A Star on the Rise
Chase Rhodes, a recent graduate of Tremont High School, capped his high school career with a standout performance that earned him first‑team all‑state honors from the Illinois High School Baseball Coaches Association and unanimous selection to the Heart of Illinois Conference first team.
The right‑hander finished the season 9‑1 with 110 strikeouts and a microscopic 0.52 ERA, leading his team to its first ever state championship. In the title game he threw the opening three innings, striking out three batters while keeping the opposition scoreless.
Originally committed to John A. Logan College, Rhodes announced his decision to join the University of Kansas, citing the program’s recent surge that includes back‑to‑back Big 12 regular‑season and tournament titles and a berth in the NCAA Super Regional.
Kansas coach Kyle Surprenant praised the addition, noting that Rhodes’ blend of velocity and command fits the Jayhawks’ pitching philosophy. The move also marks a rare shift for a recruit who had been a cornerstone of the Illinois baseball scene.
The news also resonated with local baseball figures such as former major‑league pitcher Adam Duvall, who publicly congratulated Rhodes on his commitment, and veteran scout Dan Fitzgerald, who called the move a ‘game‑changer for the Midwest.’
The University of Kansas, a historic collegiate program, now looks to extend its momentum as it prepares for the upcoming Super Regional, with Rhodes expected to anchor the rotation.