UIC’s Friday-night workhorse with swing-and-miss stuff
In the 2026 season, Mason Lei emerged as UIC’s frontline right-hander, leading the Flames with 96.2 innings and 86 strikeouts while earning MVC weekly honors and eventually getting drafted by the Red Sox.[2][3][4] What makes him intriguing isn’t just the workload—it’s the starter profile: he can miss bats, work deep into games, and has shown the ability to dominate when his command is on, including a 10-strikeout outing in February and an 11-strikeout gem in May.[3][13] If you want a durable, big-frame pitcher who can anchor a rotation, he’s absolutely worth a look.
