Meet all the signees for Mizzou baseball

With National Signing Day behind them, Mizzou baseball is beginning to announce their new recruits for this year. In his second season, head coach Kerrick Jackson, along with director of recruiting and operations Jose Carballo and the rest of the staff, added a lot of talent.

While more recruits will sign their letters of commitment in the coming weeks, five players made it official right away, becoming future Tigers as soon as they could.

Cooper Pumphrey

Out of Ozark High School in Ozark, Missouri, this towering 6'6", 215-pound right-handed pitcher brings a four-pitch arsenal that sets him apart from many high school players. After finishing up his season with the Tigers, he spent his summer playing for the Inevitable A's with Adidas. He announced his commitment in February, a month before his junior season.

In addition to his fastball, which sits between 89-91 mph and tops out at 92 with some horizontal movement, he features a strong slider/curveball combo and, uniquely, a splitter. Both the curveball and slider are effective, with the curveball dropping straight down and the slider breaking into left-handed batters. However, it’s the splitter that truly sets him apart, adding a new dimension to his pitching repertoire.

A pitch he's continuing to develop as the season approaches, the splitter serves as a counter to his slider. Video of the pitch shows it breaking away from left-handed batters and coming toward the thigh of a right-handed hitter. If he can refine this pitch in his final year of high school ball, it could become a valuable weapon for him when he joins Mizzou, adding depth to the pitching staff.

Luke Sullivan

As one of the top high school pitchers in the country in 2024, this 6'4", 195-pound right-handed pitcher from Parkway South High School in Manchester, Missouri, excels with accuracy and pitch movement. Using just three pitches, his ability to locate them helped him finish the season with impressive, eye-popping stats.

After his high school season, Sullivan played with the Rawlings Tigers, finishing with a perfect 14-0 record, including 10 shutouts. He struck out 135 and walked 33 in just under 79 innings. With a .142 BAA and .88 WHIP, he allowed only eight earned runs, posting a 0.92 ERA for the 2024 campaign.

This success isn’t due to overpowering batters, as his fastball tops out around 90 MPH, but rather his control and movement. He locates all three of his pitches—fastball, changeup, and slider—precisely where he wants them. His fastball works both down the middle and at the top and bottom of the zone. The slider starts in the zone and ends outside the batter’s box, while the changeup begins low and drops to the ground.

Brady Rosenkranz

The only one of the five not from Missouri, this 6'7", 225-pound right-handed pitcher stands out with his impressive frame. Committing in 2021 from Lincolnshire, Illinois, and playing at Stevenson High School, he has developed a four-pitch mix focused on off-speed and movement.

His fastball, which sat between 87-89 MPH and topped out just under 90 MPH this past season, features big-league spin. During a February showcase, his fastball reached 2400 RPM, surpassing the MLB average. Thanks to his large frame and long arms, he generates more extension on his throw and greater arm snap, resulting in added spin on his fastball.

This extension also benefits his other three pitches. He features a low-70s curveball, a mid-70s slider, and a low-80s changeup. Scouts note his slider shows sharp movement, while his curveball moves arm-side. Both pitches have been clocked at over 2400 RPM, allowing them to complement each other on either side of the box.

JD Dohrmann

As one of the top prospects out of Missouri, this 6'1", 180-pound right-handed pitcher has spent the past three years at St. Vianney High School and playing for the Rawlings Tigers during the summers. With a simple four-pitch mix, he has consistently shown stellar command, leading to impressive strikeout numbers both in high school and summer ball.

With a fastball averaging 90-91 MPH and topping out at 92 with around 2500 RPM, his slider is what he's most known for. Called one of the nastiest pitches thrown in 2023 by Prep Baseball, his slider sits between 79-82 MPH with over 2800 RPM, generating up to 14 inches of break at times.

He complements his fastball and slider with a curveball and changeup, both of which have wicked spin and excellent control, leading to plenty of swing-and-miss opportunities. These pitches enhance his ability to place fastballs precisely where he wants them, resulting in strikeouts. If he can add more velocity to these offerings without sacrificing control, they could become a key asset for the Tigers.

Leo Humbert

The only non-pitcher of the five signees, he hails from St. Charles, Missouri, and played his high school ball at Francis Howell, where he was recently named prom king. He also plays summer ball with the Rawlings Tigers. Committing in October 2023, the 6'1", 210-pound outfielder hopes to bring a power bat to the Tigers.

His power stems from elite exit velocities and a high hard-hit percentage. With an average exit velocity close to 100 MPH, the ball explodes off his bat at contact. Coupled with a 90% hard-hit rate and an 80% sweet spot percentage, he consistently makes solid contact, boasting a 406-foot max distance and a 104.6 MPH max exit velocity.

In the field, he is solid but not exceptional. With a 6.68 60-yard dash time and a max exit velocity of 89 MPH in the outfield, he has the potential to improve his fielding enough to secure a corner outfield spot. If that doesn't pan out, his strong bat could earn him a designated hitter role next season.