Baseball
- Title:
- Assistant Coach - Pitching Coach
- Hometown:
- 2018 (4th Season)
- Year at Mizzou:
- Ripon, Calif.
- Alma Mater:
- Sacramento State, '98
- Email:
- corrala@missouri.edu
Mizzou Baseball head coach Steve Bieser added veteran coach Fred Corral to his coaching staff in August 2017. One of the nation’s most experienced and sought-after pitching coaches, Corral brings with him nearly a quarter century of coaching experience after a successful career in both college and professional baseball. Corral brings a ‘no-limits’ approach to coaching with a tireless work ethic, and stood out to Coach Bieser due to his incredible ability to develop young men, both on and off the baseball diamond.
This past 2020 COVID-19 shortened season, Corral guided RHP Ian Bedell to become the latest Tiger hurler to be selected in the MLB Draft. Bedell was ultimately chosen in the fourth round (122nd overall) by the St. Louis Cardinals, becoming Mizzou's 11th pitcher to be selected among the opening five rounds of an MLB Draft since 2006. Prior to the 2020 campaign, Bedell was tabbed a 2020 Perfect Game/Rawlings and D1Baseball Preseason Third-Team All-American. Additionally, he was one of 55 players nationally to be named to the prestigious 2020 Golden Spikes Award Preseason Watch List.
In the 2019 campaign, Corral guided one of the NCAA and SEC’s premier pitching staffs. The Tigers’ collective 3.24 ERA ranked fifth in the NCAA, while their 7.35 hits allowed per 9 IP ranked eighth. Additionally, Mizzou’s 9.90 strikeouts per 9 IP ranked 15th in the country and 1.28 WHIP placed 24th. For the third consecutive year (2017-19), the Tigers’ pitching staff reset the program’s single-season record in strikeouts, punching out 559 total batters.
Corral mentored one of the nation’s elite pitchers in 2019, as LHP TJ Sikkema’s 1.32 ERA paced the SEC and ranked third in the NCAA. Additionally, the Tiger southpaw’s 5.48 hits allowed per 9 IP ranked eighth in the country and 0.96 WHIP ranked 22nd. The Dewitt, Iowa, native was later drafted in the first round of the 2019 MLB Draft by the New York Yankees, becoming Mizzou’s ninth all-time first round selection. Sikkema became the first Tiger hurler to be selected in the first round since RHP Tanner Houck did so in 2017.
In his first season in black and gold, the 2018 Mizzou staff ranked top 5 in the SEC with six shutouts (first), 2.84 K/BB (second), 3/31 BB/9 IP (third), 3.75 ERA (fourth), 9.4 K/9 IP (fourth) and 1.29 WHIP (fourth). It marked just the Tigers' seventh sub-3.75 team ERA since 1980. Following the season, five Tiger hurlers were selected in the 2018 MLB First-Year Player Draft, led by LHP Michael Plassmeyer (Seattle) in the fourth round (No. 118 overall). Plassmeyer was the third-highest drafty lefty in program history.
With 28 years of coaching experience across all levels of baseball, 12 of those years have come in the SEC and three campaigns have occurred in professional baseball. He spent five seasons at fellow SEC East foe Georgia, coaching 12 pitchers to MLB Draft selections, including 2016 first-round pick Robert Tyler (38th overall to Colorado). He coached Tyler to a 2.68 ERA as a freshman in 2014, the lowest ERA by a UGA pitcher in 10 years. The highlight of his coaching tenure at Georgia came in 2016 when the Bulldogs staff limited batters to a .241 average, resetting the program record.
Before his time at Georgia, Corral helped Memphis to arguably its best four-year stretch on the mound in program history. His 2013 team posted a 3.05 staff ERA, the lowest by a Tigers team since 1976 while striking out more than 400 batters in three of four seasons, including a school-record 462 in 2010. He also mentored a pair of first-time draftees while at Memphis, including Conference USA Pitcher of the Year Dan Schoenrock in 2013.
Corral’s roots in the SEC run much deeper than his most recent time with Mizzou and Georgia. He coached at Tennessee in two different stints from 2003-04 and 2008-09. During Corral’s first run in Knoxville, the Volunteers’ pitching staff ranked among the best in the SEC. His staffs posted consecutive sub-3.90 ERAs, and the Volunteers' 3.51 ERA in 2004 was the 13th-best in the nation. The 2004 Tennessee staff recorded the fifth-most strikeouts in school history and held opponents to a .243 batting average, which was its lowest mark in nine seasons. The Volunteers also had three pitchers in 2004 with ERAs that ranked among the top-12 in the SEC.
Four of Corral’s pitchers at Tennessee were selected in the MLB draft. He signed James Adkins and coached Luke Hochevar, hurlers who rank first and third on the Volunteers' all-time strikeouts list. Hochevar was the No. 1 overall pick by the Kansas City Royals in 2006.
Corral’s former pupils who have reached the Major Leagues include:
- Garrett Richards (Los Angeles Angels)
- Luke Hochevar (Kansas City)
- Matt Riley (Baltimore, Texas)
- Adam Bernero (Detroit, Colorado, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Kansas City)
- Michael Neu (Oakland, Florida)
- Joe Horgan (Montreal, Washington)
- Daniel McCutchen (Pittsburgh, Texas)
- Charlie Zink (Boston)
- Sam Moll (Oakland)
Additionally, 87 former players under Corral's tutelage have signed professional baseball contracts in his 28 years of collegiate baseball coaching experience.
Corral is no stranger to professional baseball either, having served as a pitching instructor in both the Los Angeles Dodgers (2000-01) and Montreal Expos (1999) organizations.
As a player, Corral was a first team All-Pac-10 selection as a LHP at Cal in 1987. The Golden Bears’ eighth 10-game winner, Corral set a school record for single-season win-loss percentage with a perfect 10-0 record as a junior in 1987. The southpaw added five saves and a 3.75 ERA in en-route to earning the team’s Most Valuable Pitcher honor. Corral helped lead Cal to its fourth College World Series appearance in 1988. He finished his two-year Golden Bears career with a 13-5 mark, 4.50 ERA and six saves. Corral starred at San Joaquin Delta Junior College where he garnered All-Camino Notre Conference honors in 1985 and 1986 before transferring to Cal.
Corral is married to the former Cynthia Drost, of Ripon, California, and they have three children, Kaitlyn Joy (18), Justin Jerome (14) and Jordan Patrick (7). Also, they raised two nieces, Marisa (28) and Chelsea (25), and two nephews, Michael (30) and Robert (24).
Coach Bieser on Adding Corral to the Staff...
“Fred is not only a great pitching coach who has a wealth of knowledge and passion, Fred is a developer of men,” Bieser said. “Going through the process and talking to former players and coaches, the one thing that kept standing out to me was his commitment to developing the entire person. Fred personifies the Mizzou baseball motto: commit to excellence. His commitment to academic excellence, athletic excellence, and social development was very evident through the interviewing process. Fred has a great reputation for developing players. He uses a holistic approach of both the mental and physical side of the game. I am excited to welcome the Corral’s to the Mizzou baseball family.”
Coach Corral on Joining Mizzou Baseball...
“First, I want to take the time and say how excited I am to be working with Coach Bieser,” Corral said. “Everything about the hiring process went by so quickly, but the one thing that stands out is that when I arrived in Columbia, I was looking for a job. After my interview, I found myself really fighting for the job in hopes of getting a chance to work with Coach Bieser and his staff. I really believe in what he is doing at Mizzou and I am blessed to have this opportunity and can’t wait to get to work.”
Corral Coaching Snapshot
- 2018-present: Pitching Coach – University of Missouri
- 2013-17: Assistant Coach/Pitching Coach – University of Georgia
- 2010-13: Associate Head Coach/Pitching Coach – University of Memphis
- 2008-09: Assistant Coach - University of Tennessee
- 2005-07: Assistant Coach - University of Oklahoma
- 2003-04: Assistant Coach - University of Tennessee
- 2000-01: Pitching Instructor – Los Angeles Dodgers
- 1999: Pitching Instructor – Montreal Expos
- 1996-2002: Assistant Coach – Sacramento City College
- 1994: Assistant Coach - Major League Baseball International
- 1993-95: Assistant Coach – San Joaquin Delta College
- 1993: Assistant Coach - Kenai Oilers, Alaska Summer League
Corral Playing Career
- 1987-88: University of California-Berkeley
- 1988 College World Series
- 1987 All-Pac 10 Pitcher
- 1985-86: San Joaquin Delta College
- 1986 All-Camino Notre Conference
- 1985 All-Camino Notre Conference
National Reaction to Coach Corral
Jerry Weinstein, ABCA Hall of Fame & current AA Manager Colorado Rockies:
"I am a long time head coach at just about every level and I am a pitching guy. I spend a lot of time with the pitchers and I am very particular about who interfaces with the pitchers. Fred Corral worked for me at Sacramento City College and later with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He was the only guy in all those years who I trusted to work full-time with our pitchers. Why? He has passion for the craft. He is a life-long learner and has the best information. He is a caring individual who engenders trust from all with whom he comes into contact. No hidden agendas. It's all about helping you become the best you can be. He's one of the most loyal people I've ever known."
Lou Pavlovich/Editor, Collegiate Baseball Newspaper:
"I have covered college baseball for the past 47 years, and Fred Corral is unquestionably one of the elite pitching coaches in the game. He is one of those rare coaches who is able to mold velocity improvement, precision strike throwing and mental toughness with each pitcher he has. His system for pitching has paid off every stop of his career. He also is a superb recruiter. If I were a General Manager in professional baseball or head baseball coach in college, Fred would be the man I would trust my pitching staff with. His No. 1 trait is his passion for excellence in every phase of life, and this is passed on to his players who not only become great pitchers but tremendous members of society when they move on and become great parents. I have followed this man for over 20 years, and he is the rare person who is a servant/leader similar to John Wooden in basketball. He has a caring mind set toward his athletes, and it is why this father figure cements relationships for life."
Andy McKay, Director of Player Development, Seattle Mariners:
"I have known Fred Corral for over 20 years. Fred's cumulative experiences at the Junior College, Division I, and Professional levels allow him to be qualified for any pitching job in the country. His ability to combine a growth mindset towards training with an old school approach to competing will always keep him at the forefront of the industry. The depth of his knowledge in all facets of pitching is nothing short of world-class. Fred's knowledge of pitching is secondary to the commitment and loyalty that he demonstrates towards his pitchers.
Ron Polk - Mississippi State Coaching Legend and ABCA Hall of Fame:
"I have known Fred Corral since his start at the University of Tennessee and have followed as well as assisted in his coaching path. In expressing my thoughts on Fred, I would like to simply state that if I came out of retirement today and had to construct my coaching staff, Fred Corral would be at the top of my list for the position of Pitching Coach."
John Savage, Head Coach UCLA Baseball:
"Fred is one of the most dynamic pitching coaches in the country. He understands mechanics, the mental game, and the physical preparation to become an elite pitcher at the college level. His experience of being around some of the smartest baseball people are major attributes when you are dealing with young men, trying to improve them each day, helping build them to last, and to have a long career in baseball. He has a great reputation for player development and health care, two major characteristics of a college coach."
Kyle Boddy, Founder of Driveline Baseball:
"Fred Corral is simply one of the best pitching coaches in the country. His ability to take information from tons of sources and distill it down into actionable work for the young men that he leads is among the game's elite at any level - college or pro. In my opinion, there are very few people who have both the highest levels of integrity and the highest desire to seek knowledge - Fred is very comfortably in that group for me."
Luke Hochevar, 2006 No. 1 overall pick by KC Royals & 2015 World Series Champion:
"Fred Corral is the entire package when I think of a man and a pitching coach. Fred has established a foot hold in being an innovator and leader at the college and professional ranks. Fred continues to be the greatest pitching coach I have ever been around and he is a really big reason for what I have been able to accomplish in this great game. Not only does he take a common sense to pitching that can relate to any youth or pro but understands the values of inspiring and molding good young men. Fred is second to none and with the values he stands by, he completes the entire package."
Daron Schoenrock, Head Coach, University of Memphis:
"One of the best developers of not only pitchers but young men with belief, good teammates, warriors, and players who learn to "own" their preparation and performance. I witness firsthand as Fred coached my pitching staff from 2010-2013. He will think outside of the box and challenges himself to be better every day as he looks for ways to individually coach each young man under his watch. The "buy in" these college athletes exemplified was incredible and he personally elevated each guy to new heights. I can give no better testimony than to say he transformed my own son from an inconsistent, seldom used college freshmen into the 2013 Conference USA Pitcher of The Year and 11th round draft pick of the San Diego Padres. Fred will stay current by exploring new teaching methods, but will always stay true to his core beliefs that have been tremendously successful through his years of experience at the highest level of college baseball. His work ethic is unequaled in the field and his ability to elevate those around is incredible. Fred made me a better head coach and touched at lot of lives in his time at Memphis."
Matt Deggs, Head Coach, Sam Houston State:
"Fred Corral first and most importantly is a great man, husband, father and friend. Fred sets a Christian example for all of those around him, especially his players. Fred is not only a great pitching coach, he is an exceptional builder of men. I have personally known Fred since 2002 and can tell you two things: 1.) anytime I was on the road recruiting and ran into Fred, it not only brightened my day but I knew I was in the right place because he is a master recruiter. 2.) My hitters, be it at Arkansas or A&M, dreaded seeing Fred Corral and his pitching staffs come to town. You knew you were in for a long, grind-it-out weekend. Facing one future big leaguer after another who all have a plan and know how to execute it is not fun. Hats off to Fred for that."
Sean McLaughlin, 2015 UGA pitcher, current Atlanta Braves Prospect:
"Passion is defined as 'strong and barely controllable desire.' My personal definition is 'Coach Corral.' Any pitching coach can print off statistics, provide scouting reports, teach changeup grips, come up with the 'miracle' throwing program; however, the big separator for me, is how they go about doing it. Coach Corral has a relentless passion to make each one of his players better every day. (This left handed maniac caught my bullpens with a right handed catcher's mitt still on his right hand.) His diverse background of working with junior college pitchers to MLB all-stars has given him experience for every situation. I currently have the luxury of living out my dream as a professional pitcher in the Atlanta Braves Organization. Don't get me wrong, I still remember 'balls in play have a 68% chance of being an out,' the change up grip I still use, and many of his throwing programs named after war generals. However, I am not where I am because of those things. I am here today because Coach Corral gave me a new definition of passion. One that has transformed my career and life outside of baseball. I couldn't have asked for a better man to call Coach."
