Mizzou baseball hunts for regional berth in fourth year under Kerrick Jackson

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Tigers are looking for a return to the NCAA postseason in the 2027 season.

Head coach Kerrick Jackson is gearing up for his fourth season at the helm of the university's baseball program. After showing flashes during the 2026 season, the team is hoping to build off of the small successes they had and turn those into more consistent stretches.

"I think this year having some, continuity in our pitching staff and being able to bring those guys in that we got in from the portal, I think we're going to take that next step and put ourselves in a position to be exactly where we want to be," said coach Jackson.

You can watch the full press conference with Jackson in the video player below.

Mizzou has yet to make a regional since joining the SEC, the longest drought of any team in the conference. However, after finishing last season with the most success that they've had under Jackson, they're looking to break that streak and return to the big dance.

"I want to be in a regional. I want to put ourselves in a situation where we're putting ourselves five games away from being in Omaha," said coach Jackson. "When you look at some of the games that we played in conference play, I think of seven games were two runs or less losses that were right there."

The Tiger baseball team has been aggressive in the transfer portal this offseason, primarily focusing on player to help bring some pop to the offense.

"I think the biggest thing is we need we know we needed that offense, and we added some guys that, at the places where they were playing, they were the guys. They were the guys that relied on to get the big hits to drive runs in, and so we need the guys that have had experience doing that."

Along with the new faces on the roster, Mizzou also brought in Brandon Van Horn as the new hitting coach after he served on the Houston Astro's staff for the previous two seasons.

"When you look at the SEC, you're facing big league stuff every night. So now you have a guy that's been on that pro side that can kind of get our guys prepared. He's fiery. He's passionate. He's a teacher. He's taken well to our guys and our guys are taken well to him."