Senior second baseman Trevor Austin will be back to lead the Missouri Tigers baseball team in 2024. (Photo courtesy: Mizzou Athletics)
Terrance Williams
Staff Writer
The University of Missouri baseball team is set to begin a new era in 2024 with new head coach Kerrick Jackson leading the way, replacing Steve Bieser, who was let go at the end of last season.
With the coaching change (just like many others coaching changes) Jackson will have to deal with a tremendous amount of roster turnover in his first year. Missouri has lost some key contributors from last season’s squad, including Ty Wilmsmeyer and Ross Lovich, who transferred to Arkansas, Dalton Bargo to Tennessee, and Dylan Leach to Missouri State — that’s just to name a few. Additionally, Austin Troesser, Zach Franklin, Chandler Murphy and Luke Mann were selected in the MLB Draft so there will be a new-look Mizzou Baseball team next season.
However, Jackson is bringing in some intriguing transfer portal talent as well — highlighted by the additions of Wake Forest’s Danny Corona, Texas Tech’s Jeric Curtis and Seton Hall’s Jedier Hernandez. Make no mistake about it, there is still some talented pieces on this roster for Jackson to work with.
Just as it will be for many athletic programs, it’s difficult to evaluate expectations for a head coach in their first year with a team as they are – in most cases – in a rebuild mode. It is especially harder for Mizzou, when the program competes in the toughest conference in college baseball – and that’s with the lowest budget in the league.
Missouri’s last NCAA Tournament appearance came in 2012, the Tigers’ final season in the Big 12, and that was by virtue of winning the Big 12 Tournament Championship. You must go back to 2009 to find Mizzou’s last at-large invitation to an NCAA Regional.
While it has been a long drought to reach the NCAA postseason, Missouri has been very close a couple of times to clinching a regional appearance since joining the SEC – but the Tigers have just never been able to get over the hump to make them a national contender.
Here’s our preview of the 2024 Missouri Tigers baseball team:
Head Coach: Kerrick Jackson
2023 Record: 30-24 (10-20 in SEC)
STRENGTHS
Missouri has to get creative to find a competitive advantage in a league chock full of programs with better facilities, weather and in-state talent. So new coach Kerrick Jackson’s answer is to go all-in on the running game. This roster is loaded with speed and athleticism, especially in the outfield, where Jeric Curtis, Juju Stevens and Kaden Peer are all burners. That athleticism should also really play on defense, which should be a strength behind an infield anchored by the reliable double play tandem of SS Matt Garcia and 2B Trevor Austin.
QUESTION MARKS
Mizzou is well stocked with quality arms but very light on proven commodities on the mound. A lot rides on how whether the talented Logan Lunceford can emerge as a real SEC ace as a sophomore, after posting a 6.00 ERA as a freshman — when he flashed his bat-missing potential with 68 strikeouts in 54 innings.
Right now, Mizzou seems likely to follow Lunceford in the rotation with a pair of older pitchers who have battled injury in their careers: LHP Javyn Pimental and San Diego transfer Carter Rustad. That duo leads a cadre of key arms returning from injury, and it will be paramount for new pitching coach Tim Jamieson to get the most out of that bag of X-factors. Missouri also lacks power in the lineup, and it needs a host of players to take major steps forward offensively, even if they don’t hit for power.
STAR POWER
Austin, the senior second baseman, is Missouri’s best player, a hard-nosed baseball rat who ranks as the team’s top returning hitter (.312), top OPS guy (.958), and top returning home run hitter (eight). He’s a tough out who walks nearly as often as he strikes out and picks his spots well on the basepaths. And he’s a versatile defender who can move around the diamond if called upon, though he’s a standout at second base.
Mizzou infielder Trevor Austin (Photo courtesy: Mizzou Athletics)
GLUE GUY
Seton Hall transfer Jedier Hernandez will step right into everyday action behind the plate, and he has catching in his blood: he’s a cousin of the catching Molina brothers Bengie, Jose and future Hall of Famer, Yadier.
Hernandez has the physical tools you want in a plus defensive catcher, but he’s also skilled in the more nuanced parts of the job, like being vocal on the field and helping manage a pitching staff. His defense is ahead of his offense, but he’s shown improvement in that regard. After striking out 30 times and walking just five as a freshman, he walked 24 times and struck out 15 last season, which played a big role in raising his on-base percentage from .296 to .368 from one year to the next.
PICK TO CLICK
Lunceford looks primed for a big breakout as a sophomore atop the rotation. After dominating as the midweek starter early in his freshman season, he got thrust into the weekend rotation a couple of weeks into SEC play due to myriad injuries on the pitching staff.
He probably wasn’t quite ready to assume that big a role, but all things considered, he handled it well. He finished the season with a 6.00 ERA, a .228 opponent batting average and 68 strikeouts in 54 innings. His upside was clear early on, but the SEC is just an unforgiving league for young pitchers still trying to figure it out.
TOP NEWCOMERS
Wake Forest transfer Danny Corona brings Omaha experience and a strong track record of hitting in a power conference, making him an invaluable piece for these young Tigers. Corona hit .285 and slugged .609 during his breakout sophomore campaign last year, finishing with 13 home runs.
But he wanted a chance to play every day in the infield, and he looks ticketed for the hot corner at Mizzou. The coaching staff was very pleased with his improving plate discipline this fall, and his power plays to all fields.
Also keep an eye on Texas Tech transfer Jeric Curtis, a speed merchant who can really defend in center field, where he has a solid-average arm. He also has some power potential in his righthanded swing, and he made big strides this fall producing consistent barrel contact after logging just 17 plate appearances as a freshman last year.
2024 OUTLOOK
With so many unproven commodities on the mound and in the lineup, Missouri is the obvious preseason pick for last place in the rugged SEC, because somebody has to finish last. But this should be a fun team to watch thanks to its athleticism and its energy, which jumped off the field in fall ball. Jackson is hard at work instilling a culture “centered around accountability, respect and connectivity,” and he seems thrilled with the character of this particular collection of young men. Perhaps Mizzou can sneak up on people in 2024.
MISSOURI TIGERS 2024 BASEBALL SCHEDULE
| Date | Time | At | Opponent | Location | TV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| February 16, 2024 (Friday) | 8:00 p.m. | Away | Cal Poly | San Luis Obispo, Calif. | |
| February 17, 2024 (Saturday) | 5:00 p.m. | Away | Cal Poly | San Luis Obispo, Calif. | |
| February 18, 2024 (Sunday) | 3:00 p.m. | Away | Cal Poly | San Luis Obispo, Calif. | |
| February 19, 2024 (Monday) | 3:00 p.m. | Away | Cal Poly | San Luis Obispo, Calif. | |
| February 22, 2024 (Thursday) | 8:00 p.m. | Neutral | Cal State-Bakersfield | San Diego, Calif. | |
| February 23, 2024 (Friday) | 8:00 p.m. | Away | San Diego State | San Diego, Calif. | |
| February 24, 2024 (Saturday) | 4:00 p.m. | Away | UC San Diego | La Jolla, Calif. | |
| February 27, 2024 (Tuesday) | 3:00 p.m. | Home | Southeast Missouri | Taylor Stadium |  |
| March 1, 2024 (Friday) | 6:00 p.m. | Home | Northern Kentucky | Taylor Stadium | |
| March 2, 2024 (Saturday) | 2:00 p.m. | Home | Northern Kentucky | Taylor Stadium | |
| March 3, 2024 (Sunday) | 1:00 p.m. | Home | Northern Kentucky | Taylor Stadium | |
| March 5, 2024 (Tuesday) | 3:00 p.m. | Home | Lindenwood | Taylor Stadium | |
| March 8, 2024 (Friday) | 3:00 p.m. | Home | Purdue Fort Wayne | Taylor Stadium | |
| March 9, 2024 (Saturday) | 12:00 p.m. | Home | Purdue Fort Wayne | Taylor Stadium | |
| March 10, 2024 (Sunday) | 1:00 p.m. | Home | Purdue Fort Wayne | Taylor Stadium | |
| March 12, 2024 (Tuesday) | 6:00 p.m. | Away | Kansas | Lawrence, Kan. | |
| March 15, 2024 (Friday) | 6:30 p.m. | Away | Arkansas | Fayetteville, Ark. | |
| March 16, 2024 (Saturday) | 2:00 p.m. | Away | Arkansas | Fayetteville, Ark. | |
| March 17, 2024 (Sunday) | 2:00 p.m. | Away | Arkansas | Fayetteville, Ark. | |
| March 19, 2024 (Tuesday) | 6:00 p.m. | Neutral | Kansas | Kansas City, Mo. / Kauffman Stadium | |
| March 22, 2024 (Friday) | 6:00 p.m. | Home | Kentucky | Taylor Stadium | |
| March 23, 2024 (Saturday) | 3:00 p.m. | Home | Kentucky | Taylor Stadium | |
| March 24, 2024 (Sunday) | 11:00 a.m. | Home | Kentucky | Taylor Stadium |  |
| March 26, 2024 (Tuesday) | 6:00 p.m. | Neutral | Illinois | Sauget, Ill. / Grizzlies Ballpark | |
| March 28, 2024 (Thursday) | 6:00 p.m. | Away | Vanderbilt | Nashville, Tenn. | |
| March 29, 2024 (Friday) | 6:00 p.m. | Away | Vanderbilt | Nashville, Tenn. | |
| March 30, 2024 (Saturday) | 1:00 p.m. | Away | Vanderbilt | Nashville, Tenn. | |
| April 2, 2024 (Tuesday) | 6:00 p.m. | Home | Tennessee-Martin | Taylor Stadium | |
| April 3, 2024 (Wednesday) | 3:00 p.m. | Home | Tennessee-Martin | Taylor Stadium | |
| April 5, 2024 (Friday) | 6:00 p.m. | Home | Florida | Taylor Stadium | |
| April 6, 2024 (Saturday) | 3:00 p.m. | Home | Florida | Taylor Stadium | |
| April 7, 2024 (Sunday) | 1:00 p.m. | Home | Florida | Taylor Stadium | |
| April 9, 2024 (Tuesday) | 6:00 p.m. | Home | SIU-Edwardsville | Taylor Stadium | |
| April 11, 2024 (Thursday) | 6:00 p.m. | Away | Georgia | Athens, Ga. | |
| April 12, 2024 (Friday) | 5:00 p.m. | Away | Georgia | Athens, Ga. | |
| April 13, 2024 (Saturday) | 1:00 p.m. | Away | Georgia | Athens, Ga. | |
| April 16, 2024 (Tuesday) | 6:30 p.m. | Away | Missouri State | Springfield, Mo. | |
| April 19, 2024 (Friday) | 7:00 p.m. | Home | LSU | Taylor Stadium | |
| April 20, 2024 (Saturday) | 4:00 p.m. | Home | LSU | Taylor Stadium | |
| April 21, 2024 (Sunday) | 2:00 p.m. | Home | LSU | Taylor Stadium | |
| April 23, 2024 (Tuesday) | 6:00 p.m. | Home | Missouri State | Taylor Stadium | |
| April 25, 2024 (Thursday) | 6:00 p.m. | Away | Tennessee | Knoxville, Tenn. | |
| April 26, 2024 (Friday) | 5:30 p.m. | Away | Tennessee | Knoxville, Tenn. | |
| April 27, 2024 (Saturday) | 11:00 a.m. | Away | Tennessee | Knoxville, Tenn. | |
| April 30, 2024 (Tuesday) | 6:00 p.m. | Home | Lindenwood | Taylor Stadium | |
| May 3, 2024 (Friday) | 6:00 p.m. | Home | South Carolina | Taylor Stadium | |
| May 4, 2024 (Saturday) | 3:00 p.m. | Home | South Carolina | Taylor Stadium | |
| May 5, 2024 (Sunday) | 1:00 p.m. | Home | South Carolina | Taylor Stadium | |
| May 10, 2024 (Friday) | 6:00 p.m. | Home | Auburn | Taylor Stadium | |
| May 11, 2024 (Saturday) | 3:00 p.m. | Home | Auburn | Taylor Stadium | |
| May 12, 2024 (Sunday) | 1:00 p.m. | Home | Auburn | Taylor Stadium | |
| May 16, 2024 (Thursday) | TBA | Away | Mississippi State | Starkville, Miss. | |
| May 17, 2024 (Friday) | TBA | Away | Mississippi State | Starkville, Miss, | |
| May 18, 2024 (Saturday) | TBA | Away | Mississippi State | Starkville, Miss. | |
| May 21, 2024 (Tuesday) | TBA | Neutral | SEC Tournament | Hoover, Ala. |