6 days ago
Hawkins wins, keeps Bogenpohl in the fold
Hello everyone, I'm Dan Lucy on the Ozarks First digital desk.
Missouri State baseball coach Joey Hawkins first game of next season won't be for another eight and a half months.
But the Bears boss already has his first win.
MoState slugger Caden Bogenpohl says he will return to Springfield next season.
Bogenpohl will be a draft eligible junior next season and will be a big key for Hawkins and the Bears.
As a sophomore, Bogenpohl hit .296 with 13 homers and 44 RBI.
He played in all 54 games, despite being banged up late in the season.
The 6-foot-6 center fielder was getting all kinds of attention from schools who wanted him to enter the transfer portal and leave the Bears.
Bogenpohl was not biting.
Caden Bogenpohl/Returning to Bears (didn't want to play any other place)Joey Hawkins/Missouri State coach (great news)
The way Joey Hawkins sees it, Bogenpohl is a piece that he can build a team around.
The Jackson, Missouri native is expected to be a high pick in the June 2026 Major League Baseball draft.
The Bears have a history of high draft picks, 21 players have been picked in the top 12 rounds of the draft.
Names like Jake Burger, Luke Voit, Shaun Marcum, Bill Mueller, and even Drake Baldwin who's tearing it up with the Atlanta braves this summer.
Bogenpohl wants to put his name next to those in the list of Missouri State pros.
Bogenpohl (wants to the be the next Missouri State great)
As for this summer, Bogenpohl says he's going to heal up from some nagging injuries.
He'll try out for Team USA this summer and then later play again in the Cape Cod League.
He says that's one of the best summer leagues in the country.
Bogenpohl (it's a lot of fun)
So great news for Missouri State Bears baseball as it transitions into a new conference.
But they'll do it with a familiar face in center field.
For more sports watch Ozarks First news at nine and ten.
And I'll see you then.
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