CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The Illinois baseball team announced the signing of two new players to the 2021 recruiting class. RHP Crayton Burnett and RHP Ben Plumley were added to the signing class.
"I'm excited about our group," said head coach Dan Hartleb. "I'm very excited about their athleticism, the type of people they are, and the type of student they are. They are well rounded. We try to bring in athletes that want to grow and have high ceilings."
The additions of Burnett and Plumley bring the class to 10 signees. Both guys are products from the state of Illinois and will have the opportunity to work with pitching coach Mark Allen.
| Illinois Baseball Signees |
| C/3B Gavin Bennett |
Libertyville, Ill./Libertyville |
| OF Jared Comia |
Saint John, Ind./Hanover Central |
| UTL Holt Geltmaker |
Chillicothe, Ill./Illinois Valley Central |
| C Camden Janik |
Wauconda, Ill./Wauconda |
| INF Ryan Moerman |
Lockport, Ill./Lockport Township |
| RHP Gavin Schmitt |
Bolingbrook, Ill./Plainfield East |
| RHP Izaak Siefken |
Broomfield, Colo./Holy Family |
| RHP Calvin Shepherd |
Indianapolis, Ind./Lawrence North |
| RHP Crayton Burnett |
St. Joseph, Ill./St. Joseph Ogden |
| RHP Ben Plumley |
Chicago, Ill./Lane Tech College Prep |
RHP Crayton Burnett
6-0, 175, R/R
St. Joseph, Ill./St. Joseph Ogden
• No. 55 recruit in Illinois by Perfect Game and No. 60 by Prep Baseball Report
• No. 22 right-handed pitcher in Illinois by Prep Baseball Report and No. 24 by Perfect Game
• Played for head coach Josh Haley at St. Joseph Ogden
• 2019 all-state first team 2A
• 2019 all-area first team
• 2019 IPC all-conference first team
• 2018 IPC all-conference second team
• 6-3, 0.40 ERA, 69.1 IP, 15 BB, 96 SO
• Four-year letterwinner
• National Honors Society
• 2021 IPC Scholar Athlete Award
• 2021 DAR Good Citizen Award winner
• High Honor Roll 2018-2021
• Son of Chad and Brandi Burnett
• Two sisters, Abigail and Kennedi
• Chose Illinois because, "I attended a small high school right outside of Champaign-Urbana. I have always been an Illini fan and when I had the chance to go and play for the Illini it was an opportunity I could not pass up."
• Plans to major in technical systems management
• Committed to Illinois in October 2020
RHP Ben Plumley
6-2, 190, R/R
Chicago, Ill./Lane Tech College Prep
• No. 55 recruit in Illinois by Perfect Game and No. 62 by Prep Baseball Report
• No. 17 right-handed pitcher in Illinois by Perfect Game and No. 24 by Prep Baseball Report
• Played for head coach Sean Freeman at Lane Tech College Prep
• Three-year sustainability club member
• Son of Mike and Karen Plumley
• One older brother, Zack
• Chose Illinois because, " Illinois has been my top choice from the beginning of my recruiting process. I believed it would be the best place for me to grow as a player and a person on the field and in the classroom."
• Committed to Illinois in May 2021
