by Kristina Leahy and Jeremy Scott
PEORIA, Ill. — Mitch Janssen was announced as one of the three who passed away in a plane crash Tuesday on I-55 near Lincoln.
Janssen was a Princeville native, Bradley graduate, and baseball player for the Braves.
The university’s baseball coach Elvis Dominguez said at a Wednesday news conference that the team is struggling right now with the loss.
“The last two days have been really, really tough, not only for myself, but for the rest of my club,” he said.
“In all my 33 years of coaching, I can tell you he’s at the top.
“We lost a great one. Not a good one, but a great one.”
The player received many awards during his time at Bradley including All-MVC 2019, CBN Players of the Week and MVC Pitcher of the Week March 26, 2018, Bradley Baseball Mike Dunne Award 2019, MVC Honor Roll 2016-2019, and Bradley AD Honor Roll throughout his semesters.
Janssen was described as one of the most selfless people that Dominguez ever met.
“It was always about the players, it was always about the people, [and] it was never about Mitch,” he said.
“He represented us in a first-class manner anywhere and anytime he could.”
After graduating from Bradley in 2019, Janssen had an opportunity to play professional baseball, but he decided to go with his passion, flying.
At age 20, Janssen was the youngest pilot in the world with the credentials to fly the Embraer Phenom 300 jet.
“He had both passions, and he was really, really good at both,” said Dominguez.
Dominguez said plans have been discussed to honor Janssen, including a jersey patch.
“I want something to be done not just short-term. This is going to have a major impact on our program, so I want it to be done right.”
Immediately after the news of Janssen’s passing was announced, nails spelling out “MJ 21” were placed into the pitcher’s mound at Dozer Park, commemorating Janssen’s initials and jersey number.
