@MizzouBaseball’s Montes De Oca Named NSCA All-American
5/9/2017 3:10:00 PM | Baseball
Montes De Oca, a 6-7, 270-pound RHP, was nominated by Mizzou Strength Coach Scott Bird
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mizzou Baseball junior RHP Bryce Montes De Oca (Lawrence, Kan.) was named a National Strength & Conditioning Association (NSCA) All-American. The award recognizes student-athletes' athletic accomplishments and dedication to the field of strength and conditioning. Montes De Oca was nominated by Mizzou Baseball strength and conditioning coach Scott Bird.
After missing the bulk of the 2016 season with an arm issue, Montes De Oca dedicated himself to staying in shape, working with Coach Bird to keep his strength at an elite level required to pitch in the SEC, the nation's premier baseball conference. He squatted a max of 625 pounds while front squatting 500 pounds. He maxed out his dumbbell press at 155 pounds, making him one of the strongest players on Mizzou Baseball's roster. In addition, he also owns a 32.9-inch vertical leap and was praised by Coach Bird as one of the hardest workers he has ever coached.
Montes De Oca's unrivaled work ethic has him projected as a high pick in this year's Major League Baseball First Year Player Draft. On the year, he is 3-5 with a 3.97 ERA in 12 appearances (10 starts) and his lit up radar guns across the SEC with his fastball that approaches triple digits. He is limiting batters to just .193 hitting in 47.2 innings and has struck out 48 against only 31 hits allowed.
Fans can catch Montes De Oca in his final regular season start at Taylor Stadium this weekend as Mizzou is set for a three-game series with South Carolina. The series begins Friday at 6:30 p.m. For all the latest on Mizzou Baseball, stay tuned to MUTigers.com and follow the team on Twitter @MizzouBaseball and like the team on Facebook and Instagram (Missouri Baseball).
