CHICAGO – Current and former members of UIC baseball are competing nationwide this summer; here's a look at how they're performing as we round out the summer.
Minor League Baseball

Cole Conn (2023), C, Las Vegas Aviators (Triple-A), Athletics
2026 stats: 100 games played, 110 hits, 10 home runs, 53 RBI, 28 stolen bases, .456 slugging percentage and a .397 on-base percentage.
After a lengthy time spent in Double-A Midland, Conn got the call to Las Vegas on Aug. 4, beginning his stint with a solo shot against the Tacoma Rainiers in the 10-8 victory. On Aug. 16, Conn went three-for-four against the Rivercats, collecting his second multi-hit game with the Aviators. In his first game in September, Conn went two-for-five with a double and an RBI to contribute to the Aviators 6-0 victory over the El Paso Chihuahuas.

Charlie Szykowny (2023), INF, Sacramento Rivercats (Triple-A), San Francisco Giants
2026 stats: 126 games played, .273 AVG, 125 hits, 15 home runs, 58 RBI, .447 slugging percentage and a .341 on-base percentage.
Szykowny became the third former UIC baseball player to reach Triple-A, earning a promotion to Sacramento on Aug. 27. After leading the Richmond Flying Squirrels (Double-A) with 109 hits this season, he logged his first Triple-A hit in his debut, going one-for-three against the Reno Aces. As the River Cats trailed the Salt Lake Bees 1-0 late into the game on Sept. 2, Szkowny entered in as a pinch hitter in the bottom of the ninth. On a 1-0 pitch, he would crush a walk-off three-run home run to secure the win for Sacramento over the Bees, 3-1. 

Luke Pelzer (2025), OF, Northwest Arkansas Naturals (Double-A), Kansas City Royals
2026 stats: 111  games played, 143 hits, .336 AVG, four home runs, nine triples, 25 doubles, 69 RBI, 42 stolen bases, .466 slugging percentage and a .407 on-base percentage.
After being an absolute nightmare in the batter's box for the Quad City River Bandits, Pelzer earned himself a promotion to the Naturals on July 21. Starting his stint off on a five-game hitting streak, Pelzer would soon follow that with a 10-game hitting streak in the month of Aug. Pelzer is already off to a strong September, batting .385 in his first three games. Swiping his last bag on Sept. 3 against the Arkansas Travelers, Pelzer has now stolen over 40 bags in his first full season in the minor leagues.

Zane Zielinski (2024), INF, Richmond Flying Squirrels (Double-A), San Francisco Giants
2026 stats: 88 games played, .234 AVG, 69 hits, two home runs, 34 RBI, .308 slugging percentage and a .302 on-base percentage.
Zielenski made his return to Double-A on Aug. 21, collecting a hit in six of the final eight games of the month of August. The infielder contributed to the Flying Squirrels 8-7 win against the Portland Sea Dogs on Aug. 25, going two-for-two with an RBI. A few days later, on Aug. 28, Zielinski collected his final multi-hit game of the month, with another two hits against the Sea Dogs, before Richmond fell short to Portland, 9-3.

Nate Peterson (2022), LHP, Chattanooga Lookouts (Double-A), Cincinnati Reds
2026 stats: 25 appearances, 13 starts, 5-5 record, 85.2 innings pitched, 76 strikeouts and 5.46 ERA.
Splitting time between starting and coming out of the bullpen, Peterson had a strong showing in the month of July, finishing with an eight-strikeout showing against the Birmingham Barons. In August, Peterson has made two appearances in relief, including a 2.2-inning outing in the Lookouts 13-4 win over the Knoxville Smokies on Aug. 7. Peterson collected his fifth win of the season out of the bullpen on Aug. 28 against Charlotte Clingstones, pitching 1.1 innings in relief enroute to a 3-2 victory for the Lookouts.

Cameron Nohos (2025), RHP, Lake Elsinore Storm (Low-A), San Diego Padres
2026 stats: 19 appearances, 12 starts, 62 innings pitched and 93 strikeouts.
After spending his first part of the season in rookie ball, Nohos returned to the Lake Elsinore Storm for the second time in his career on July 17. Since his promotion, Nohos has pitched in seven games, collecting three starts and logging 24.1 innings of work. The hurler earned his first win with the Storm on July 29, contributing to a 4-0 shutout against the Stockton Ports. Nohos threw four innings of work in relief, striking out six.

SUMMER LEAGUE

Jake Busson, INF, Senior (2027), Eau Claire Express (Northwoods League)
43 games played, 34 hits, eight home runs, six doubles, 42 RBI and 24 hit by pitches.
In his third season with the Express, Busson crushed his 20th career home run on Aug 11, breaking the Eau Claire's franchise record, previously held by MLB Gold Glove winner Daulton Varsho. Busson caught on fire in postseason play late into the summer, batting .286 across four games before the Express fell short to the La Crosse Loggers in the Great Plains East Championship game. Busson also finishes the summer becoming the organization's all-time leader in hit-by-pitches, being plunked 50 times across three seasons.

Keegan Luxem, RHP, Sophomore (2029), Clinton LumberKings (Pioneer League)
Six appearances, five starts, 24.1 innings pitched, 2-1 record and 27 strikeouts
In his first season with the LumberKings, Luxem showed off his swing and miss stuff, averaging over nine strikeouts per nine innings. In a pair of games on the week of June 23rd, Luxem pitched seven innings, allowing two hits, and striking out nine, earning himself Week 4 ArmCare.com Pitcher of the Week honors. The hurler shined throughout the summer, earning a spot as one of the two LumberKings Prospect League All Star selections.

Jackson Thomas, OF, Junior (2028), Richmond Flying Mummies (Northwoods League)
55 games, .301 batting average, 63 hits, one home run, 13 doubles, four triples, 25 stolen bases, .416 slugging percentage and .410 on-base percentage.
New to the UIC baseball program, Thomas had a strong summer playing for the Mummies, earning himself a Northwoods League All-Star selection. He finished second on the team in hits (62) and fifth on the team in batting average (.300) in regular season play. One of the outfielder's best games came on Aug. 7, when Thomas hit three doubles in Richmond's 10-0 victory over the Kenosha Kingfish. 

Sean Cody, SS, Sophomore (2029), Eau Claire Express (Northwoods League)
15 games, 10 hits, seven runs scored, two doubles, a triple, a home run, eight RBI,.340 slugging percentage and a .344 on-base percentage
Cody spent June with the Express alongside Busson, showcasing both his glove and his bat. The shortstop posted a .985 fielding percentage across 132 innings, anchoring the infield with steady defense. Offensively, he delivered one of his biggest moments against the Willmar Stingers, launching a grand slam in the bottom of the first to spark a 10–3 win. He closed his summer on a high note on June 29, going 3-for-6 with three runs scored in the Express's 17–5 victory over the La Crosse Loggers.

Aidan Terronez, LHP, Sophomore (2029), Burlington Bees (Prospect League)
Six appearances, six starts, 22.2 innings pitched and 25 strikeouts.
The southpaw from Sherrard, Ill., has continued to log innings since joining the Bees this summer, appearing consistently in their lineup. Terronez has delivered season high six strikeouts in multiple appearances this season.

Charlie Taczy, RHP, Sophomore (2029), Normal CornBelters (Prospect League)
Seven appearances, 9.1 innings pitched, 1-0 record and 11 strikeouts.
Taczy closed out his summer with the CornBelters, working exclusively out of the bullpen. He earned his lone win on June 7 after delivering 3.1 innings of relief, allowing four hits and one run while striking out five in a 10–4 victory over the O'Fallon Hoots. He later contributed to Normal's 17–3 rout of the Chillicothe Paints on June 14, tossing one inning and recording a strikeout.

Andrew Pyszka, UTL, Senior (2027), Illinois Valley Pistol Shrimp (Pioneer League)
23 games played, 12 hits, nine walks, and .324 on-base percentage.
After missing the postseason due to injury, Pyszka returned to action in late June, making his Pistol Shrimp debut with a walk against the Springfield Lucky Horseshoes on June 28. He recorded a three-hit, two double performance in his final game of the summer on July 30 an 11-1 win over the Quincy Doggy Paddlers.

Max Heineman, C, Freshman (2030), Normal CornBelters (Prospect League)
25 games played, .378 batting average, 31 hits, 21 RBI, seven doubles and .549 slugging
Heineman has begun building reps with the CornBelters, making his debut on June 25 against the Thrillville Thrillbillies. Heineman notched four three-hit games over the summer, with his strongest performance coming on July 2 against the Pistol Shrimp, where the catcher went 3-for-6 with a double and three RBI in a 15–4 victory. His last big game at the plate took place on July 26, when Heineman went three-for-five with a double in the CornBelter's 13-9 win at home against Illinois Valley.

Frank Costabile, OF/RHP, Freshman (2030), Lombard Orioles (Chicago Suburban League)
.500 batting average, 12 hits, one home run, one triple, three doubles, two pitching appearances, two saves, three innings pitched, five strikeouts.

Costabile played a huge role contributing to the Lombard Orioles run to the National Amateur Baseball Federation (NABF) Major Division title. Across the dozen games, Costabile would collect three multi-hit games, including a two-hit, two-RBI showing in a 9-0 victory over the Beecher Muskies on the road on June 16. Costabile also proved a valuable arm late in the game, collecting a pair of saves against Oswego Cats on June 18 and June 22. He struck out five batters in three innings of work, allowing just one hit.

Justin Canvin, SS/C, Freshman (2030), Lombard Orioles (Chicago Suburban League)
.437 batting average, seven hits, three doubles, three RBI, .625 slugging percentage and a .550 on-base percentage
e also had a big showing for the Lombard Orioles run to the NABF Major Division crown, playing in nine games over the summer. He collected a single hit across six games with the club, finishing with his lone multi-hit game of the season on July 26. Canvin would go two-for-four with a double in the Orioles 5-3 win over the Little Calumet Beavers.
 
Lewis Slade, LHP, Sophomore (2029), Lombard Orioles (Chicago Suburban League)
Three appearances, two starts, 1-1 record, eight innings pitched and 12 strikeouts.
Slade logged some innings for the Orioles this summer, contributing to Lombard's NABF Major Division title. In his lone start, Slade would throw three innings, allowing three hits and striking out four as Lombard would go one to defeat the Addison Braves 16-1 on June 9. In his final outing with the Orioles on July 14, Slade would rack up a season-high five strikeouts in three innings in relief against the Beecher Muskies.
INDEPENDENT/INTERNATIONAL BASEBALL

Matt Bottcher (2021), UTL, Kane County Cougars (American Association)
95 games played, .319 batting average, 124 hits, 25 doubles, 59 RBI, 21 stolen bases, .404 slugging and .378 on-base percentage.
In his first season with the Cougars, Bottcher has been swinging a hot bat all year as he leads the team in batting average (.319) and hits (114). Bottcher has collected four hits in a game on three separate occasions, and earned an American Association All-Star selection. On Aug 29 in the first game of a double header, Bottcher collected three hits and three RBI in the Cougar's 18-8 win over the Sioux City Explorers. Bottcher would close out his season going three-for-four against the Lake County DockHounds, leading the Cougars to a 9-7 victory to open postseason play. After helping the Cougars eliminate the DockHounds, Bottcher is joining the Cougars in the battle for the East Division Championship Series against the Milwaukee Milkmen beginning Monday, Sept. 14.

Rayth Peterson (2024), UTL, Idaho Fall Chukars (Pioneer League)
Five games played, .316 batting average, six hits, one home run, six RBI, .474 slugging and .333 on-base percentage. 
Peterson joined the Idaho Fall Chukars, competing across five games in the month of May.  The utility player drove in two runs across three games, including going three-for-four in a 10-7 loss against the Great Falls Voyagers on May 23.

James Harris (2025), 1B, Roscoe Invaders (Pecos League)
35 games played, .398 batting average, 51 hits, 11 doubles, two home runs, 38 RBI, 10 stolen bases and .531 slugging percentage.
Harris swung with a hot bat in her first full season in the Pecos League, collecting a dozen multi-RBI games for the Invaders. He contributed a five-hit, five-RBI showing against the Santa Fe Fuego in a 36-8 victory on June 3. In his final game of the season on July 24, Harris would collect three RBI after going three-for-three on the day, helping the Invaders to a 11-4 win over the Tucson Saguaros.

Jared Lessman (2026), LHP, Great Falls Voyagers (Pioneer League)
Nine appearances, two starts, 11.1 innings pitched and eight strikeouts.
After contributing to the Flames run to the NCAA Atlanta Regionals, the 2026 grad joined the Voyagers this summer, primarily as an arm out of the bullpen. On Aug. 12, Lessman did not allow a run and struck out one in a 17-1 win over the Missoula PaddleHeads. In his final outing, Lessman put in one inning of relief work, striking out a pair as the Voyagers would once again defeat the Paddleheads, 34-14 on Sept. 1.

Reid Birlingmir, (2018), RHP, Oaxaca Gurreros (Mexican League)
35 appearances, 2-0 record, 33 innings pitched, 3.27 ERA and 29 strikeouts.
Playing in his second season with Oaxaca, Birnlingmir was one of the more reliable arms out of the bullpen. He posted the highest ERA (3.27) then anyone on the roster, posting his best ERA since his 2023 season with the Fargo-Moorehead Redhawks. Birlingmir posted 29 strikeouts this season, which tied for the seventh-most on the team.

Kendall Lyons, (2026), LHP, Down East Bird Dawgs (Frontier League)
17 appearances, 2-1 record, 28.1 innings pitched and 46 strikeouts.
After a brief stint with the Québec Capitales, Lyons joined the Bird Dawgs in the middle of July, becoming a flexible arm for the organization for the last few months of the season. In his first outing on July 26, striking out five batters in two innings of work against the Capitales in a 5-0 victory for the Bird Dawgs. Lyons posted his first win on Aug. 12, striking out two in one inning of work in Down East's 12-7 win over the New Jersey Jackals.

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