CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Illinois baseball program announced the signing of six student-athletes to National Letters of Intent on Wednesday, November 10.
"We are extremely excited about our 2022 recruiting class," said head coach Dan Hartleb. "Once again Adam Christ, Mark Allen and Curt Courtwright did an outstanding job of identifying and evaluating an outstanding group of student athletes. The entire group is extremely athletic and highly projected."
"We have a great mix of right-handed and left-handed pitching as well as two highly skilled infielders. We look forward to this group having a great impact on our future success."
Tommy White / RHP
6-4 / 200 / R/R
Albuquerque, N.M. / Cibola High SchoolÂ
- Competed in the Connie Mack World Series
- Also played basketball in high school
- Chose Illinois "because of the great atmosphere for growth a development, not only as a baseball player but as a person, as well as an opportunity to work with an outstanding coaching staff."
- Working with student leadership in the school, he would complete 15 hours of community service per semester. This ranged from help coaching youth baseball teams, to helping local farms plant and harvest crops
- Son of Greg and Karyn White
- Father, Greg, played basketball at the University of Ottawa, and brother, Jack, was a pitcher at the University of New Mexico
- Committed to Illinois his junior year
Brady Banker / LHP
6-0 / 185 / L/L
Antioch, Ill. / Carmel Catholic High SchoolÂ
- 2021 All-Conference honoree
- Had an ERA of 0.65 in 2020
- Recorded 67 strikeouts in 42 innings in 2021
- Also played basketball in high school
- His father, Charles, played college football and basketball from 1988-1991
- He volunteers 25 hours per year doing work around the community, mostly helping feed the hungry and helping the youth
- Chose Illinois "because I love the big ten, fantastic campus and campus life, home state, great place to continue my academic and athletic career."
- Son of Charles and Susan Banker
- Committed to Illinois September 2021
Dylan O'Rae / INF
5-9 / 160 / L/R
Sarnia, Ontario, Can. / Northern Collegiate High SchoolÂ
- No. 9-ranked prospect in Ontario by Prep Baseball Report
- No. 2-ranked SS in Ontario by Prep Baseball Report
- Member of the Team Canada Junior National Team
- Played summer ball for the Great Lake Canadians
- Hit .550 with 55 hits, 4 HR, 38 RBI, and 20 SB with the Great Lake Canadians in 2021
- CPBL League 2021 All-Star game MVP
- Chose Illinois because "Illinois felt like a great fit for me as a baseball player and student. The culture of the Illinois baseball team was something I really wanted to be a part of."
- Has plans to become a financial advisor
- Illinois baseball alum Chris Robinson was his summer team coach
- Son of Charlie and Tammy O'Rae
- Committed to Illinois December 2020
Jayden Comia / INF
5-9 / 180 / R/R
Orland Park, Ill. / Carl Sandburg High SchoolÂ
- Southwest Suburban Conference All-Conference honors in 2021
- 2018 Perfect Game WWBA Freshman World Championship All-Tournament Team
- 2018 Perfect Game tournament MVP at WWBA Midwest Freshman Championship
- Is the younger brother and cousin of current Illini baseball players Branden Comia and Jared Comia
- Played on a fall team with current Illini baseball players Jared Comia and Ryan Moerman
- Volunteered at sports camps for kids and kids with special needs
- Son of Frank and Donna Comia
- Chose Illinois because "Illinois is one of the top schools in the country with a great reputation and it felt like "home." Many of the former Sparks players speak highly of the program and the coaching staff. Illinois will help me develop both on and off the field."
Jake Swartz / RHP
6-1 / 175 / R/R
Bloomington, Ill. / University High SchoolÂ
- 2021 Prep Baseball Report Second Team All-State
- Central State 8 All-Conference honors in 2021
- Threw back-to-back no hitters during 2021 high school season
- Also played golf in high school
- In 2021, went 7-1 with a 0.62 ERA and 75 K's in 45.1 innings pitched
- Chose Illinois because "I have grown up being an Illinois sports fan so I naturally had a love for Illinois. I always went to the basketball, football and baseball games growing up so I knew if there was an opportunity for me playing for the Illini it would be one of my top choices. On top of that, the coaching staff and academics here are top notch so you can't really ask for much more in a school. It was a perfect choice for me."
- Son of Mike and Lori Swartz
- Father, Mike, played baseball at Illinois Wesleyan from 1997-1999
- Committed to Illinois February 2020
Julius Sanchez / RHP
6-0 / 200 / R/R
LaSalle, Ill. / LaSalle Peru Township High SchoolÂ
- First Team All-State honors
- Compiled a .33 ERA in 42 innings pitched, tallying 85 strikeouts while allowing two earned runs during his 2021 high school season
- Also played football in high school
- Son of Julio Sanchez and Katie Layden
- Chose Illinois because "It was close to home, has one of the best engineering schools. I have some friends that attend school there."
- Committed to Illinois his sophomore year
