OAK CREEK, Wis. — Fourth-year head coach Caleb Bounds is ushering in a new era for Milwaukee Area Technical College baseball, announcing the addition of 22 freshman recruits to the Stormers program. The 2026 recruiting class serves as a cornerstone of MATC baseball's retooling effort, building on the momentum of last season's 35–23 campaign.

The incoming group features a strong blend of Midwest flavor, with 15 signees hailing from Illinois and seven from Wisconsin. MATC head coach Caleb Bounds and his staff believe the mix of talent will strengthen the program's future, providing competition and depth when the recruits officially arrive on campus next fall. As the current Stormers prepare for the upcoming spring season, the 2026 class stands as the next wave of talent that will carry MATC baseball forward in the years ahead.

"I really like the guys that we are bringing in for next year," Bounds said. "We are losing a ton of sophomores, but we feel like this class has a ton of talent! We were able to fill all of our positional needs and believe that they can continue to move our program in the right direction."

With the 2026 recruiting class now finalized, the Stormers will introduce the group in detail, highlighting the wide range of talent and backgrounds that coach Bounds has brought into the fold. From power arms to versatile position players, each recruit represents a piece of the program's future, and together they form a foundation that MATC hopes to build upon into the upcoming seasons.
 
Position Players

Name: Devin Arbour
Height: 6'0
Position: Catcher/Infielder
High School: Kankakee (Kankakee, Ill.)
Coach Bounds Comments: We are excited to have Devin join our team. He is a catcher who brings raw power at the plate. Devin can catch and play first base, which is a valuable asset for us. We expect big things from him.



Name: Abraham Caseres
Height: 5'7
Position: Infielder
High School: Lyons Township (LaGrange, Ill.)
Coach Bounds Comments: We are excited to have Abraham join the team. He is a stellar defender who brings versatility to our infield. He is a switch-hitting shortstop who played for the Cangelosi Sparks North team this summer.



Name: Peter LaFontaine
Height: 5'11
Position: Infielder
Hometown: Kenilworth, Ill.
High School: Loyola Academy (Wilmette, Ill.)
Coach Bounds Comments: We are excited to have Peter join our team. He brings a strong presence at the plate. He is a shortstop who can play all infield positions and has good power in his bat. Peter comes from the respected summer ball organization Top Tier.



Name: Isaac Lopez
Height: 5'9
Position: Infielder
Hometown: Racine, Wis.
High School: Shoreland Lutheran (Somers, Wis.)
Coach Bounds Comments: We are excited to have Isaac join our program. He is a middle infielder who is very athletic. He comes from Puma Baseball and started at shortstop for both his club and high school teams. He has the ability to play multiple positions on the field.



Name: Tommy Manker
Height: 5'10
Position: Outfielder
High School: Naperville Central (Naperville, Ill.)
Coach Bounds Comments: We are excited to have Tommy join the squad. He is a left-handed hitting center fielder who brings strength and speed to the outfield.



Name: Brady Mohns
Height: 6'4
Position: Infielder
High School: Brookfield Central (Brookfield, Wis.)
Coach Bounds Comments: Brady is a corner infielder who fills a key spot for us. We are excited to have him join our team and expect him to be a major contributor. He brings significant power from the left side and continues the Hitters organization-to-MATC pipeline.



Name: Lukas Quiroz
Height: 5'8
Position: Catcher
Hometown: Oak Forest, Ill.
High School: Tinley Park (Tinley Park, Ill.)
Coach Bounds Comments: Lukas played for one of our former players, Ethan Rossow. He is a strong defender behind the plate and brings a solid bat to our program. We are excited to have him compete for the catching role.



Name: Gavin Sawyer
Height: 5'11
Position: Outfielder
High School: Slinger (Slinger, Wis.)
Coach Bounds Comments: Gavin is a great addition to our program. He brings power at the plate and is a solid outfielder from Slinger High School. We are excited to have him join us.



Name: Sebastian Solis
Height: 5'11
Position: Catcher
High School: Romeoville (Romeoville, Ill.)
Coach Bounds Comments: We are excited for Sebastian to join the team. He brings strong leadership behind the plate. He comes from a respected summer program in Windy City.



Name: Jacob Szpiganowicz
Height: 6'0
Position: Catcher
Hometown: Elk Grove Village, Ill.
High School: James B. Conant (Hoffman Estates, Ill.)
Coach Bounds Comments: Jacob is a strong catcher behind the plate. He comes from the respected summer program Longshots. We are excited for him to join us next year and compete for a starting role. He has caught high-level arms and brings a physical presence at the plate.



Name: Nehemiah Torres
Height: 6'0
Position: Infielder
High School: Glenbrook North (Northbrook, Ill.)
Coach Bounds Comments: We're excited to welcome Nehemiah to our team. He adds strong talent to our infield and becomes another standout from The Hitters organization.



Pitchers

Name: Bryce Becker
Height: 6'1
Position: Left-Handed Pitcher
High School: Dixon (Dixon, Ill.)
Coach Bounds Comments: We are excited to have Bryce join our team. He is a talented left-hander with electric stuff on the mound. He recorded more than 80 strikeouts last year in high school, and we are glad he will be part of our staff.



Name: Reed Vorlob
Height: 6'3
Position: Left-Handed Pitcher
High School: Horicon (Horicon, Wis.)
Accolades: All-Trailways South Conference First Team
Coach Bounds Comments: Reed brings great size and pitchability to our staff. He is a big left-hander we needed on the mound. He has performed well in both high school and summer ball, and we are excited to have him join our staff.



Name: Drew Benthine
Height:  6'0
Position: Right-Handed Pitcher
High School: Tinley Park (Tinley Park, Ill.)
Coach Bounds Comments: Drew is a strong right-handed pitcher and we are excited to have join our team. He has logged a ton of innings in both high school and summer ball and brings a great demeanor to the mound.



Name: Luke Eckenstahler
Height: 6'5
Position: Right-Handed Pitcher
High School: Grayslake Central (Grayslake, Ill.)
Coach Bounds Comments: Luke brings great size to the mound. He has been a starter for his high school, and we are excited to have him join our program. He competes in the strike zone and has pitched in many big games for Grayslake Central.



Name: Shane Kimmel
Height: 5'10
Position: Right-Handed Pitcher
High School: Brookfield East (Brookfield, Wis.)
Coach Bounds Comments: Shane is a big addition to the program. We are excited to add another power arm to the staff. He has extensive experience as both a starter and reliever.



Name: TJ Rodriguez
Height: 6'1
Position: Right-Handed Pitcher
High School: Grayslake Central (Grayslake, Ill.)
Coach Bounds Comments: We are excited to have TJ join our program. He is a unique arm who can both start and close games. He brings a distinctive arm slot and spins the breaking ball very effectively.



Two-Way Players

Name: Jackson Boeshaar
Height: 6'3
Position: Outfielder/Pitcher
High School: Martin Luther (Greendale, Wis.)
Accolades: All-Metro Classic Conference First Team
Coach Bounds Comments: Jackson is a huge addition to our program. He is a two-way player from just down the road. We are excited to have him compete as both an outfielder and pitcher. He is a very athletic player with a high ceiling.



Name: Rocco Jones
Height: 6'3
Position: Infielder/Pitcher
High School: Lake Park (Roselle, Ill.)
Coach Bounds Comments: Rocco is a highly athletic two-way player we are excited about. He plays shortstop and also pitches. He will contribute in the infield and on the mound next year. He has strong projectability.



Name: Bradley McCarthy
Height: 6'0
Position: Infielder/Pitcher
High School: Badger (Lake Geneva, Wis.)
Coach Bounds Comments: Bradley is a two-way incoming freshman. He started at shortstop for his high school and also pitched. He can play the outfield as well as all infield positions. We are excited to have him join our Stormer family. He comes from a winning culture, having been part of Badger High School's historic state playoff run this year and playing for the Midwest Halos in the summer.



Name: Braylan McCarthy
Height: 6'2
Position: Outfielder/Pitcher
High School: Warren Township (Gurnee, Ill.)
Accolades: All-North Suburban Conference
Coach Bounds Comments: Braylan is another two-way player who will be utilized in several roles. He brings a unique arm slot on the mound that will benefit our staff. He earned all-conference honors as both a pitcher and outfielder and is a sub-7.0 runner. We are excited to have him join our team next year.



Name: Gavin Piekos
Height: 6'3
Position: Outfielder/Pitcher
High School: Prairie Ridge (Crystal Lake, Ill.)
Coach Bounds Comments: We are excited to have Gavin join our team. He brings significant power at the plate. He played for Top Tier this summer and hit in the middle of the order. He will also pitch for us.



Editor's note: If a recruit's hometown is not listed, it is the same city as his high school.

With an ideal mix of power, versatility, and pitching depth, the Stormers believe their 2026 class will pay dividends for the program in the years ahead. While these 22 freshmen will officially join the roster next fall, their commitments already signal the direction of MATC baseball's future. As the program turns its focus to the upcoming spring season, it can look ahead with confidence knowing the foundation for 2026 and beyond is firmly in place.