Tag: Iowa baseball

Kirk Ferentz comments on Colorado Rockies drafting Brody Brecht

Kirk knows a thing or two about success.

Kirk Ferentz knows a thing or two about sending guys to the next level and what that success looks like. With nearly 50 players in the NFL, he is great at preparing players to make the jump.

One recent jump Ferentz witnessed came in baseball: A former football player is going to the pros The Colorado Rockies selected Iowa pitcher Brody Brecht with the No. 38 pick in the MLB draft.

A former receiver for Ferentz, Brecht had close ties and strong relationships with the football team. Ferentz weighed in on Brecht being drafted and congratulated him.

“I want to congratulate Brody on being selected in the CB-A round of the Major League Baseball draft. He is a top-flight athlete from a tremendous family, and we were glad to have him as a part of our football team for two years. I am happy for him and confident that he will do great things in the future,” said Kirk Ferentz.

Closely recruited as a wide receiver out of Ankeny High School in Ankeny Iowa, Brecht was part of the Hawkeyes’ class of 2021 as a wide receiver. A highly touted football player, Brecht was regarded as the No. 11 recruit in the state of Iowa per 247Sports.

The move away from football, while tough for Brecht, has been a fruitful decision. He now takes his talents to the minor leagues to face the very best prospects baseball has to offer.

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Colorado Rockies select Iowa pitcher Brody Brecht in MLB Draft

From Iowa to the Mile High City.

Another sport, another dominant member of the Iowa Hawkeyes to the pros.

This time it is the Hawkeyes making their way to the MLB. The next Iowa Hawkeye to make the jump is pitcher Brody Brecht. The Colorado Rockies selected him with the No. 38 pick in the 2024 MLB draft.

Brecht joins Charlie Condon of the Georgia Bulldogs and Jared Thomas of the Texas Longhorns as three collegiate stars that the Rockies selected with their draft picks.

This last season, Brecht pitched 15 games and posted a 3.33 ERA. He allowed just 46 hits in 78.1 innings pitched and had 128 strikeouts to only 48 walks. His career ERA at Iowa is 3.49 with a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 281 strikeouts to 135 walks.

Brecht, a talented multi-sport athlete, came to Iowa with the intent of playing football and baseball. He was a three-star football recruit out of high school and committed to Iowa as a wide receiver as part of the class of 2021. Per 247Sports, Brecht was the No. 11 recruit in the state of Iowa for the class of 2021.

He recorded nine receptions for 87 yards in his short-lived football career before making the correct choice to dedicate himself fully to focusing on baseball.

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Iowa’s Brody Brecht stays local in first round of CBS’ MLB mock draft

Keep the flamethrower close to home.

Just days after declaring for the MLB Draft, Iowa Hawkeyes flamethrower Brody Brecht is already finding himself among the cream of the crop for talent headed to the bigs this year.

Brecht has elected to declare for the draft and is doing so after a strong career at Iowa that has him in the middle of CBS Sports’ recent MLB mock draft.

CBS Sports’ Mike Axisa has Brecht staying local in the Midwest and going to the Milwaukee Brewers with the No. 17 pick in the first round.

17. Milwaukee Brewers

Mock pick: RHP Brody Brecht, Iowa
Slot value: $4,534,100

The Brewers have been one of the most opportunistic teams on draft day, meaning they typically pounce on whichever highly regarded college player is unexpectedly available at their pick. That’s Brecht in our mock draft, not that him falling to No. 17 would be a complete shock. No pitcher in the draft class can match Brecht’s raw stuff — he regularly touches 100 mph and has a razor blade slider — though his command is lacking. Milwaukee is quite good at developing pitchers and the hope is Brecht will improve his strike-throwing now that he’s focusing on baseball full-time (he also played wide receiver for the Hawkeyes). – Axisa, CBS Sports

Brecht’s decision to commit himself fully to baseball after coming to Iowa as a dual-sport athlete has paid huge dividends. He has climbed up MLB draft boards and finds himself set up for a large payday.

This last season, Brecht pitched 15 games and posted a 3.33 ERA. He allowed just 46 hits in 78.1 innings pitched and had 128 strikeouts to only 48 walks. His career ERA at Iowa is 3.49 with a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 281 strikeouts to 135 walks.

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Iowa Hawkeyes’ Brody Brecht declares for the MLB Draft

The flamethrower is headed to the bigs.

After a great run with the Iowa Hawkeyes, it is time for Brody Brecht to move on. The Hawkeyes’ pitcher has announced his intent to head to the MLB Draft after a successful career in Iowa City.

The flamethrower continued to grow this year and posted another strong season that included a selection as a First-Team All-Big Ten member. In arguably his best season with Iowa, Brecht improved his numbers in nearly every statistical category and will now be headed to the big leagues.

This last season, Brecht pitched 15 games and posted a 3.33 ERA. He allowed just 46 hits in 78.1 innings pitched and had 128 strikeouts to only 48 walks. His career ERA at Iowa is 3.49 with a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 281 strikeouts to 135 walks.

Brecht, a talented multi-sport athlete, came to Iowa with the intent of playing football and baseball. He was a three-star recruit out of high school and committed to Iowa as a wide receiver as part of the class of 2021.

He played sparingly with the Hawkeyes recording just nine receptions for 87 yards in his short-lived football career before making the correct choice to dedicate himself fully to focusing on baseball.

Brecht finds himself among the late picks of the first round of the MLB Draft with projections slotting him in the mid-20s as a landing spot.

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Former Iowa Hawkeyes pitcher Adam Mazur making MLB debut for San Diego Padres

Adam Mazur is getting the call up. He makes his MLB debut tonight.

The Iowa Hawkeyes will get to see one of their own on the bump tonight. Former Iowa pitcher Adam Mazur is getting the call-up to the big leagues and will be making his MLB debut for the San Diego Padres.

Mazur, a second-round draft pick in the 2022 draft, is breaking through and is going to have his chance to show what he’s got against the best. Mazur is going to be getting his first taste of the majors against the Los Angeles Angels.

Adam Mazur is 4-3 this year in the minors with his time split between the Double-A affiliate, the San Antonio Missions, and the Triple-A affiliate, the El Paso Chihuahuas. Mazur is carrying a 3.86 ERA on the year and has an overall minor-league ERA of 3.18. He is pounding the strike zone, as well, as he had 50 strikeouts to just nine walks on the year. Opponents are hitting .233 against him this season.

Mazur, the product of Woodbury High School in Woodbury, Minnesota, spent one year with the Hawkeyes in the 2021-22 season. He went 7-3 with a 3.07 ERA over 93.2 innings pitched.

The first pitch is set for 8:38 p.m. CT as the Angels are hosting the Padres.

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247Sports tabs Iowa baseball among ‘disappointing teams’

Iowa baseball earned an unfortunate distinction from 247Sports.

The 2024 season was not one to be remembered fondly for the Iowa Hawkeyes baseball team.

They entered the year with lofty expectations, many expecting them to make it back into the NCAA Tournament. While there were times during the season where they looked like a potential contender, it wound up being a disappointing season overall for the Hawkeyes.

So much so that they made 247Sports’ list of the most disappointing teams that missed the field.

A top-25 team and early favorite to win the Big Ten entering 2024, Iowa lost four of its last six conference series before losing two straight games in the Big Ten Tournament to essentially end any NCAA Tournament hopes. – Will Backus, 247Sports.

Pitching was surprisingly one of the biggest issues for Iowa this year. They finished the year with a team ERA of 5.94, ranking 123rd nationally. Iowa also allowed over six walks per nine innings pitched.

On offense, things were a bit better, but the bats were largely inconsistent. There’d be some games where they’d come alive and blow teams out, but they were followed by games where they were shut down.

A big part of Iowa’s unsuccessful season was their Big Ten play, finishing the year with a 14-10 record in the conference. The difference between Iowa at home and on the road was night and day as well. They posted a great 22-5 record at home, yet were only 7-12 on the road and 2-6 in neutral site games.

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Iowa’s Michael Seegers named to Big Ten Baseball All-Tournament team

Congrats, Michael.

Iowa shortstop Michael Seegers was named to the Big Ten Baseball All-Tournament team after an impressive showing from Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, Neb.

Seegers hit 5-for-9 with an RBI double in Iowa’s tournament-opening loss versus Michigan and a run scored in the Hawkeyes’ tournament-ending loss versus Illinois. The 5-foot-10, 170 pound senior from Oconomowoc, Wis., had four singles in Iowa’s two games.

Seegers joined four Nebraska players, four Penn State Nittany Lions, a pair from Michigan and Indiana center fielder Carter Mathison. Michigan pitcher Will Rogers and first baseman Mitch Voit were named to the All-Tournament team.

Nebraska won the Big Ten Baseball Tournament for the first time in program history, topping Penn State in the final, 2-1. It capped a run of five straight wins for the Huskers to rally back from their tournament-opening loss versus Ohio State.

Nebraska pitcher Will Walsh, left fielder Gabe Swansen, second baseman Rhett Stokes and catcher Josh Caron made the All-Tournament team from the victors. Meanwhile, Penn State pitcher Travis Luensmann, right fielder Adam Cecere, third baseman Bryce Molinaro and designated hitter J.T. Marr made the All-Tournament team.

The Iowa Hawkeyes‘ run in the Big Ten baseball tournament ended in controversy.

An interference call on Kyle Huckstorf at second base in the bottom of the 10th inning morphed what looked like a runners on the corners situation with one out, down one run into a two outs situation with Iowa down two runs.

After Ben Wilmes struck out for the game’s final out, it put an abrupt close on a season that began with great promise. Iowa was the preseason pick to win the Big Ten championship, but the Hawkeyes endured an up-and-down 31-23 (14-10 Big Ten) campaign.

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Iowa baseball drops extra-inning heartbreaker vs. Michigan in Big Ten Baseball Tournament opener

On the wrong end of it.

With plenty of drama and importance linked to their showing in Omaha, the Iowa Hawkeyes wound up playing an extra inning in their Big Ten Baseball Tournament opener.

Several turning-point moments proved to be the difference in a heartbreaking, walk-off 3-2 loss versus the Michigan Wolverines in 10 innings.

Leading 1-0, Hawkeye right-hander Brody Brecht nearly worked Iowa and himself out of a sixth-inning jam. A hit by pitch to Michigan’s Stephen Hrustich, a single from Collin Priest and a walk to Mitch Voit loaded the bases full of Wolverines.

Brecht got Mack Timbrook to fly out to left field and it wasn’t deep enough to tag. The 6-foot-4 righty then struck out Cole Caruso and suddenly Iowa was an out away from escaping the nobody out, bases-loaded jam.

A 1-2 count pitch to Will Rogers was wild from Brecht and skipped away from Hawkeye catcher Cade Moss. Moss went and retrieved the wild pitch, fired it to Brecht, but Brecht couldn’t hang on as he spun to make the tag.

The baseball trickled away from home plate and Priest came around to score to give the Wolverines their first lead at 2-1.

Iowa’s Ben Wilmes tied the game back up at two apiece with his double to right center that plated Will Mulflur. After Michael Seegers’ single, the Hawkeyes had a pair on the corners and the go-ahead run at third base.

Moss laid down a bunt, but Wilmes chose to stay put at third base instead of testing the throw. Wilmes was out as Michigan fielded the bunt and forced him out at first base. Then, Andy Nelson popped up to end the inning.

Iowa threatened in the top of the 10th. With two outs, Raider Tello singled to center field and then Davis Cop doubled. Tello got the send sign on the Cop double and was cut down at home plate.

From there, Michigan used three successive walks after a leadoff single by Jonathan Kim to walk off the Hawkeyes. Voit registered the RBI walk-off walk.

Iowa plays on Thursday against top-seeded Illinois in an elimination game at 10 a.m. CT on the Big Ten Network.

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Social media reacts to Iowa baseball’s season-opening win over Seton Hall

Heller Ball is back! Social media reacted to Iowa’s 5-2 season-opening win vs. Seton Hall from Shipyard Park.

After securing its third NCAA Tournament appearance under head coach Rick Heller last season and the sixth in program history, No. 20 Iowa baseball is off and running quickly in 2024. The Hawkeyes opened their 2024 season with a 5-2 victory over Seton Hall from Shipyard Park in Mt. Pleasant, S.C.

Earning the Opening Day start, junior right-hander Brody Brecht tossed 4 1/3 innings of one-hit, one-run ball. After registering 109 strikeouts a season ago, the 6-foot-4, 235 pound righty racked up 11 strikeouts to open his 2024 campaign.

That helped Brecht work around the six walks he issued. In his first start of 2024, Brecht threw 100 pitches and faced 21 batters. The only blemish for Brecht came in the second inning when Zack Sylvester worked a one-out walk and eventually came around to score on a fielder’s choice.

Meanwhile, Iowa’s offense was powered by a three-RBI day from redshirt junior third baseman Raider Tello. It got started with junior left fielder Sam Petersen’s one-out solo shot to left in the top of the first, though.

Tello secured his first RBI of 2024 in the third inning when he plated Petersen on a one-out single up the middle. Iowa sophomore second baseman Gable Mitchell brought home senior right fielder Andy Nelson with a sacrifice bunt in the fourth to put the Hawkeyes in front 3-1.

Then, Tello provided the separating touch with a two-out, two-RBI single to left center that scored Petersen and senior shortstop Michael Seegers.

After its win over the Pirates, Iowa will look to move to 2-0 at 11 a.m. CT versus Ball State on Saturday. Then, the Hawkeyes close their stay at the Shipyard Tournament with a Sunday date at 9 a.m. CT against Lehigh.

With one W in the books, social media enjoyed Heller Ball’s return to start 2024.

Three Iowa Hawkeyes stamped preseason All-Conference players by Perfect Game

With first pitch inching closer, take a look at the three Iowa Hawkeyes named to the preseason Big Ten All-Conference team by Perfect Game.

Coming off of an impressive 44-16 season in 2023, the Iowa Hawkeyes are looking to run things back again in 2024 and make another postseason appearance and potentially a postseason run.

Three individuals will be key to leading the Hawkeyes to another successful year. Perfect Game took a look at the Big Ten Conference preview and has named three Hawkeyes to their preseason All-Conference team.

The three named are outfielder Sam Petersen, starting pitcher Brody Brecht, and relief pitcher Marcus Morgan. Brecht was also named the preseason Big Ten Pitcher of the Year by Perfect Game.

Sam Petersen is one of four outfielders named to the team after an All-Big Ten First Team performance in 2023. Iowa will need Petersen’s blend of power and speed on offense.

All-Big Ten 1st Team in ’23. Slashed .319/.449/.584 with 11 home runs (2nd on team) and 47 RBI. Led team in SB with 20. – Tyler Kotila, Perfect Game

Brody Brecht has all the hype in the world around him and he also has the arm talent to match. The flamethrower stepped on the scene in dominant fashion last year and will look to expand on that in 2024.

All-Big Ten 1st Team in ’23. 16 starts, 77.0 IP, 3.74 ERA, 109 strikeouts. Triple-digits FB. POTY favorite in ’24. – Kotila, Perfect Game

Rounding out the preseason team for the Hawkeyes is Marcus Morgan. The reliever has the fastball and strikeout ability. If he can continue his performance, Iowa could find themselves a reliable bullpen arm.

All-Big Ten 2nd Team in ’23. 15 starts, 65.1 IP, 3.72 ERA, 72 strikeouts. Up to 99 mph this fall, potential for breakout in ’24. – Kotila, Perfect Game

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