summer on August 21 against the Dunedin Blue Jays.
Shortstop Ryan Cermak closed out an electric 2026 campaign with the Single-A Advanced Bowling Green Hot Rods. After arriving in August, Cermak tore through pitching in 25 games, slashing .261/.376/.576 with 24 hits, nine home runs, and 25 RBIs. He caught fire down the stretch, batting .389 with seven home runs over his final nine regular-season games, before adding a solo shot during Bowling Green’s postseason run. Cermak also spent time with Single-A Charleston in late July, where he delivered a dramatic walk-off, two-RBI single in his organizational debut to beat the Wilson Warbirds 7-6, overcoming an early-season injury setback with the FCL Rays.
As the postseason gets underway, the deep pipeline of Illinois State talent shining at both the Major League and minor league levels shows the enduring strength of the Redbird baseball program. Whether sealing historical records in the Bronx or launching clutch home runs in the minor leagues, these athletes continue to prove that baseball excellence runs deep in Normal, Illinois.
