KANSAS

Kansas Jayhawks Baseball: Meet the Freshman Class

Get to know the Kansas Baseball roster before the season gets started.

Lucas Murphy

Kansas Jayhawks Baseball: Meet the Freshman Class
Kansas Jayhawks Baseball: Meet the Freshman Class /

Any time that there is a change in leadership with a college sports team, there will be plenty of new faces to learn, and plenty of familiar faces taking on new roles.

With Kansas Baseball getting a new coach after the retirement of Ritch Price, there are plenty of new faces to learn. Over the next few weeks as we ramp up to the start of the season, we will take a look at the team, class by class. Up first are the freshman.

Name

Position

B/T

Height

Weight

Hometown

High School

Mitchell Birdsall

C

R/R

6-2

185lbs

San Joe, California

Valley Christian

Kodey Shojinaga

C/INF

R/R

5-10

195lbs

Honolulu, Hawaii

Mid-Pacific Institute

Cooper Kelly

INF

S/R

6-1

180lbs

Overland Park, KS

Blue Valley Southwest

Jackson Kline

OF

L/L

6-0

190lbs

Kansas City, MO

Park Hill

Ike Cobb

RHP

L/R

6-5

260lbs

Lawrence, KS

Lawrence

Parker Grant

RHP

R/R

6-0

190lbs

Honolulu, Hawaii

Maryknoll

Toby Haarer

RHP

R/R

6-0

190lbs

Scottsdale, Arizona

Desert Mountain

Karter Muck

RHP

R/R

6-2

170lbs

Kansas City, MO

St. Pius X

Luke Metzker

RHP

R/R

5-11

190lbs

Reno, Nevada

Bishop Manogue Catholic

Mitchell Birdsall-Birdsall is from San Jose, California, where he attended Valley Christian Schools before he signed with Kansas as a freshman. His primary position is catcher, but he also showed the ability to play third and first. One thing he offers is a quick transfer and fast release, which are traits you look for in catchers. He has a lot of potential not only behind the plate but swinging the bat as well. I expect Birdsall to learn from the upperclassman and will continue to develop his skillset in the 2023 season.

Kodey Shojinaga-Shojinaga signed to play baseball at Kansas from Honolulu, Hawaii, where he played high school baseball at Mid Pacific Institue. His primary position is catcher, but he shows his versatility as he also plays first base and third base and can pitch. Head coach Fitzgerald said this about Shojinaga, "Kodey was very impressive this fall and acclimated quickly to playing multiple positions. He has a simple swing and a great attitude. He will factor in immediately".

Cooper Kelly-Kelly, a local product from Blue Valley Southwest high school, chose to sign with the Kansas Jayhawks as a freshman. Kelly provides head coach Dan Fitzgerald with some versatility, " Cooper gives us great options as he can play all four infield spots. His switch-hitting ability also gives us some matchup options offensively." Kelly sports a strong athletic build which is seen at the plate. He also demonstrates his smooth fundamental footwork in the field paired with good arm strength to throw runners out. As he gains experience, he will develop into a good college baseball player.

Jackson Klein- Klein, another local product who attended Park Hill High School in Kansas City, Missouri, signed with Kansas as a freshman. Head coach Fitzgerald said this about Klein, "Jackson fought through injuries this fall and came on strong once he was cleared. He's got a great left-handed swing and a very mature approach."

Ike Cobb-Cobb, who grew up down the street from the university, signed with the Jayhawks out of Lawrence High School. The RHP has a lot of potential, especially with his size 6"5', 260lbs. The big righty commands his fastball at 82-84 mph paired with a slider.

Parker Grant-Grant, like Kodey Shojinaga, comes to Kansas from Honolulu, Hawaii as a freshman, where he attended Maryknoll high school. Grant is a right-handed pitcher with a fastball sitting at 85-87 mph, and this pitch is paired with a changeup and a slider. The changeup velocity sits around 72-76 mph, and the slider is 74-76 mph.

Toby Haarer-Haarer signed with the Jayhawks as a freshman from Scottsdale, Arizona, where he attended high school at Desert Moutain. He is a right-handed pitcher with a fastball sitting in the 87-88 mph range topping out at 89 mph. He also throws two secondary pitches, a slider, and a changeup. The slider sits consistently around 76 mph, and the changeup is 80 mph.

Karter Muck-Muck signed with the Jayhawks as a freshman after attending St. Pius X High School in Kansas City, Missouri. Muck is a right-handed pitcher with a fastball sitting around 87-91 mph and a changeup clocking in at 82-83 mph. His third pitch is a curveball that has a velocity of 73-75 mph. Head coach Fitzgerald said, "Karter has a plus fastball and is a really good athlete. He's a hard worker and a great teammate. Karter is going to be a great Jayhawk."

Luke Metzker-Metzker signed with the Jayhawks as a freshman from Reno, Nevada, where he attended Bishop Manogue Catholic high school. The right-handed pitcher throws a fastball around 88 mph with two secondary pitches, a changeup, and a curveball. His changeup has a velocity between 70-79 mph and the curveball 68-72 mph. 

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Lucas Murphy
LUCAS MURPHY

In addition to writing at Blue Wings Rising, Lucas Murphy is a contributor at Inside the Royals, and Blue Wings Rising. Lucas also started a YouTube/podcast channel called “The Beat of Kansas City" and is a co-host on a podcast called "Royals Rundown". He attended the University of Saint Mary, earning his degree in Elementary Education with a minor in Coaching. He played four years of college baseball. Follow him on Twitter @TheBeatofKC

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