The Tigers return all their major contributors from last season
Welcome to the Mizzou Baseball Roster Preview series. In this series we’ll walk you through what happened last year at these positions, this year’s expected major contributors and depth, and our projections for this season.
Previously in this series:
2024 in Review
Mizzou entered last season with a pair of new backstops after both main catchers in 2023 departed the program. Tre Morris, a three year starter at the position, graduated after a solid senior year (,245 BA, .766 OPS) while Dylan Leach struggled at the plate in 2023 (.193 BA, .631 OPS) and transferred to Missouri State.
Jedier Hernandez transferred in after starting two seasons at Seton Hall in the Big East and saw his stats hold fairly steady on offense while providing strong defense behind the plate. Mateo Serna, a true freshman out of the Sunshine State, backed him up and held up well despite the big jump to the SEC.
The Tigers lost two depth pieces at the position this offseason Tucker Moore (transferred to Liberty) and Thomas Curry (transferred to UIC). Both were listed as catchers but made most of their contributions at other positions in 2024.
Mizzou returns the bulk of their catching production from last season in Hernandez and Serna, and both have the potential to boost their performance to the next level this year.
The Incumbents
Jedier Hernandez – Hernandez’s first season in the SEC was a resounding success as the newly-minted Tigers starter hit .267 with a .704 OPS while providing elite defensive value behind the plate. His numbers were only a slight decrease from the .273 batting average and .747 OPS he sported at Seton Hall in 2023 against a much different level of competition.
Now a three year starter and one year into his Mizzou career, Yadi has consistently provided strong play at catcher no matter the team or conference. If nothing else, the Tigers should expect another solid season from Hernandez – with the potential for more after a full year of training and development with Kerrick Jackson and an SEC coaching staff.
Mateo Serna – Serna held his own as a true freshman catcher making regular starts in the SEC last year, hitting .240 with a .730 OPS and 19 RBI. The Doral, Florida, native struggled with making consistent contact, recording 38 strikeouts in 28 games.
That issue looked much improved in summer ball with the Northwoods League’s Minot Hot Tots, where he had 19 strikeouts in 21 games and hit .308 with a .912 OPS and 13 RBI. A strong performance in the Northwoods League has often been a positive indicator of a breakout season, and Serna looks like a prime candidate for a big jump this year at Mizzou.
During the Fall World Series, Serna’s actions on the bases also allowed for flashes of Kerrick Jackson’s discipline to be displayed. In game three, Serna admired a potential home run (it ended up falling short for a single) and his celebration – plus lack of hustle – resulted in Jackson calling him out. Serna later got into a scrap with a first baseman, but issues were quickly calmed down.
It may seem like a straightforward rule in baseball – to run hard until the play is over and not get too flashy – but the idea can easily get lost in today’s age. By Jackson calling an out, it showed this team is not messing around, no matter the game, and Serna’s not a player you want sitting out on the bench.
The Young Gun
Trey Callaway, C/UT – Callaway is listed as a utility player on the Mizzou roster but made his name mainly as a catcher at Dutchtown High School in Georgia. The 6-1 freshman joins the Tigers after being ranked as the 275th overall prospect and 30th ranked catcher in the class of 2024 by Perfect Game. With half of Mizzou’s catchers from last season departed, we’re listing Callaway here as the clear third option on the team behind the plate.
Outlook
This is a position Tigers fans can feel plenty of confidence in entering the 2025 season, returning nearly all of last season’s production with two solid contributors. Catcher might have the second highest floor of any position group on the team (behind corner infield), though its ceiling might be lower than some others.
Even so, there is plenty of potential in both Hernandez and Serna – who looks like one of the prime breakout candidates for Mizzou. Expect catching to again be a strength for the Tigers, with the possibility for some improvement from 2024. And with Serna having two years of eligibility left after this season, the long term outlook of the position is also bright.