Illinois Alumni Report: Sept. 6–12, 2026
Four Fighting Illini are worth watching as the MLB stretch run heats up — and each story is a little different.
Joe Ryan's Back, and the Twins Needed It
The most consequential Illinois news of the week came out of Minnesota: Joe Ryan was reinstated from the 15-day IL on Monday and is set to start against the Tigers, ending a month-long absence caused by a left glute strain. For a Twins rotation that was managing without him, the timing is critical. Ryan is a two-time All-Star, and his return gives Minnesota a genuine front-line arm heading into the final weeks of the season. The roster move came at a cost to a fellow Illini — righty Garrett Acton was optioned to Triple-A to open the big-league spot. Acton had a rough outing on Sept. 6 against the White Sox, allowing 4 earned runs in just a third of an inning before the demotion.
Glassey Finds a New Home in Washington
Joe Glassey's trade from Baltimore to Washington flew quietly under the radar at the deadline, but the Nationals' front office may have found a gem. Per Yahoo Sports, GM Paul Toboni's decision to acquire Glassey from the Orioles is drawing praise as one of the smarter low-profile moves of the deadline. The right-hander now heads a Washington club with nothing to lose and every reason to let him work — a setup that could be exactly what Glassey needs to make his case heading into 2027.
Nate Lavender Is Baffling Hitters in New York
The most intriguing Illini arm in the league right now might be Lavender, who has carved out a bullpen role with the Mets and is making life miserable for opposing hitters. Yahoo Sports profiled the deceptive quality of his fastball — noting that Mets catcher Luis Torrens, who has caught him more than anyone, has gone from finding it "challenging" to "almost comical" how consistently it fooled batters. Lavender's ERA sits at a sharp 1.88, though it took a minor hit on Sept. 9 against the Marlins when he allowed 3 earned runs in a third of an inning. He bounced back in his prior appearance on Sept. 8, striking out two in a clean inning against those same Marlins. Fellow Mets bullpen arms Joey Gerber and Jack Wenninger are also on the roster, giving New York a quietly Illini-heavy relief corps.
Massey Is Quietly Raking in Kansas City
Michael Massey doesn't get the headlines, but his bat has been one of the more consistent stories on the Royals' roster this week. The second baseman went 1-for-5 on Sept. 12 against Boston but raised his average to .281, capping a week that included a two-hit game on Sept. 11 and a two-hit, one-walk performance on Sept. 8 against Arizona. Over the four-game stretch from Sept. 7–12, Massey climbed five points on his batting average — steady, quiet production from a player the Royals are counting on down the stretch.
Illinois may not have the splashiest alumni roster in the game, but from Minnesota's rotation to New York's bullpen to Kansas City's infield, the Illini footprint across MLB is real — and growing at the right time of year.
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