Chase Rhodes will be playing NCAA Division-I baseball.
The recently graduated Tremont all-stater announced his commitment to Kansas on social media Tuesday, July 7, flipping his commitment from John A. Logan College. He had been committed to the Carterville-based junior college since last November before getting an offer from the Big 12 Conference Jayhawks.
“I want to acknowledge coach Kyle Surprenant and his coaches for believing in me,” Rhodes posted, “and giving me the opportunity to pitch at John A. Logan College. I also want to thank Coach Dan Fitzgerald and his staff for the opportunity to join the Big 12 champion Kansas Jayhawks. I am truly honored and blessed that they believe I can help them win and be part of the Jayhawk culture.
“Lastly, I would like to thank my family, friends, and God who were able to help me get to this point. Rock Chalk!”
Rhodes, a right-hander, threw the first three innings with three strikeouts in the Class 1A state title game in June, allowing a walk and a hit. A 57-minute weather delay prevented Rhodes from resuming his pitching duties.
During this past season, he went 9-1 with 110 strikeouts and a 0.52 ERA in 53.2 innings. He also hit .347 on 42 hits with nine doubles and 29 RBIs for the Turks, who finished 39-2 for the program’s first-ever state championship. He was named an Illinois High School Baseball Coaches Association Class 1A first-team all-stater and unanimous all-Heart of Illinois Conference first team.
Kansas finished 45-18 overall and 22-8 in league play, winning the Big 12 Conference regular season and tournament titles. The Jayhawks won the NCAA Lawrence Regional before falling to eventual national champion Oklahoma in the Lawrence Super Regional.
Adam Duvall is a Journal Star sports reporter. Email him at aduvall@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @AdamDuvall.
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Tremont all-stater flips commitment to Kansas baseball program
Reporting by Adam Duvall, Peoria Journal Star / Journal Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Adam Duvall, Peoria Journal Star | USA TODAY Network
