CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Illinois baseball program announced the signing of four student-athletes to National Letters of Intent on Wednesday.
"I am extremely excited about our 2024 signing class," head coach Dan Hartleb said. "We have four very athletic and competitive baseball student-athletes. This group has excelled against some of the best competition in the country.”
"We have filled some big needs with very quality athletes who have a high ceiling. Our staff did a great job of identifying and securing commitments from this sought-after class. We are looking forward to working with the entire group."
Mitch Dye / RHP
6-3 / 195 / L-R
Springfield, Ill. / Lincoln Land Community College / Sacred Heart-Griffin
Luke Landrus / C
6-2 / 185 / R-R
St. Joseph, Ill. / St. Joseph-Ogden
Brayden Mazzacano / OF // LHP
6-2 / 175 / L-L
Schaumburg, Ill. / Schaumburg
Luke Weber / RHP
6-0 / 180 / R-R
Highland Park, Ill. / Highland Park
"I am extremely excited about our 2024 signing class," head coach Dan Hartleb said. "We have four very athletic and competitive baseball student-athletes. This group has excelled against some of the best competition in the country.”
"We have filled some big needs with very quality athletes who have a high ceiling. Our staff did a great job of identifying and securing commitments from this sought-after class. We are looking forward to working with the entire group."
Mitch Dye / RHP
6-3 / 195 / L-R
Springfield, Ill. / Lincoln Land Community College / Sacred Heart-Griffin
- 2023 MWAC All-Conference; 2022 Central State Eight All-Conference and Player of the Year finalist.
- Went 9-3 with a 5.13 ERA (41 ER/72.0 IP) in 17 games, 14 starts in his lone season at Lincoln Land CC... Tossed two complete games.
- Struck out 91 batters in his 72.0 innings of work at Lincoln Land CC.
- Ranked as the No. 148 player in Illinois in the 2022 class.
- Chose Illinois: "It has always been my dream school. It has felt like home since I can remember."
- 2022-23 NJCAA Academic All-American.
- Son of Duane and Lori Dye. Has one sister, Maya.
- Faced off against current Illini pitcher Jake Swartz in high school; Played with current Illini Connor Milton and Logan Tabeling with the Springfield Lucky Horseshoes of the MLB Draft League.
- Was also recruited by Purdue, Indiana State, Coastal Carolina and Campbell.
Luke Landrus / C
6-2 / 185 / R-R
St. Joseph, Ill. / St. Joseph-Ogden
- 2023 Illini Prairie Conference First-Team All-Conference and team MVP; 2022 second-team all-conference.
- Slashed .352/.418/.555/.972 his junior year in 2023 with 30 HR and 35 RBI to go along with 41 runs scored and 20 stolen bases.
- Earned a News-Gazette Player of the Week honor his junior season.
- 2023 WWBA First Team All-Tournament for the Cincinnati Reds scout team.
- Ranked as the No. 4 catcher in the state, according to Perfect Game, and also the No. 13 overall player in Illinois; Earned a No. 442 national ranking from Perfect Game as well as the No. 51-ranked catcher in the country.
- Chose Illinois: "I loved the coaching staff at Illinois and the way they treated me on my visit. Ever since I was a kid, I wanted to be an Illini. U of I is only 20 minutes away from my home, so the short distance is great."
- Son of Derrick and Vanesa Landrus. Has one brother, Cade.
- Dad played basketball at Eastern Illinois for four years (1991-95); Mom received her Master's and PhD from Illinois.
- Also earned two letters in basketball.
- Was teammates with current Illini student-manager Coby Miller at St. Joseph-Ogden.
- Was also recruited by EIU, Western Illinois, Western Kentucky, Creighton, Cincinnati, Northern Illinois and SEMO.
Brayden Mazzacano / OF // LHP
6-2 / 175 / L-L
Schaumburg, Ill. / Schaumburg
- 2022 all-area selection; 2021 Mid Suburban League All-Conference selection.
- Ranked by Perfect Game as the No. 2 outfielder and No. 19 player in Illinois; earned a No. 500 national rank and was also ranked as the No. 108 outfielder by Perfect Game.
- Ranked by Prep Baseball Report as the No. 8 player in the state and the No. 2 outfielder; also earned a No. 287 national rank and No. 37 outfielder from Prep Baseball Report.
- Chose Illinois: "To stay close to my family and friends."
- Works at Bo Dome in Bensenville, Ill., teaching kids to play baseball.
- Was also recruited by Iowa and UIC.
- Son of Anthony and Corinne Mazzacano. Has two sisters, Mckell and Morghan.
Luke Weber / RHP
6-0 / 180 / R-R
Highland Park, Ill. / Highland Park
- Two-time Central Suburban League Pitcher of the Year (2023, '22); 2023 all-area; two-time all-conference (2023, '22).
- 2023 Perfect Game Underclass All-American; 2023 Perfect Game Central All-Region First Team.
- 2022 Prep Baseball Report Futures Game participant.
- Posted a 1.09 ERA in 2023 with 72 strikeouts in 49.2 innings of work; Had a 2.10 ERA in 2022 with 50 strikeouts in 48.1 innings.
- Ranked as the No. 23 player in the state and the No. 8 right-hander in Illinois by Perfect Game; Earned a No. 500 national rank and is the No. 239 right-hander in the country, according to Perfect Game.
- Ranked as the No. 19 player in the state and the No. 6 right-hander in Illinois, according to Prep Baseball Report.
- Son of John and Amy Weber. Has one sister, Rachel.
- Chose Illinois: "Chose Illinois because of the coaching staff, academic and athletic reputation and it felt like home."
