PHILADELPHIA – On the second day of the 2026 Major League Baseball Draft, UIC junior right-handed pitcher
Mason Lei was selected by the Boston Red Sox in the 13th round with the 321st overall pick Sunday afternoon
"I'm proud that Mason took every opportunity that our program gave him to get better," head coach
Sean McDermott said. "He really earned everything that he got. He set the tone by the way he went about his business. Mason will leave a standard of excellence at UIC that will live long beyond than his pro career. Mason embodied everything that we want our program to be about. He liked to compete, fight, finish and loved to win. The Milk Man always delivered!"
"I am so proud of Mason for being selected in the MLB Draft by the Boston Red Sox today," pitching coach
Mitch Mormann said. "With the phenomenal season he had for us, the work he puts in day to day and the person that he is, it comes to us as no surprise. There is no doubt in my mind that Mason will be successful chasing his dreams of being a major leaguer someday!"
In his lone season at UIC, Lei made an immediate impact, earning the role of the Flames' Friday night starter. The Freeport, Ill. native made 16 starts, leading the team with 96.2 innings pitched and 86 strikeouts. He also tied for the Missouri Valley Conference lead with eight wins alongside Southern Illinois' Andrew Evans. His efforts on the mound resulted in All-MVC First Team and MVC All-Tournament Team recognition.
Lei becomes the sixth UIC player selected in the MLB Draft since the Flames joined the Missouri Valley Conference in 2022. He joins
Charlie Szykowny (2023),
Cole Conn (2023),
Zane Zielinski (2024),
Ryan Thomas (2024) and
Luke Pelzer (2025). Lei also becomes the program's first starting pitcher drafted since
Nate Peterson, who was selected by the Milwaukee Brewers in the eighth round of the 2022 MLB Draft.
Lei was not the only player with ties to the UIC baseball program to hear his name called during the two-day event. UIC commits Dominic Battista (OF, Oswego East) and Chance Ruby (SS, Wilmot Union) were also selected in the draft.
Battista was selected by the Kansas City Royals in the fourth round with the 119th overall pick late into Day one of the draft. He opened his final season at Oswego East battling an early injury, yet remained highly productive, batting .325 with a .457 slugging percentage and a .408 on-base percentage. Splitting time between centerfield and shortstop defensively, Battista became revered for his speed along with his advanced defensive instincts. He finished 13th/59th overall and fifth/first in the state of Illinois according to PrepBaseballReport.com.
Ruby heard his name called early Sunday evening when he was selected by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 17th round with the 521st overall pick. A well-rounded player during his four years on varsity at Wilmot, Ruby finished his high-school career appearing in over 102 games, batting .416 with 147 hits, 36 doubles, 15 triples, four home runs, slugging .637 and maintaining a .485 on-base percentage. On the mound, Ruby pitched exclusively in relief, posting a 3.35 ERA and striking out 130 batters across 104.1 innings of work.
"These guys were so invested in UIC baseball, and they stuck through their commitment," McDermott said. "They kept working, they got better and they were excited to be UIC Flames. I think it was cool these guys honored their commitments and I think it really says a lot about the type of people our coaching staff and the type of people they try to recruit and the type of people we stand by. I think Dominic and Chance showcased the type of talented that have been interested in competing for UIC baseball."
For more information on UIC Athletics and UIC baseball, visit
UICFlames.com. Fans can also follow the Flames on social media through X (
@UIC_Baseball and
@UICFlames) and Instagram (
@uic_baseball and
@uicflames).
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