Hunter Haynes from Mexico HS ended his high school career with a bang, living up to the hype and designation as a top D1 level pitcher, a pitcher who will continue his career at Mizzou next season helping make their transition to the SEC.

In his final high school season, Haynes put up some of the top stats of anyone in the state. In forty-seven and a third innings, Haynes struck out eight four batters, while walking only ten. Haynes held batters to a .106 batting average with a microscopic 0.44 ERA.

We recently caught up with Haynes to get some thoughts on his high school career and future as a Missouri Tiger.

PBR: You are a big contributor to the success for Mexico HS. Talk a little about the how you have contributed and the supporting cast around you.

Haynes: The biggest thing I have been able to contribute to my team is leadership and experience but our success comes from a team effort.

PBR: Which schools were you considering prior to committing to Mizzou?

Haynes: Missouri State, Bradley, Western Kentucky, Eastern Kentucky, Dallas Baptist, and a few others.

PBR: What were the reasons that you ultimately chose Mizzou?

Haynes: I had a developed a good relationship with the coaching staff over my high school years and with the SEC move I wanted to play the best competition in the nation so I can see where I stack up against the best.

PBR: What was the relationship you had with Coach Jamison and the Mizzou staff in the recruitment process?

Haynes: I felt that my relationship with Coach Jamison and the Mizzou staff during the recruiting process was good. I always had a gut feeling that Mizzou was where I would end up even though other schools had expressed interest.

PBR: You have been among the top pitchers in Missouri the past few years, what are your thoughts on that and how do you think your success at the high school level will transfer to the college game?

Haynes: I have been blessed and feel that my hard work and dedication has allowed me to make strides of improvement with the talent I was given. I’m hoping that my success at the high school level will transfer well to the college game. I don’t expect to put up the same numbers because that would be unrealistic but I do expect to still give my team a chance to win every time I take the mound and to develop into a pitcher that you want out there when it’s a must win game. 

PBR: Do you feel that playing in Missouri and facing the competition you do has prepared you to be a DI player?

Haynes: Yes. I know people talk about Missouri’s baseball not stacking up well against the southern states but its baseball, it’s not played any different here than it is down there. My summer teams have played against many teams from Texas, Arizona, Oklahoma, Georgia and so on and we have held our own and I feel that playing that caliber of competition and being successful gives you a good read on what your capable of doing at the next level.

PBR: What are your thoughts on the implementation of BBCOR bats from a hitting and pitching perspective?

Haynes: As a hitter it hasn’t change much for me since I have swung wood since my junior year, but as a pitcher it is nice to not have a good inside fastball get jammed over the infielder’s head. As a pitcher I haven’t changed much on my approach I still attack hitters with the fastball and work my secondary pitches into the mix.

PBR: Do you feel that this season has been any different considering that you know where you’ll attend college?

Haynes: Not really besides the constant e-mailing. I just go out and play my hardest and give it my all and let the rest work itself out, but it is nice knowing you will play baseball after high school and not having that to worry about during your senior season.

PBR: What do you hope to accomplish in this upcoming season, both individually and as a team?

Haynes: I’m hoping I can have a lower ERA than last year and put up close to the same amount of strikeouts as last year despite throwing less innings this year. As a team I would really like to see us win districts and have a strong finish to the season.

PBR: Who is the toughest pitcher/hitter that you have faced?

Haynes: In High School I’d have to say Chuckie Jones from Boonville during my freshman and sophomore year. During winter workouts for out summer team pitching to Braxton Martinez and Jake Henson was always a fun challenge.

PBR: What is your most memorable moment in baseball so far in your life?

Haynes: I don’t really have a single specific moment; it’s more of a collage of games, each one for different reasons.