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Stanford left-handed pitcher Brett Mooneyham knows how to overcome even the most serious challenges in life, and it's something that has helped him get off to a great start this spring.
Well before his college days, when he was 12-years-old, Mooneyham barely escaped death in a serious car accident, where his vehicle rolled over three times. Amazingly, Mooneyham left the scene of the wreck with just a head injury that required 250 stitches, and some burns above his left arm. In his words, he had no broken bones and things turned out all right.
After going through a situation like that as a youngster, it's safe to say Mooneyham was prepared for any challenge thrown his way. Mooneyham was faced with another stiff test before his junior campaign in 2011, when he suffered a sliced finger that evolved into a ruptured finger.
As he prepared for his junior campaign -- an important draft year -- on the mound, Mooneyham had high hopes for the '11 season. He felt his command and control had made some strides the second half of his sophomore season. But in an instant, again, it seemed like his life, particularly on the baseball diamond, was turned upside down.
Mooneyham's prognosis wasn't good. He needed surgery and would at least be out of commission until May. He and the Cardinal decided on a redshirt season, meaning he was out for the year in the most important campaign of his collegiate career.
"I learned last year that you can't really take anything for granted in this game. It was tough. It sucked," he said. "To not play, it was a tough pill to swallow. But I got stronger from it. The injury really motivated me to get myself in the best position possible during the offseason."
Mooneyham set some goals as the offseason progressed. He wanted to be keyed in to everything in every phase of the game, and he wanted to correct all the issues people criticized him about in the past, particularly his lack of consistency and command.
Before 2012, Mooneyham had issues establishing consistency. As a freshman in 2009, he had a respectable 4.14 ERA in 67 1/3 innings of work. But he also had 72 strikeout and a high total of 54 walks. Then, as a sophomore, the lefty had a .507 ERA in 87 1/3 innings pitched. And again, walks were an issue, finishing the campaign with 99 strikeouts and 62 walks.
Despite some rough overall numbers, it was during his sophomore campaign that pitching coach Rusty Filter, who was then in his first year after helping guide San Diego State's Stephen Strasburg to stardom, began to realize Mooneyham was making significant progress.
The lefty was rough early in the '10 season. In the season-opening series against Rice, he allowed just three runs in 5 1/3 innings. He also struck out seven and walked an astonishing nine batters.
That was the Brett Mooneyham of old.
"When I came here, Brett was a big, strong, guy with great stuff. But people had big questions about his command," Filter said. "The biggest thing we needed to do is try to simplify things for him. He needed to go out there and repeat good pitches. We simplified his leg kick and tried to help him pick up home plate a little sooner."
After missing what was supposed to be a promising 2011 campaign, Mooneyham slowly got his velocity back. In the early part of last summer, he was topping out around 85-86 with his fastball. Then, when winter arrived, he was 91-92.
Now, as recently as last weekend against Fresno State, Mooneyham was up to 94, consistently throwing his fastball in the 89-93 range.
"He was throwing pretty hard against Fresno State last week. He was up to 94, but I like him more at about 90 because there's more movement to his pitches," Filter said. "Right now, he's throwing three pitches, and he's throwing them for strikes."
While Stanford ace right-hander pitcher Mark Appel has garnered most of the headlines so far this season because of his success on the field and the fact he's arguably the nation's No. 1 Major League Baseball draft prospect, one could strongly argue that Mooneyham has been better.
Mooneyham is commanding the zone with a fastball, changeup and slider. His fastball was up to 94 last week, while his slider is in the 79-80 and changeup is in the 76-78 range. Interestingly, Filter said Mooneyham has moved away from throwing a curveball.
Most importantly, Mooneyham has made significant strides in the areas he has struggled in during past campaigns. He has a 1.17 ERA in 21 innings, while he also has struck out 28 and walked nine. Opponents are hitting the lefty at just a .139 clip.
"We don't throw a curveball anymore, it's more a slider. It's kind of like a hybrid that's a combination of both pitches," Filter said. "He's got the ability with the fastball, especially when he keeps it down in the zone. He has the confidence to throw all his pitches for strikes."
Some offseason mechanical changes have helped Mooneyham take a huge step forward. The lefty is doing a better job of keeping his front side closed and his front arm more extended.
Those changes have led to better command and more positive repetition with his pitches.
"I give Coach Filter a lot of credit for me turning things around. We worked on a lot of these mechanical things in the fall, and they've worked," he said. "Those changes really have helped me out with my control and the ability to put the ball where I want it."
Should Mooneyham continue at the current pace, his stock both on the collegiate level and as a draft prospect, will only rise. He entered the spring as the No. 18 prospect in the Pac-12 Conference, but that surely will improve with a continued strong redshirt junior campaign.
Just two seasons ago, many had already chalked up Mooneyham as a bust. But now, even after an injury that sidelined him for a season, the left-hander has made significant strides and is pitching as good as anyone in college baseball. He has helped the No. 2 Cardinal race off to an impressive 11-1 start entering this weekend's series against Rice.
Mooneyham and Filter agree there's still work to be done, but much progress has been made.
It's just another mastered challenge in the life of Brett Mooneyham.
WHO’S HOT
Texas State: The Bobcats have been incredibly hot the past couple of weeks. They went 57 2/3 innings without giving up a run and have won seven-straight games, including a midweek bout against highly touted Rice.
Florida: The Gators have an incredibly impressive resume to start the season. They've taken a series from Cal State Fullerton, and blew past in-state rival Miami last weekend down in Coral Gables, Fla. UF has now won 10-straight contests.
Gonzaga: Mark Machtolf's Bulldogs finally are getting the credit they deserve. They're still unbeaten at 10-0 and have gotten some tremendous pitching performances from their weekend rotation, which includes Marco Gonzales, Andy Hunter and Tyler Olson.
Maryland: The Terrapins probably have been the biggest surprise so far this season. They already have a road series win over UCLA and enter the upcoming weekend with a 0.86 team earned-run average. Yeah, that's not a misprint.
Florida State: The Seminoles have really been on a roll lately and are coming off a midweek road series sweep over a solid Central Florida team. In surprising fashion, the Seminoles have pitched at a high level so far this spring.
WHO’S NOT
Jacksonville State: The Gamecocks were expected to compete for the Ohio Valley Conference crown, but that's looking mighty unlikely at this point. JSU is 2-8 in its last ten games, and several expected key cogs are struggling in ugly fashion.
New Mexico: The Lobos were expected to make a little noise in the Mountain West Conference this spring, but that's looking unlikely unless something changes sooner rather than later. The Lobos have lost six-straight games, coming off an 0-3 home weekend against Oklahoma last week.
Northern Illinois: There's absolutely no doubt the Huskies have played a tough schedule so far this spring, but there's no excuse to be 0-10 at this juncture. NIU is hitting just .229 with a team earned-run average of 8.35. That's not going to get it done.
UNC Wilmington: Once considered the favorites to win the CAA title this season, we're not real sure the Seahawks have what it takes to make the NCAA postseason. UNCW has struggled against decent competition, going 2-8 in its last 10 and losers of three-straight.
Long Beach State: The Dirtbags began the season with a promising series win over California, but have been unlucky ever since. LBSU lost three one-run games at Oregon last weekend, and now are losers of five-straight contests.
FIVE STORYLINES TO WATCH
Important weekend in the ACC
Many elite conferences don't begin league play until next week, but the ACC is once again getting a head start this spring. The conference begins league play this weekend, and there certainly are some interesting series on tap. North Carolina heads to Clemson in an important series for both teams. The Tar Heels could use a marquee road series win, while the Tigers hope to build off a win over South Carolina in the series finale last weekend ... Surprising Maryland travels to Wake Forest to play a Demon Deacons club that is much improved ... Florida State is red-hot with outfielder James Ramsey leading the way, and its improved pitching staff hopes to continue their successful ways at Duke ... Boston College's solid start will be put to the test right away in ACC play with a road series win against Miami, which is coming off a disappointing showing against Florida ... Virginia Tech and Virginia both are looking to make a statement, with the Cavaliers struggling so far this season. Meanwhile, Georgia Tech is on upset watch this weekend as it travels to N.C. State, which is off to an outstanding start both on the mound and at the plate.
Rice gets tested in a big way
The Owls have a solid club this spring, but will be tested like no other this weekend with a road series to face the sizzling Cardinal. Rice is coming off a 2-1 weekend at the Houston College Classic, but there's concern about ace pitcher Austin Kubitza, who didn't look his normal self against in-state rival Texas. Kubitza pitched well in a short midweek stint, but we'll see how things shape up against the Cardinal this weekend. Rice will have its first weekend road trip this weekend, while the Cardinal returns home after taking two of three on the road from Fresno State. The Owls are in great shape at the plate and in the bullpen, but the starting rotation can be had. Matthew Reckling pitched well after a shaky start to a game last weekend, while freshman Jordan Stephens pitched well last weekend, but certainly is hittable. This should be a good series, with Stanford having a little too much in the tank for the Owls.
Highly-ranked Texas A&M faces first stiff test
There's absolutely no doubt the Aggies are a very good team this season, but just how elite? We'll find out a little about them this weekend. The Aggies are off to a terrific 12-1 start, but their best opponent thus far has been Michigan State. That changes this weekend as Cal State Fullerton comes calling with its usual scrappy club. The Titans opened the season with a series loss at Florida, but have won consecutive series over TCU and Utah Valley State since then. A&M's one-two punch on the mound of Michael Wacha and Ross Stripling have continued to pitch well this season, while it'll be interesting to see how Rafael Pineda, who missed last season because of an injury, pitch against a team like Fullerton. Pineda has a 1.00 ERA in 18 innings of work. A&M is expected to win this series at home, but Fullerton can be Fullerton.
Pac-12, SEC showdown on tap this weekend
We'll find out a lot about UCLA and Georgia this weekend. The Bruins are on an impressive winning streak, which began with a Saturday win over Baylor a couple of weeks ago. UCLA is playing a much better brand of baseball these days, but that gets put to the test at Georgia this weekend. The Bulldogs are off to a fantastic 11-2 start this season, but perhaps a little of that has to do with the fact they haven't played a tough schedule. For instance, Kennesaw State, who is a good, but not great team, is the toughest squad the Bulldogs have faced, and that was in a midweek bout. For the Bulldogs, third baseman Curt Powell is off to a fantastic start, hitting .394 with four RBIs, while starting pitchers Alex Wood (2.25), MIchael Palazzone (3.60) and Taylor Hicks (3.00) have been solid for the most part. This is a big weekend for the Bulldogs.
Potential statement weekend for many
Several teams around the country have a chance to make a big-time statement this weekend. N.C. State is off to a hot start, but has yet to earn a marquee series win. That could change at home against Georgia Tech this weekend ... Boston College is off to a good start, but certainly hasn't won a series from anyone as good as Miami ... Texas Tech went 1-2 at the Houston College Classic last weekend, but fought back with a midweek win over Arizona State. The Red Raiders could use a couple of wins over in-state foe TCU this weekend to help their case ... There's also Virginia Tech, which is off to a hot start, but hasn't played a marquee series. The Hokies would love nothing more than to make a statement by beating their in-state rivals on the road ... Also keep an eye on Kent State at New Mexico State, a series between two solid mid-major programs this season. Meanwhile, St. Mary's at San Diego features two teams suddenly playing a good brand of baseball, while the bout between San Francisco and Fresno State should be a good one ... Also intriguing is the beginning of Southland Conference play, and particularly the series between Texas State and Texas-Arlington. The Bobcats are off to a phenomenal start this season and have pitched at a very high level, while Preston Beck and the Mavericks are off to a solid 9-5 start.
TEN SERIES TO WATCH
#4 Rice at #2 Stanford: The Owls need everyone on board this weekend if they plan on winning this series at Stanford. That means right-handed starting pitcher Austin Kubitza must get back on track. Kubitza was bad against Texas last week, but had a solid midweek stint against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. The Owls will make a very good series out of this if Kubitza is clicking on all cylinders. If not, it'll be tough to win the series with just Matthew Reckling and Jordan Stephens leading the way.
PG Pick: Stanford
#15 Cal State Fullerton at #5 Texas A&M: The Titans drew the ire of head coach Rick Vanderhook after they blew a huge lead in a midweek affair against USC. The Titans already have a road series loss to top-ranked Florida, and now must take care of business against the Aggies, who are playing an excellent brand of baseball. The Titans must play fundamentally sound, something they didn't do against the Trojans earlier this week. As for the Aggies, it's crucial No. 3 starting pitcher Rafael Pineda puts together a solid start.
PG Pick: Texas A&M
#6 North Carolina at #23 Clemson: Ever since not looking that great opening weekend against Xavier, the Tar Heels have been tremendous. They're coming off a weekend series win over USC and midweek win over Elon. Keep an eye on hard-hitting first baseman Cody Stubbs, who's off to a great start, both average-wise and from a power standpoint. Meanwhile, Clemson coming back to beat rival South Carolina on Sunday could've been the turning point for it. We'll soon find out if that's the case.
PG Pick: North Carolina
#8 Georgia Tech at #38 N.C. State: The Yellow Jackets really have played a solid brand of baseball so far this season. The offense is doing a good job with power hitter Daniel Palka and others leading the way. But for this team, it's all about the fact the weekend rotation hasn't skipped a beat from last season with Matt Grimes, Buck Farmer and Dusty Isaacs leading the way. It also is a huge plus that closer Luke Bard has been tremendous so far this spring. Meanwhile, N.C. State is red-hot at the plate and has one of the nation's premier freshmen in pitcher Carlos Rodon.
PG Pick: Georgia Tech
#10 Arizona State at Long Beach State: There's no doubt the Dirtbags have done some nice things on the mound this spring, but their offense must improve if they want to knock off the Sun Devils this weekend. LBSU enters the weekend with a dismal .222 team batting average. Meanwhile, Arizona State has one of the nation's premier ace pitchers in Brady Rodgers, while the offense is in outstanding shape, hitting an impressive .355 with Joey DeMichele leading the way, hitting .524 with two home runs and 19 RBIs. This is a huge home series for the Dirtbags.
PG Pick: Arizona State
#20 UCLA at #17 Georgia: The Bruins appeared to be in some real trouble after dropping a season-opening series to Maryland, but that series loss isn't looking so bad right now. The Bruins have won seven-straight contests, but that'll be put to the test this weekend against a vastly improved Georgia team. The Bulldogs have a trio of solid starting pitchers with a productive offense. However, not a ton is known about their potential because of a weak schedule to start the campaign. The Bulldogs get a marquee series win at home this weekend.
PG Pick: Georgia
#38 Boston College at #18 Miami (Fla.): The Eagles certainly have cooled off since the first couple of weeks of the season, but coach Mike Gambino's club is still very, very dangerous with a solid weekend rotation leading the charge. Meanwhile, the Hurricanes will have some extra motivation entering the weekend. They didn't play at an elite level at times against in-state rival Florida last weekend, so they'd like to make up for that against the Eagles. The 'Canes will have too much pitching to drop this series at home.
PG Pick: Miami
#42 Texas Tech at #31 TCU: This is a very important series for both teams. The Red Raiders only went 1-2 at the Houston College Classic last weekend, but followed that up with a huge road midweek win over Arizona State. The Red Raiders need solid starting performances from Rusty Shellhorn and Shane Broyles to leave Fort Worth with a series win. Meanwhile, the Frogs have really gutted their way throughout the past couple of weeks because of some injuries. The latest injury was a minor concussion to outfielder Kyle Von Tungeln. He may or may not play this weekend against the Red Raiders.
PG Pick: TCU
#20 Maryland at Wake Forest: What a tremendous series this should be between a pair of programs truly on the upswing. The Terrapins have been the biggest surprise so far this season with an excellent pitching staff, led by starting pitchers Brett Harman, Brady Kirkpatrick and David Carroll. Meanwhile, the Demon Deacons have won 10-straight contests and have a nice duo of starting pitchers in Tim Cooney and Brian Holmes. The Terps have been red-hot, but this series has road upset written all over it.
PG Pick: Wake Forest
Virginia Tech at Virginia: This is one of the most important Virginia Tech-Virginia series we've ever seen, and not for all good reasons. The Hokies are 11-2 and winners of six-straight contests. They have a solid weekend rotation with Joe Mantiply and others leading the way. Meanwhile, the Cavaliers have been outrageously shaky so far this season and could use a home series win over the rival Hokies to get the program back on track. In a series between two essentially even teams at this juncture of the season, it's hard to go against the home team.
PG Pick: Virginia
Kendall Rogers is the college baseball managing editor for Perfect Game and can be reached at kendall@perfectgame.org