2010 Recruit: Zack McCoy, SS

Zack McCoy, SS

Zach McCoy has changed his mind and will not be playing for Mizzou (2/3/10)

6'0", 165 lb, R/R
Westview HS (San Diego, CA) -- 2009 Valley League champions

■ 2009 Stats: .333 Avg, 28 GP, 87 AB, 17 R, 16 RBI, 10 2B, 0 HR, 8 BB, 19 K, .385 OBP, .448 SLG%; 5/6 SB

■ California Baseball Coaches' Association 2009 North-South Series

■ YouTube video of McCoy taking fielding and batting practice

■ 2009 All Valley League 2nd Team SS

■ Older brother Nick plays baseball at the University of San Diego

We are currently compiling a list of 2010 recruits that have made a verbal commitment to Mizzou. If you have more information about these players, or if you hear of a player who has made a commitment to MU, please let us know at simmonsfield@hotmail.com

2010 Recruit: Ian Ekery, LHP/1B

Ian Ekery, LHP/1B
R/L, 5'11", 185 lb
El Paso Franklin HS (TX)

■ 2009 Stats

• Pitching: 6-3, 2.85 ERA, 10 GP, 9 GS, 59.0 IP, 31 R, 24 ER, 53 H, 22 BB, 6 HB, 2 IBB, 75 K, 6 CG, 0 SV, 1.27 WHIP, 5 WP

• Offense: .419 BA, 31 GP, 29 GS, 93 AB, 13 R, 39 H, 7 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 25 RBI, 8 BB, 10 K, 2 HBP, 3/5 SB, .552 OBP, .495 SLG%

■ 2009 All-District 1st Team Pitcher

■ Scouting videos of Ekery:

• Ian Ekery at Packard Stadium

• Ian Ekery 17U AABC Don Mattingly

• Ian Ekery vs. Waxahachie HS

■ Bio at LeagueLineup.com

■ 2009 Summer ball and Fall showcases with Albuquerque Baseball Academy and the Metro Scout League

■ Ekery is also a budding sportswriter, posting articles for the Franklin High School Chronicle

We are currently compiling a list of 2010 recruits that have made a verbal commitment to Mizzou. If you have more information about these players, or if you hear of a player who has made a commitment to MU, please let us know at simmonsfield@hotmail.com

Early Signing Period Begins Wednesday

Recruiting

The early signing period for recruits to sign a National Letter of Intent is November 11-18.

Mizzou Baseball will no doubt be collecting signatures from another fine class of recruits, as usual. Also as usual, there will be no press release listing those recruits, as is the standard practice of Coach Jamieson and staff.

We've already collected a short list of verbal commitments, and continue to search for additional names to add to the list.

This is where you come into the picture. While we stumble on a number of MU Recruits through a ridiculously obsessive scouring of the internet, much of the information we receive and post comes from readers like you: former players, families of players and fans across the nation. If a player in your part of the country commits to the Tigers, you're likely to hear about it in your local media before the news trickles back to me.

So send us the names, links and any other info you hear about new recruits, and we'll do our part to dig up whatever additional details we can find.

It may be the off-season for baseball, but the hot stove never cools off here at SimmonsField.com.

Mizzou Baseball Quotes & Notes

Taylor Stadium

■ MUTigers.com has a full update (with pictures) on Construction in Full Swing at Taylor Stadium. Photos show the new scoreboard, the framework of the new indoor practice facility, and the beginnings of the new brick wall that will will border the field around the foul lines.

MU in the Minors

■ MASNSports.com has a review of the Frederick Keys 2009 Pitchers, including Rick Zagone (05-07), with some frank comments from Keys manager Richie Hebner:

"A crafty lefty, not overpowering. He'll repeat in Frederick I would think. He's got to be just right. When we first got him, watching him pitch was like watching grass grow.

"I told him 'you got to pick it up.' He did and started to pitch better. One night I told him 'when you pitch we have to stop the game in the 5th and cut the grass, that's how slow you're pitching.'"

■ Andrew Johnston (05) is scheduled to play in the Arizona Fall League Rising Stars Showcase this Saturday. Details at Colorado.Rockies.MLB.com

■ Garrett Broshuis (02-04) has a new entry in his Suitcase Chronicles: Answering the Mail (baseballamerica.com).

Why do baseball players spit? I found that the submandibular glands produce
over 70 percent of human saliva. Well, apparently throwing a baseball is
directly linked to overactive glands. The repeated internal rotation of the
shoulder stimulates these glands, resulting in increased growth and increased
saliva output. It's similar to an overactive bladder. We can't control it, and
it's actually embarrassing. The result: We spit more than camels.

2010 Recruit: Myles Smith, RHP/SS

Myles Smith,
6'2", 175 lb, R/R
Dearborn Divine Child HS (Dearborn, MI)

2009: 7-3 with a 2.15 ERA and 71 strikeouts. Batted .315 with 15 runs, three homeruns and 18 RBI.

■ From hognation.net:

Attended the Perfect Game Mi. Lakeshore State Showcase in 2006. {Rated a 7.5}

PG REPORT: Athletic actions in IF, good range, moves through the ball, hits from a narrow stance, good bat speed, line drive swing plane, pitches from a 3/4 arm slot, long and loose arm action, minimal effort, balanced and online delivery, keeps FB down, good presence for a young player, good student.

Attended the Perfect Game National Underclass Showcase in 2006. {Rated an 8.5}

PG REPORT: Named to Top Prospect Team. Lean athletic body, aggressive swing, short to ball, bat speed, centers ball well, loose arm, good angles to ball, good actions, arm strength, 80 IF, 3/4 arm slot, lively arm, drop and drive, high upside, solid run on FB, FB 78-81, CH 69, must follow, excellent student, 4.0 gpa.

Attended the Perfect Game National Underclass Showcase in 2008. {Rated a 9.5}

PG REPORT: Plus athletic build, loose with projectable strength. 2-way prospect. Middle infield actions, very good arm strength, quick hands, quick reactions, plays with balance and flair. 7.01 runner. Good load hitting, loose extended swing, good bat speed, tends to collapse back side/affects contact, tools to hit with adjustments. Also pitches, easy delivery, loose arm, FB steady at 86-88 mph, good spin on 11/5 curveball, more velo there with pitching repetitions.

#94 in the PGCrossChecker rankings of the Top 500 High School Prospects for 2010 on February 20, 2009.

Threw a complete game two-hitter (1 run) on 4/23/09. Had one single, one triple, two runs and four RBI on 4/25.

• Perfect Game USA 2nd Team All-American, 2009

• ESPN Rise All Area Greater Detroit, 2009

• Named ICE #1 Ranked Player

We are currently compiling a list of 2010 recruits that have made a verbal commitment to Mizzou. If you have more information about these players, or if you hear of a player who has made a commitment to MU, please let us know at simmonsfield@hotmail.com

Mizzou Baseball Quotes & Notes

MU in the Minors

■ Royals' Crow hit hard in second AFL start (mlb.com)

. . . But as the Kansas native is quickly finding out, it's a steep learning curve from college standout to professional pitcher. While Crow's command was better in his second start Tuesday afternoon, his location was actually too good. The No. 12 overall pick in this year's Draft was hit up for four runs on six hits over 3 1/3 innings, taking a no-decision in his Surprise Rafters' 6-5 win over the Phoenix Desert Dogs.

Big 12 Opponents

■ Baseball America has a Fall Ball News Roundup, including some tidbits on MU opponents:

• Texas is moving hulking outfielder Kevin Keyes to first base, which could open up an outfield spot for freshman Cohl Walla.

• Junior college transfers could make a big difference on the mound for Texas Tech.

Mizzou Baseball History: Andrew Mueller's baseball legacy

■ Mueller family baseball: Like great-grandfather, like grandfather, like father, like son (Columbia Missourian)

Baseball has a romantic history of being handed down, generation to generation, father to son.

A Columbia family has been part of that. Eric and Andrew Mueller represent the fourth generation of baseball players. Their father, Mark Mueller, played in the minor leagues in the early 1970s. Their grandfather, Don Mueller, played in the major leagues in the 1940s and 50s. Their great-grandfather, Walter Mueller, played in the major leagues in the 1920s.

Eric Mueller played four years for St. Louis University. Andrew Mueller is in his last season as a pitcher at Missouri. He expects to return soon after undergoing knee surgery in May.

The Muellers’ story begins with a historic home run.
. . .

Andrew Mueller, who is three years younger than his older brother, switched to pitcher after his junior year of high school at Hickman. The Kewpies won the state championship his senior year, and Andrew Mueller closed out the championship game.

. . .

Andrew Mueller recorded a nine-pitch strikeout on a curveball to end the game. The rest of the Kewpies came onto the field for the celebratory dog pile. Andrew Mueller ranks that, as well as his start against Arizona State this season, as his favorite baseball moments.

Read the entire story HERE

Mizzou Baseball Quotes & Notes

Compliance & Recruiting

■ Rick Allen, father of former Tiger Ryan Allen (07-09), has released his latest Informed Athlete newsletter. Some highlights:

• College Coaches Online (www.collegecoachesonline.com) is an affordable, searchable database that allows you to find coaches names, addresses, e-mails, and phone numbers quickly and easily. Passcode for a discount available on Rick's newsletter.

• While I believe that there are many athletes taking supplements, I don't believe that the number is 90 percent. I do believe, however, that athletes and parents need to be very careful about researching the supplements that they take.
With that in mind, high school athletes and parents may want to consult the NCAA list of banned substances as a resource. Keep in mind that in discussing such things as nutritional supplements, energy drinks, and the like, the NCAA uses the terms "banned substances" and "impermissible substances."

• We provide the NCAA recruiting calendars along with important dates related to ACT and SAT testing as a special benefit to our newsletter subscribers.
The link to access the calendars is: NCAA Recruiting Calendars. Both the November and the December calendars are now online and available to you.

• For more information: http://www.informedathlete.com

Mizzou Baseball in the Majors & Minors

■ What's next for Ian Kinsler (ESPN.com)

Kinsler did hit 31 home runs in 2009. Was this because he was hitting the ball harder, though? Or was it because he was hitting the ball differently? Yes, Kinsler's line-drive percentage was easily the lowest of his career. But his fly-ball percentage was easily the highest of his career. Isn't it possible that he was consciously going for more fly balls and home runs? And even if he wasn't, doesn't it seem likely that he can't have it both ways? That if his line-drive percentage comes back up -- and with it, his batting average -- his fly-ball percentage will come down? And with it, his home runs?