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Q&A with Southeast Missouri Commit RHP Trey McDaniel (Greenville, 2017)

February 17, 2016

Shon Plack
Missouri Scouting Director

Trey McDaniel (Greenville, 2017) is a 5-foot-11, 190-pound right hand-hitting shortstop and right-handed pitcher.  He has recently committed to play at Southeast Missouri.

McDaniel ran a 60 time of 7.35 and has a high 3/4 arm slot on the infield.  He has fluid footwork, quick/clean exchange, with good carry on throw. He has a positional velo at 81 mph.  At the plate, McDaniel has a crouched setup with a smooth load. His swing produces line drives and has a middle/oppo approach, McDaniel's exit velo is 85 mph.

On the mound he He touched 88 mph twice at the Underclass Games in June and worked at 84-86 mph. All of his pitches showed life coming from a high 3/4 arm slot.  He throws with some effort, and has quick arm speed.  McDaniel is a strike thrower with three pitches.  He has a 12-to-6 curveball at 70-72 mph, but his slider at 74-77 mph, top notch.  A definite swing and miss put-away pitch.  His change-up is at 74-76 mph with fastball arm speed, and good sink.

Here is a look inside the recruitment of Trey McDaniel. 

PBR: What were your expectations about the recruiting process? Was it as expected? Easy/Difficult?

McDaniel: I expected it to be hard but it turned out to be easy because I got the offer I wanted very quickly.

PBR: Did location or distance from home play a factor in your decision?

McDaniel: Yes it did. My goal was to attend a college within driving of my home.

PBR: Where did Southeast Missouri first see you? How did your relationship develop with them?

McDaniel: I attended a camp last year and the staff expressed some interest then but couldn't say a whole lot at that time. I decided to check their level of interest again. After I pitched at their 2016 January winter camp Coach Beiser took me to his office and made me an offer. I really liked him and the coaching staff. And he really seemed to want me to be apart of his program. Coach Beiser has built a strong program there that just seems to be getting better. It's definitely something I want to be apart of. I feel really honored.

PBR: Who is the best player you have faced in your state, and why?

McDaneil: There are a lot of great players in the state so it's really hard for me to narrow it down to one. I know one of the best teams I've faced is Valle Catholic. They always have solid pitching and tough hitters 1-9.

PBR: What advice would you give to young baseball players striving to get where you are?

McDaniel: Make good grades. Have a good work ethic. I do a lot of work on my own time to try to find ways to get better.  Be a team player. Don't be discouraged when your not perfect. You are not going to be. Be confident in your abilities. You need confidence to perform in those high pressure situations.

PBR: What do you do in the offseason to keep yourself in baseball shape and prepare for the upcoming season?

McDaniel: I play basketball. I work out at Strike Zone and I weight lift. I do rotator cuff exercises and stretches to help prevent arm injuries.

PBR: What is the most memorable moment in your baseball career to this point?

McDaniel: Getting to pitch and getting the win in the OFC championship game this last fall and having an undefeated season. We had a great year winning our district, Sr. Babe state championship, and having a fall season like we did.

PBR: What do you like most about Southeast Missouri and what were the key factors in making your decision?

McDaniel: Strength of the program. Distance from home. I feel I can be successful there as a student and an athlete. I am confident that Coach Beiser and the RedHawks program can help me grow as a player and achieve my career goals.

PBR: What other schools were on your short list before you made your final decision?

McDaniel: Arkansas, ASU, EIU, MemphisState, Missouri State

PBR: When did the recruiting process really start to heat up for you? Was there a particular game or event that you feel turned the corner for you?

McDaniel: This past summer I saw some interest but this fall/winter is when I really noticed a change. It changed from being interested to getting offers and calls and emails. At the showcases and camps I would have multiple coaches talk to me which was encouraging.

PBR: Preview your high school season for us. How do you feel your team will be? What are your expectations and goals?

McDaniel: I feel we will have a solid season. We are ranked 2nd in the state. Coach Null is a great coach and under him our team has achieved things never done before in our schools history. It's been a great thing to be apart of. My teammates work very hard and I feel we work great together. We have several seniors graduating including my catcher Trynt (Tompkins). He and I have played together since we were eight. It's going to be like losing a brother when he graduates. I'm really going to miss him behind the plate. He's one of a kind. I'm very excited about the spring and we have the goal of playing in a state championship game. If we make it there we will definitely have earned it. There are some awesome teams to face on the road to state.

PBR: Where do you play in the summer? And what has been your most memorable experience with them?

McDaniel: The Wayne County Lumberjacks. Winning the Sr. Babe state tournament last summer was definitely my best summer memory and going to regionals for the first time. It was amazing. It was the first summer this team played together and we ended up being one victory short of going to Oregon.

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