University of St. Thomas Athletics
10/29/2026 2:46:00 PM | Baseball
St. Paul, Minn. – The University of St. Thomas Baseball program has announced its complete recruiting class for the upcoming 2027 season. Chris Olean's fifth Division-I recruiting class features (11) incoming freshman seven of which hail from Minnesota, one each from Nebraska and Iowa, along with one from Australia. Additionally, the program has added (5) transfers over the summer to help supplement the loss of eleven players from the 2026 roster.
"Our goal remains to be a 4-year development focused program, but in the current landscape of college athletics our ability to find quality players and people in the transfer portal has become a more important part of our roster construction," said Head Coach Chris Olean. "We have lost some very quality players the past two years to the transfer portal, but I also feel these players made significant strides while at St Thomas. Regardless of if the player is a freshman or a transfer, our focus remains the same, player development. Find guys with talent and help them reach their ceiling. If we do that, we will continue to have success!"
The impressive transfer class features three pitchers and two position players, all Minnesota natives, with impressive resumes which include a top 10 ranked Division-II transfer and one of the top underclass pitchers from the MIAC this past spring.
"I am very excited about our incoming group of transfers, said Olean." We have a couple of impact bats that will add some explosiveness to the line up in terms of power potential and speed. On the mound, all our transfers should come and have the ability to throw leverage innings for us. They have elite level stuff and a high compete level, all they need is an opportunity! As much as I like the talent were bringing in, I also feel like we are bringing in good people that will add to our culture and our continued focus on helping St Thomas become a yearly regional caliber program."
Tommie Baseball Transfers Class
JD Dobis
Position: RHP | Height: 6-0 | Weight: 190 | Bat/Throws: R/R
Hometown: Eagan, Minn. | High School: St. Paul Academy
Scouting Report: Gifted athlete and former multi-sport athlete out of high school who is just scratching the surface of his potential. Comes to UST with extensive experience in both the Big 10 and the Northwoods League and will still be just 20 years old when the 27 season starts. Spent the summer training at Tread Athletics in Charlotte, North Carolina with fellow transfer Logan Olson. On the mound he features a cut fastball with exceptional bite at 86-88 to go along with a 4sm fastball at 90-92 with good ride. Has a 12-6 curveball that he'll use as an out-pitch and a changeup with good sink at 80-82
Prior to UST, saw 15 innings of action with the Gophers in two seasons as well as 34 innings in the Northwoods League in the summer of 2025 where he collected a 3-3 record with 32 strikeouts and only 13 walks.
One of the state's top prep athletes coming out of St. Thomas Academy. As a senior captain for the Cadets, Dobis was one of the top two-way players in the state working 50 innings on the mound, allowed only 38 hits and was among the state leaders in strikeouts with 76. Held opponents to a .199 batting average against, made 10 starts with 11 appearances, and posted a .443 OBP with 17 hits, one home run, 12 RBIs and 16 walks at the plate. Played for the Utah Marshalls in the summer of 2024 with teammate Jake Quinn, an exclusive 18u travel team reserved for the top incoming freshman in the country.
As a junior in 2023, Dobis went 5-1 on the mound, posting an impressive 0.70 ERA with 57 strikeouts in 49 innings. The Eagan native also hit .321 on the season, collecting 21 RBI, 10 doubles, two home runs and five stolen bases in route to being named All-Conference and 1st Team All-Metro Star Tribune. Playing for the Minnesota MASH National Travel Team, Dobis was named a four-time WWBA All-Tournament selection and two-time Perfect Game Preseason Underclass All-American. In 2023, he tallied 103 strikeouts through 74 total innings, holding opponents to a .153 batting average. With an ERA of 0.82, he went 11-1 for the year on the mound. Offensively, he collected 31 hits, 18 of which were extra bases. He maintained a .329 average for the year and drove in 47 runs.
Dobis was also selected to participate in the Prep Baseball Report Future Games and was a member of the 2022 USA National Team Development program. Prep Baseball Report ranked Dobis as the No. 3 right-handed pitcher in Minnesota and No. 16 player nationally, while PerfectGame ranked him as the No. 466th best pitcher in the country and No. 7 overall pitcher in the state of Minnesota in the 2024 class.
J.D. is the son of Tricia and Jason Dobis. His father, Jason, pitched for the Minnesota Gophers from 1995-98 and was drafted by the Oakland Athletics in the 27th round in 1998 MLB Draft. Also recruited by Tennessee, Oregon, Tulane, Arizona State, Stanford, TCU and Northwestern.
JD Dobis on joining UST: "I'm excited to continue my baseball career at St. Thomas because I'm joining a roster that already includes former teammates. St. Thomas is also the only school in Minnesota offering a business degree paired with a dedicated real estate major, giving me a clear path toward a career I'm passionate about. Wearing the St. Thomas name carries a lot of pride for me, going back to my high school years. I'm really looking forward to being part of a place where my Catholic faith is woven into my academics instead of set apart from it. From my first conversations with the coaching staff, it felt different. They wanted me as a player and valued me as a person."
Chris Olean on JD Dobis: "First thing to know about JD is that he is an amazing guy! He will be a huge piece of our team from a leadership and work ethic standpoint. On top of that JD had a big summer, focusing on his training and seeing measurable gains in both velocity and pitch profiles. JD has always been a competitor, and I am excited to see what he can when given the opportunity."
Mitch Iliff
Position: 1B | Height: 6-1 | Weight: 200 | Bat/Throws: L/R
Hometown: Hastings, Minn. | High School: Hastings
Scouting Report: D2 transfer out of Sioux Falls and one of the most decorated players in USF history. A career .357 hitter with 160 career hits, 29 home runs, 122 runs scored, and 120 RBIs. Has played the past two seasons for the Waterloo Bucks of the Northwoods League where he's amassed a .284/.429/.495 line across 54 games and 190 at bats to go along with 9 home runs, 39 RBI's and 17-for-18 in stolen bases. Iliff, a Hastings native, is exceptionally athletic, posting a career .991 fielding percentage with over 660+ putouts in three college seasons while playing 1st base as well as both corner OF spots. A gap-to-gap hitter with tremendous plate discipline, the left-handed hitting slugger should slot immediately into the middle of the Tommie lineup in 2027.
Comes to St. Thomas as one of the best hitters in program history at the University of Sioux Falls, and one of the most dangerous in Division-II baseball over the past two seasons. In three years at USF, the Hastings native appeared in 135 games with 125 starts, compiling a .357 career batting average to go along with 160 hits, 122 runs scored, 120 RBI, 35 doubles, three triples, 29 home runs, and 23 stolen bases.
This past spring, Iliff delivered a monster junior campaign, starting all 52 games for the Cougars while batting .349 with 60 hits, 10 doubles, two triples, 17 home runs, 54 RBI, and 50 runs scored. He posted a .727 slugging percentage and .506 on-base percentage while adding 11 stolen bases. In NSIC games only in 2026 Illif was one of the premier bats in the conference ranking 1st in OPS (1.321), SLG (.797), home runs (14), 2nd in OBP (.524), 4th in walks (28) and 7th in RBIs (41). Iliff earned NSIC All-Conference honors for the second straight season, was named an NSIC Player of the Week twice, the NCBWA Central Region Player of the Week, and collected Academic Achievement, NSIC Team of Excellence, and NSIC All-Academic honors.
As a sophomore, Iliff broke out in a big way for USF leading the team in hitting with a .378 average to go along with ranking tops among all hitters with 79 hits, 17 doubles, 131 total bases, .461 OBP, 1.088 OPS, 50 RBI's and finished second with 11 home runs. He ranked 7th in the NSIC in SLG (.657) and OPS (1.123), and 9th in OBP (.466).
A 2023 Hasting High School graduate. Earned Metro East Conference All-Conference Honorable Mention honors as a senior. He was named the 2021 Minnesota Blizzard Johnny Price Team MVP. In the spring of 2023, hit .344 with five doubles, one triple, two home runs, 27 RBI, and a .943 OPS. Son of Jim and Kerry Iliff. Has one sister, Mackenzie. 64 Analytics has ranked Iliff as a Top 500 Transfer Nationally, and the No. 10 D-II transfer in the country.
Iliff on joining UST: "I chose St. Thomas because it was close to home, and during recruitment, the coaching staff stayed in touch with me the entire time. On my visit, I loved learning what the baseball program had to offer, and the coaches do a great job developing guys and have a strong culture that they have built over the years that I wanted to get in on."
Packy Casey on Iliff: "Mitch is a complete player, and he's proven himself to be one of the toughest outs in Division II baseball over the last two years at Sioux Falls. He's going to hit for average and power but more importantly he has good at bats and gets big hits when it matters most. He's got a great feel for the strike zone, he doesn't expand, he stays inside the ball to use the whole field but beyond the physical traits what really separates Mitch is his drive to compete and win. He's an absolute gamer, he'll play multiple positions, steal bases in key spots and most importantly he wants to be up in big moments. His experience, leadership and work ethic are invaluable pieces he brings to the program and there's no question he'll be an impact player, both on and off the field. He's going to be a huge part of the offense and our entire staff is anxiously looking forward to working with him. We couldn't be more happy to welcome Mitch and his parents Jim and Kerry, to the Tommie Baseball Family!"
Jack Morris
Position: RHP | Height: 6-3 | Weight: 190 | Bat/Throws: R/R
Hometown: Shakopee, Minn. | High School: Shakopee
Scouting Report: A former national recruit who went to Clemson out of high school, had tommy john surgery that cut short his freshman season and eventually transferred to USC Upstate. Finally got his real taste of collegiate action this summer with the Mankato Moondogs of the Northwoods League where he worked in 7 games with 9.1 innings pitched, allowed only 5 hits and struck out 14 with a 3.86 ERA. Saw a noticeable jump in velocity this summer with the fastball sitting 91-93 with good sink and run, will also mix in a cutter at 84-86, and has a slider with exceptional depth and deception that can be used late in the count
Prior to UST, appeared in five games, all in relief for the USC Upstate Spartans this past spring. Worked 2.2 innings, striking out six batters, posting a 20.25 strikeout per nine innings total. Recorded three scoreless outings on the season and made his collegiate debut against South Alabama (2/13/26).
A 2024 Shakopee High School Graduate and 3-year letter winner, and Team Captain, for the Sabers in Baseball. Broke onto the scene as a junior, helping Shakopee to a 13-win season working 54.2 innings with a 7-4 record on the mound to go along with a team best 57 strikeouts and 1.28 ERA, while also hitting .308 at the plate with a .378 OBP and 10 RBIs. Named the "George Li" Pitcher of the Year in 2023, in addition to being named South Suburban All Conference and All Section. For his career, compiled 11 wins with 105.2 innings pitched, striking out 121 batters and finishing with 10.31 strikeouts per nine innings. Named a 2024 Minnesota Mr. Baseball Finalist. A teammate of current UST transfer JD Dobis on the Minnesota MASH National Travel Team, Morris worked a team high 33 IP in the summer of 2024 with 33 strikeouts, only 5 earned runs and a 1.06 ERA. A 2-time Preseason All American (Central All Region 2nd Team) in 2024 and 2023 by PerfectGame, was named to three separate All Tournament Teams throughout his prep career and selected to participate in the PBR 2022 Futures Games. Ranked as the No. 465th overall pitcher nationally out of high school, and the No. 6 pitcher in the state of Minnesota by Perfect Game. PBR ranked him as the No. 7 player in the state, and No. 11 player overall. Originally committed to Clemson, prior to transferring to USC Upstate.
Jack is the son of John and Jodi Morris. John Morris (Dad), Jodi Morris (Mom), Lexi Morris (Sister) danced for Creighton Dance Team, Business Finance Major.
Jack Morris Quote on joining UST: "I decided on St. Thomas for a variety of reasons. The support system for students and student-athletes here is vast and it allows you to grow and develop skills needed after graduation. I believe that the coaching staff wants to succeed here and it's shown from the head coach that has been coaching at St. Thomas for 17 years. Finally, the cherry on top, is I grew up playing with or against some of the guys on the team and we already have that competitive nature with each other."
Chris Olean on Jack Morris: "Jack has electric stuff. I believe that he is just starting to find his stride as indicated by his summer in the Northwoods League this summer. His ability to work through the early adversity in his college career has prepared him to take the next steps as a Tommie. He is fully healthy and everything is starting to come together for him. I believe Jack has the ability to be weekend starter for us and I am excited to see him reach his potential!"
Jake Quinn
Position: OF | Height: 6-3 | Weight: 200 | Bat/Throws: L/R
Hometown: St. Paul, Minn. | High School: Cretin Derham Hall
Scouting Report: A true 5-tool talent with unlimited potential. Was on the National recruiting circuit out of high school. A 6.5/60 runner who throws 92+ from the OF and has tremendous bat speed, got his real taste of extended action this summer with the Lacrosse Loggers of the Northwoods League where he hit .340 with 18 hits, 2 home runs, 12 RBI's and went 5-for-5 in stolen bases. Transfer from the University of Minnesota where he redshirted as a freshman and saw action in 5 games last spring (hit .333 with a double and 2 RBI's), has three years of eligibility remaining and should see immediate action for the Tommies in the OF and is poised to hit near the middle of the UST lineup
Quinn comes to UST after two years at the University of Minnesota where he was named Academic All-Big 10. Previously, the St. Paul native was a three-time Suburban East All-Conference honoree and Team Captain playing for former Tommie All-American Buzz Hannahan. As a senior, the St. Paul native hit .335 with 22 hits, 7 doubles, 8 stolen bases and compiled team bests in OBP (.523), SLG (.500) and OPS (1.023) leading the Raiders to a 14-9 overall record and earning All Section accolades. Played for the Utah Marshalls in the summer of 2024 with teammate JD Dobis, an exclusive 18u travel team reserved for the top incoming freshmen in the country Finished with .326 average to go along with and OBP (.455), an OPS (.939), to go along with 5 doubles, 3 triples, 1 home run, and 20 RBIS.
Quinn was named a 2023 Preseason Underclass All-American by Perfect Game. In the season that followed, he hit .367 with a 1.108 OPS and had 29 hits through 26 games for the Raiders. He slugged five home runs, four doubles and a triple, collecting 19 RBI with 15 walks and six stolen bases. That summer, as a member of Northstar Navy, Quinn hit .308 and got on base at a .429 clip. He tallied 10 walks, four stolen bases, and one double, triple and home run. As a sophomore, Quinn hit .328 with an on-base percentage of .423, collecting nine doubles and five stolen bases. In the summer of 2022, playing on the national circuit he hit .452 with a 1.192 OPS, 13 RBI, had six stolen bases, five doubles and a triple. He was selected to participate in the 2022 Prep Baseball Report Future Games at Lake Point in Emerson, Ga.
A four-year member of the President's Honor Roll list at Cretin-Derham Hall, Quinn was ranked by Perfect Game as the No. 1 outfielder in the state of Minnesota and No. 3 player overall. At the national level, he was the No. 36 outfielder and No. 226 overall player nationally by Perfect Game.
The son of Jessica and Jeff Quinn, his mother played basketball at the University of St. Thomas and father swam at St. Thomas. Jake has one younger brother, Sam who swims for St. Thomas Academy. Was also recruited by Virginia, Kentucky, Iowa, Illinois, Illinois State, Bradley, Saint Louis, Butler, Memphis, Michigan State and College of Charleston.
Jake Quinn Quote on joining UST: "I grew up in Saint Paul with both parents as St. Thomas graduates, so I grew up going to Tommie sports and in general being on and around campus. The academics are top of the line and the campus is beautiful. The coaching staff gave me an opportunity, and I appreciate their honesty and commitment to making me a better player and person. I'm excited to be a part of the Tommie family. Roll Toms!"
Packy Casey on Jake Quinn: "There isn't anything Jake can't do on a baseball field. I've been watching him play since he was 16 years old, and I've seen him develop significantly over that time, but what hasn't changed is the type of person he is. As a player, he's a true five-tool player, and he finally got the chance to showcase that this summer in the Northwoods League, and the results were impressive. Beyond the tools is a first-class person who has a set of values that represent everything you want in a student-athlete. He cares about his teammates, he works, he competes, and he carries himself the right way every single day. Jake has earned everything that has come his way, and I'm excited to see what the next chapter of his career brings. I'm extremely excited to welcome Jake to the University of St. Thomas Baseball Family along with his parents Jeff and Jessica."
Teagan Yotter
Position: RHP | Height: 5-11 | Weight: 180 | Bat/Throws: L/L
Hometown: Bloomington, Minn. | High School: Bloomington Jefferson
Scouting Report: D3 transfer from nearby Hamline University in St. Paul, Minnesota. Was one of the most talented underclass arms in the MIAC this past spring. Possess a powerful, yet untapped, arm that works in the 91-93 range with exceptional sink and the equalizer being a power slider that has tremendous spin that can be thrown at different speeds at any point in the count with command. Has the makeup, and demeanor, to be a key backend weapon for the Tommies out of the pen
Transferring to St. Thomas from Hamline University where he finished with the 6th most strikeouts (47) in the MIAC, in addition to having the 5th lowest batting average/against (.233), worked the 6th most innings pitched (59) and finished with the 8th best ERA (3.94). Named to the MIAC All Conference Team in 2025 and was named to the D3 Team of the Week (2/2-2/14). Anchored the Piper rotation with 11 starts on the mound, led staff in innings pitched and strikeouts.
Broke out in a big way this past summer with the Minnesota Mud Puppies of the Northwoods League where he led the team with 31 strikeouts, 3 wins, 8 appearances and finished 2nd with 32 innings pitched, he was named Northwoods League Pitcher of the Night on 6/19.
As a freshman in 2025, made 14 appearances which tied for the second most on the Piper staff, made three starts on the mound, posted a 1–2 record over 27.2 innings with 32 strikeouts which both ranked third most of any pitcher. Attended Bloomington Jefferson High School where he lettered for the Jaguars in Baseball. As a senior worked 23.1 innings on the mound with a 2.40 ERA and totaled 22 strikeouts. Son of Maureen and Tyler Yotter. Plans to major in Business Administration at St. Thomas. Also Recruited by Augustana, Sacred Heart, and Lindenwood.
Teagan Yotter on joining UST: "I chose UST because it let me stay close to home while still competing at the Division-I level. UST has a long history of winning, and that tradition of success is something I really value and want to contribute to. I also love how the campus is smaller and easier to navigate, which made it feel like the right fit from day one. I'm excited to join a program with that kind of winning culture and also develop into the best player I can be."
Chris Olean on Teagan Yotter: "Teagan is first and foremost a competitor. He is fearless on the mound and attacks hitters. He is a worker as shown by his steady improvement since high school. Teagan wants the ball in big spots and has a real swing and miss breaking ball and I anticipate him throwing in high leverage spots for us this spring."
