UIC’s Jared Lessman: a veteran lefty with swing-and-miss bite
In the 2026 season, Jared Lessman has been a useful multi-role arm for UIC, posting a 4-2 record with a 4.00 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and 23 strikeouts in relief, while also giving the Flames punchy high-leverage innings when needed[2][11]. He’s a 6'2", 205-pound left-hander with a starter’s feel and enough bat-missing ability to punch out five over two scoreless innings against Milwaukee[5][6]. The watch-out: he’s been hit hard at times, including a rough outing against Northern Illinois, so he profiles best as a competitive, strike-throwing lefty who can handle pressure but needs consistency[4][8].
