Mount Carmel’s Ian Tosi Triumphs After Tommy John Surgery

Last spring, Ian Tosi from Mount Carmel underwent what was expected to be a minor surgical procedure. However, it turned out to be Tommy John surgery. This marked the start of an exhausting rehabilitation process. About 15 months later, Tosi, who committed to play for Miami, found himself pitching in a game that validated the tough recovery process.

“I worked every day to recover from the surgery,” Tosi shared. “I returned in 11 months. That’s rare. I pushed through for my team, and I’m proud of that.”

On Wednesday, Tosi’s performance was impressive. He navigated around four errors and six hits, allowing St. Laurence to score four earned runs over 5 2/3 innings. His effort contributed to Mount Carmel’s surprising 12-8 victory against the top-seeded and nationally ranked St. Laurence during the Class 4A Brother Rice Sectional semifinal in Chicago.

Additionally, Georgetown recruit Brady Holland and Wake Forest commit TJ McQuillan each hit home runs for Mount Carmel. Holland’s was a three-run shot. Pancho Vazquez went 2-for-4 with two RBIs, and Cullen Winters finished 3-for-4 with a run and an RBI.

Mount Carmel’s Ian Tosi pitched against St. Laurence during the Class 4A semifinal in Chicago on June 3, 2026. (Vincent D. Johnson / Daily Southtown)

“It’s amazing, but we expected to win,” Tosi said. “We think we are the better team.”

As a result, Mount Carmel is set to face Brother Rice, which won 7-6 over Reavis, at 11 a.m. on Saturday in the sectional championship game.

St. Laurence, led by Louisville recruit Cory Les who had a three-run homer and four RBIs, saw its season end. They aimed for consecutive state titles after winning Class 3A last season. Wisconsin-Parkside commit Danny Donovan also contributed with a solo homer. Despite the effort, Tosi managed to keep the Vikings in check, delivering what Mount Carmel coach Brian Hurry desired.

Ian Tosi pitches for Mount Carmel against St. Laurence during the semifinal in Chicago. (Vincent D. Johnson / Daily Southtown)

“He has gone through plenty over the past months,” Coach Hurry commented. “Not many know what he did to return and pitch for us. I’m proud of his gutsy performance.”

Tosi’s long journey began with diagnosing arm soreness, leading to a partial UCL tear in his left elbow. “I was initially told I needed a repair,” Tosi explained. “After surgery, I woke up to find I had a full Tommy John procedure, which surprised me. It took time to accept, but now I feel it was necessary. My arm keeps improving.”

This season, Tosi was unexpectedly prepared to start, albeit with shorter outings initially. Now, he holds a 5-0 record with a 1.46 ERA and 36 strikeouts across 33 2/3 innings.

“The schedule worked out perfectly,” Tosi acknowledged. “I always told them I’d be ready for the playoffs, to pitch for five to seven innings, and help us win.”

Ian Tosi steps off the mound to field a ball during the semifinal against St. Laurence. (Vincent D. Johnson / Daily Southtown)

Brady Holland offered significant support with a three-run homer in the sixth inning, extending the lead to 12-5. “We needed to keep scoring,” Holland stated. “Defeating them feels great as I had never done it in four years.”

For Tosi, the victory held even more significance. “It’s unreal,” he expressed. “I worked hard for this moment and felt emotional when we won. I’m just grateful to help my team.”