Kaden Griffitts has been named the UIS Athletics Jimmy John's Athlete of the Month after a dominant March that helped propel UIS Baseball to a 13-4 overall record, an 11-1 mark in GLVC play, and a national ranking as high as No. 17.
Griffitts hit .439 with a .519 on-base percentage and a staggering .955 slugging percentage. He finished the month with 29 hits, including 7 doubles and 9 home runs, while leading UIS in both home runs and RBIs.
His impact was especially evident in high-pressure situations. Griffitts hit .571 with the bases loaded and .600 when leading off an inning, consistently delivering game-changing at-bats that set the tone for the Prairie Stars offense.
The month featured multiple signature performances as well as regional recognition, as he earned both GLVC Player of the Week and NCBWA Midwest Region Player of the Week honors. That award-winning weekend against Davenport included a go-ahead grand slam, nine total hits, four home runs, 14 RBIs, and a .600 batting average across the series.
His final weekend of March was highlighted by a grand slam in the Quincy series, a series that carried both program rivalry and regional implications.
With consistent power, clutch hitting, and game-changing production throughout March, Griffitts stood out as one of the most impactful players in the GLVC and a driving force behind UIS Baseball's strong start to the season.
Jimmy John's Athlete of the Month
Athlete of the Month honorees will be recognized at the annual UIS Athletics banquet and will also be considered for UIS Male, Female, or Rookie of the Year awards.
The Jimmy John's Athlete of the Month award is presented in partnership with Jimmy John's in Springfield, reflecting a shared commitment between Jimmy John's and UIS Athletics to celebrate excellence across all Prairie Stars programs.
March 2026 Nominees
Kaden Griffitts, Baseball
Mark DeCicco, Baseball
Corey Boyette, Baseball
Rosie Bartletti, Softball
Calista Stahlhut, Softball
Bailey Masching, Softball
Cristina Mendoza Romero, Women's Tennis
Pablo Herrera, Men's Tennis
Elaine Grant, Women's Golf
Sacha Lamraski, Men's Golf
Jake Baldin, Men's Golf
Julien Babineau, Men's Golf
Jordan Rice, Men's Basketball
Madelyn Miller-Ross, Women's Track & Field
Matt Padilla, Men's Track & Field
Isaac Cortes, Men's Track & Field
