Leveling up: Chrisman enjoying banner year at IMG Academy
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- Former Maple Mountain standout Cy Chrisman is playing his senior season at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla.
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- Former Maple Mountain standout Cy Chrisman is playing his senior season at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla.
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- Former Maple Mountain standout Cy Chrisman is playing his senior season at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla.
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- Maple Mountain’s Cy Chrisman, celebrates with teammates after hitting a home run against Salem Hills in a Region 7 baseball game on Friday, May 2, 2025.
Unlike a lot of teenagers, Cy Chrisman takes a long-term approach to life.
Chrisman was Utah’s top prep power hitter last season at Maple Mountain, setting a state record with 19 home runs and posting a ridiculous slugging percentage of 1.202.
He could have returned for his senior year, chased the state’s all-time career home run record (with 29 homers, he was just two away from breaking the record of 30) and loaded up on all-state awards.
Instead, Chrisman opted to face the biggest challenge of his life.
Prep baseball fans may have noticed that Chrisman wasn’t on the Golden Eagles roster this spring. He didn’t transfer to another school in state. He chose to invest in his future and attend IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., leveling up in competition and training.
“It’s been a blessing for me,” Chrisman said. “I’m able to play more baseball and pursue my career goals for college or pro. Utah baseball is good but I’ve been exposed to a lot of different things out here. I feel like I’m maturing and becoming my own person, to see what life would be like living by myself without a safety net and making my own decisions.”
Chrisman is producing great numbers with IMG: In a 24-game regular season, he hit .429 with 22 RBI, nine doubles, a triple and five home runs. His on-base percentage is .560 and his slugging percentage is .841 playing for the Ascenders.
“He’s getting more reps and seeing elite pitching,” said his father, Jed Chrisman, a former Provo High and University of Utah baseball standout. “My wife Joanna and I, we supported the move. Some parts of it are hard. We wished we could see him graduate out here and see his games more regularly. But we’ve always been a firm believer in letting Cy chase his goals. He plugged in all the pros and cons and going to IMG made sense for him. Cy has been adamant that reaching his long-term goals is more important than any high school record.”
The opportunity
Cy Chrisman helped lead Maple Mountain to a state championship as a sophomore in 2024 and added 59 RBI and a .461 batting average to his power numbers as the Golden Eagles were the No. 1 seed in the 2025 5A tournament, eventually eliminated in bracket play during Spanish Fork’s historic run to the title.
Jeremy Tannahill, Cy Chrisman’s mental performance coach, had also worked with the baseball team at IMG and put the Chrismans in touch with the school.
IMG Academy was founded in 1978 by Nick Bollettieri as a tennis academy but has grown into a multi-sport training and educational institution spanning over 600 acres in Bradenton. It serves approximately 1,300 students in grades 6-12 and attracts student-athletes in football, basketball, baseball, tennis, soccer, lacrosse, golf, track and field and volleyball.
In last week’s NFL Draft, five former IMG Academy alums were selected. In baseball, over 240 former IMG players are playing at Division I schools as of 2025. A total of 68 IMG alum have been drafted in the major leagues with 44 selections directly from the school.
The school has national sponsors such as Gatorade and Under Armour. The starting first baseman on Cy Chrisman’s team is Frankie Thomas, son of former major league legend and Hall of Famer Frank “The Big Hurt” Thomas.
Tuition for boarders at IMG Academy, according to the school’s website, ranges from $75,400 to $99,900 depending on age and program enrollment. There are scholarships available and Cy Chrisman worked cleaning medical offices after school and during the summer to help offset the cost. Jed Chrisman said his son was involved in the negotiations with IMG before they signed on the dotted line.
Cy Chrisman said it was tough to leave his family, friends and teammates in Utah.
“Those guys at Maple Mountain are like family,” he said. “We’ve practiced every day together for three years and I’ve known Coach (Jeremy Thomas) more than ten years. He was one of my first coaches. It was a really hard decision for me and my family leaving Maple Mountain for my senior year because of the community and the baseball program. I took a lot of pride in playing for Maple Mountain.”
Cy Chrisman arrived at IMG Academy and moved into the dorms at the end of August.
“There has been some adjustments,” Jed Chrisman said. “But he’s playing with people who all have the same goal. All they want to do is win the national high school title and play at the next level. Baseball there is different than baseball in Utah. Cy sees guys throwing 99 miles an hour, guys that are going to be first or second-round draft picks. Playing baseball like that and going to school is not easy. But it’s been really nice to see him be able to prioritize and figure things out on his own.”
The daily grind
Cy Chrisman said his day starts at 7:40 a.m. and attends classes until 11:20 a.m. The baseball team eats lunch together and then practice starts at 1 p.m.
“Depending on the day, We lift then go out on the field for practice,” he said. “Practice usually goes until 4 or 5 p.m.”
IMG Academy boasts six game fields with three half fields, 16 practice mounds, 12 outdoor and four indoor batting cages and a reality baseball simulator.
“The facilities are nice but for me, the best part is the coaching,” Cy Chrisman said. “They’re always available to us and want to be working with us. They set time aside for whatever you need.”
He’s signed to play college ball at Oklahoma State next season but competing at IMG Academy has opened up other possibilities. Major league scouts regularly visit the school and talk to the players.
“I’m just focused on wrapping up the season and whatever happens, happens,” Cy Chrisman said. “I’m really looking forward to competing at Oklahoma State.”
“Cy put on his goal sheet he wants to be a freshman first team All-American at Oklahoma State and that’s still his goal,” Jed Chrisman said. “He wants to get drafted, play pro baseball, contribute and be an All-Star.”
The payoff
IMG Academy’s National team posted a 21-4 record and was ranked No. 10 in the country by MaxPreps this week. Chrisman — a 6-foot-5, 220-pound first baseman, third baseman and outfielder — posted a nine-game hitting streak and against Ridgewood (Ill.) homered and drove in five runs in an 11-3 victory.
Jed and Joanna Chrisman traveled to Florida to watch four games earlier this year.
“Cy is a good mentor,” Jed Chrisman said. “That’s the stuff I missed seeing. He did that with Jeremiah Hall (a freshman last season at Maple Mountain) and I see him doing that now at IMG.”
There are up to eight cameras on each of the six baseball fields, allowing family and friends to watch live streams of practices and games at IMG.
While the regular season is finished, IMG Academy will continue to travel to play scrimmage games. This week, the team is going to North Carolina to play against another academy school.
“It’s been awesome out here,” Cy Chrisman said. “The competition I’m facing, it’s the best pitchers you can find. Competing against those pitchers helps boost my confidence. I came from Utah. Other people might think Utah baseball is not that great, but I know I can compete and Utah baseball isn’t to be taken lightly.”
Neither should Cy Chrisman.
