Illinois Baseball Report

  Bonadonna:  Bound for Rookie League As of today, four Illinois draftees have signed pro contracts with their respective teams.  Big Ten Network has the info. Brandon Wikoff has signed with the Astros and will report to single-A Tri-City Valley Cats in the New York-Penn League.  He’ll start June 23.  As mentioned before, Dominic Altobelli [...]

Filed under: Former Illini in the pros on June 16th, 2009 | Leave a Comment! »

Looks like Brandon Wikoff has already reached a deal with the Astros.  Wikoff and the Houston Astros have agreed to a contract today and he’ll start playing in the minors soon.  He’ll be joining the Tri-City Valley Cats in the New York-Penn League. Share Tags: brandon wikoff, minor leagues Related posts Exploratory committee to begin [...]

Filed under: Former Illini in the pros on June 12th, 2009 | Leave a Comment! »

Once again, congratulations to Brandon Wikoff.  Wikoff, chosen by Houston Astros in the fifth round in the MLB draft deserves it.  He’s been one of the most hard working, talented Illini baseball player since I’ve been covering the team.  A quiet player on and off the field, I’m happy his small stature (5’8”, 5’9” according [...]

Filed under: Former Illini in the pros on June 10th, 2009 | 2 Comments »

Wikoff: 5th round pick by Houston The fifth round was magic for the Illini in the First-Year Player Draft.  Brandon Wikoff was picked by the Houston Astros in the 161st pick overall. Seven picks later, Seth Schwindenhammer was drafted by the Red Sox.  Schwindenhammer is a 2008 recruit of Coach Hartleb’s crew.  I’ll post more [...]

Filed under: Announcements on June 10th, 2009 | 1 Comment »

More mantle hardware for the Illini hardballers.  Willie Argo was named to the Louisvile Slugger Freshman All-American team by Collegiate Baseball newspaper last Wednesday.  Argo hit .355 for Illinois in 2009 with 12 homeruns and 47 rbis and 10 stolen bases.  His homerun mark was tied for second all-time for Illini freshman.   Brandon Wikoff, who [...]

Filed under: Awards on June 9th, 2009 | Leave a Comment! »

College summer leagues have already begun their seasons and Illinois players are among those playing.  The University of Illinois baseball program has sent 21 players throughout the the country to 13 teams in nine different summer leagues. The Northwoods League, always a big client of the U of I, will see eight players from Illinois [...]

Filed under: Summer League on June 1st, 2009 | Leave a Comment! »

The Big Ten Tournament banner including Illinois’ Brandon Wikoff As always, I had a great time at the Big Ten Tournament.  Win or lose, it’s a culmination of everything that the Illinois team has worked so hard for all season.  They’ve exceeded everyone else’s expectations this season and each one of them should be proud. [...]

Filed under: 2009 Big Ten Tournament on May 24th, 2009 | 1 Comment »

Day and night.  That’s how I’d describe the difference between Minnesota on Thursday and Minnesota on Friday.  And unfortunately, Illinois had to play them Friday. The same Gopher team that couldn’t buy a hit against Indiana the day before and had its pitching pounded by their offense, came out a changed team Friday.  They first [...]

Filed under: 2009 Big Ten Tournament, Game Recaps on May 23rd, 2009 | 1 Comment »

I really thought we had them.  Going into the bottom of the sixth, we had a three-run lead.  But then again, this was Ohio State and we all know about their offense.  The Bucks scored two runs in each of the last three innings to defeat Illinois 7-4. Aaron Johnson trots around the bases after [...]

Filed under: 2009 Big Ten Tournament, Game Recaps on May 22nd, 2009 | 1 Comment »

  Dominic Altobelli- 3B All-Big Ten First team Brandon Wikoff- SS All-Big Ten First Team Pete Cappetta- OF All-Big Ten Second Team Aaron Johnson- C All-Big Ten Second Team Willie Argo- OF All-Big Ten Third Team All-Big Ten Freshman Team Will Strack- SP All-Big Ten Third Team All-Big Ten Freshman Team The Big Ten annual [...]

Filed under: Awards on May 19th, 2009 | Leave a Comment! »