Around The Horn: Last Week in Mizzou Baseball
1/29/2018 9:53:00 AM | Baseball
We look back on a busy week for boys of spring
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Last week was a busy one for Mizzou Baseball as it gears up for year two under head coach Steve Bieser. Aside from entering its second week of classes during the spring semester, Mizzou officially opened spring practice Friday afternoon (Jan. 26) on a brand new Simmons Field, which for the first time ever features a full turf infield. That was just part of a busy week that featured a new teammate, brand new Nike uniforms and the first official practices of 2018. Below is a recap of last week.
After last year's MLB First Year Player Draft, it was clear that a pair of Mizzou standouts – RHP Bryce Montes De Oca and C Brett Bond - had difficult decision to make regarding pursuing a professional career, or coming back to Mizzou for a final season. MDO was taken in the 15th round by the Nationals and Bond was taken in the 23rd round by the World Series Champion Astros, but both elected to return to Mizzou and hopefully improve their draft stock. The decision has already begun to pay dividends as both were named among the top-50 college seniors heading into 2018 by PerfectGame.org. MDO checked in at No. 2 on the list while Bond checked in at No. 4. Couple their rankings with senior OF Trey Harris, who ranked No. 32 on the list, and Mizzou was the only team in the nation to have three players on the top-50 list. Mizzou and Texas A&M were the only schools to have two players in the top 10 and Mizzou is the only school to have two in the top five. Read more about rankings here.
Experienced. Battle Tested. Ready for the @SEC. 3?? from #Mizzou Baseball named Top-50 college seniors
— #MizzouBaseball (@MizzouBaseball) January 22, 2018
2?? @Bmontes43
4?? @BonderBaby22
3??2?? @JustCallMe_Duce
?? https://t.co/aq1UheM8vj#MIZ #C2E ???? pic.twitter.com/hnX74EYdol
That same day, Bieser and the rest of the coaching staff decided to get a gift for a notable Mizzou Baseball alumni. During Mizzou Basketball's Jan. 10 win over Georgia, 2017 NL Cy Young Award Winner Max Scherzer tweeted a picture of his one-month old daughter Brooklyn watching her first Mizzou game with him. Brooklyn was dressed in a pretty sweet Mizzou onesie, which promoted Max to ask where he could get a matching one in an adult XL size. Bieser and company took care of him:
We've got you covered, @Max_Scherzer!
— #MizzouBaseball (@MizzouBaseball) January 22, 2018
This is headed your way, courtesy of @biesersr and company! #MIZ #C2E ???? pic.twitter.com/veqFuWwe3d
While the team continued to work through voluntary workouts, Thursday night presented the team with a special opportunity to welcome a new teammate to the roster for 2018: Brandon Couzens, who is fighting a type of brain cancer called medulloblastoma. Through the Friends of Jaclyn Foundation, Brandon was officially added to Mizzou's roster for 2018 and had his introduction to the team Thursday night. Find out more here and check out pictures and video from the visit below.
Tonight, #Mizzou and head coach @biesersr officially signed Brandon Couzens to his NLI. Through the @FoJFoundation, Brandon will join the Tigers in 2018!
— #MizzouBaseball (@MizzouBaseball) January 26, 2018
?? https://t.co/OO1fgkinwp#MIZ #C2E ??? pic.twitter.com/s7TpcVU6HT
More ?? from Brandon Couzens' official signing with #Mizzou last night ??#MIZ #C2E ??? pic.twitter.com/0x2VStOlrH
— #MizzouBaseball (@MizzouBaseball) January 26, 2018
Met Mizzou Baseball Team yesterday and it was AWESOME!! pic.twitter.com/5LD2Yjg7Rq
— Bran-man (@Branman11189076) January 26, 2018
Go behind the scenes as @Branman11189076 was introduced to his new #Mizzou teammates #MIZ #C2E ???? pic.twitter.com/ISF7gZu5Vh
— #MizzouBaseball (@MizzouBaseball) January 27, 2018
While Brandon was being introduced to the team Thursday night, Simmons Field was getting the its final touch-ups late that night by AstroTurf and Jason Berning, a 1991 Mizzou graduate and the vice president of the company's west region and his crew. The goal was to get Mizzou on the brand new turf Friday afternoon for the first official practice of 2018. Mission accomplished. Below are pictures of the brand new turf.
First practice on the new Simmons Field ?#MIZ #C2E ???? pic.twitter.com/Sj0KOuUNMA
— #MizzouBaseball (@MizzouBaseball) January 27, 2018
Mizzou's players also got presents, courtesy of our friends at Nike, Thursday. In all, Nike supplied Mizzou with seven different brand new uniform combinations for the upcoming 2018 season and all new batting practice uniforms. The seniors modeled the combinations under the lights that night. All seven combinations will be unveiled on Mizzou's social media platforms this Thursday (Feb. 1) at 6:30 p.m. Below is a tease:
7?? brand new @Nike uniforms for #Mizzou in 2018!
— #MizzouBaseball (@MizzouBaseball) January 29, 2018
We will unveil each of the combos Thursday at 6:30 p.m.#MIZ #C2E ???? pic.twitter.com/U7zPuot2H6
Following an unforgettable night at Taylor Stadium Thursday, Mizzou officially opened practice Friday afternoon and embraced every opportunity to get better over a warm weekend in Columbia.
Committed to the process. First weekend in the books. ?? #MIZ #C2E ???? pic.twitter.com/kIp6jLCYiB
— #MizzouBaseball (@MizzouBaseball) January 29, 2018
Mizzou will continue practice this week before holding its annual First Pitch Banquet this Saturday (Feb. 3) at the Holiday Inn Expo Center in Columbia. Former Mizzou standout RHP Brett Graves will be the keynote speaker. Graves was dragged in the third round by Oakland in 2014 and was sent to Miami in the Rule 5 Draft during the offseason, meaning he will likely make his Major League debut this season with the Marlins. Tickets are still available and more information is here.
For all the latest on Mizzou Baseball, stay tuned to MUTigers.com and follow the team on Twitter (@MizzouBaseball), and like the team on Instagram (@missouri_baseball) and Facebook (Mizzou Baseball).
