A.J. Hiestand brings veteran strike-throwing upside to Eastern Illinois
In the 2026 season, A.J. Hiestand has given Eastern Illinois a valuable veteran arm, with a clean 2.0-inning relief outing on May 14 and a season line of 7 appearances, 16.1 innings, 13 strikeouts, and a 9.00 ERA. The differentiator is experience: he arrives as a redshirt senior with a track record of workhorse innings, including 21 starts and 88 strikeouts at El Camino, plus championship-level seasoning. He fits a staff that needs composure and innings-eating savvy more than flash.
