The Indiana Hoosiers baseball team is the varsity intercollegiate athletic team of Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana, United States. The team competes in the National Collegiate Athletic Association's Division I and are members of the Big Ten Conference. The team plays at Bart Kaufman Field, which opened for the 2013 season.
In conference postseason play, Indiana has won four Big Ten Conference baseball tournaments and made eight NCAA Regionals appearances, including one College World Series appearance in 2013. In regular season play, the Hoosiers have won seven Big Ten Conference titles. Coached by Jeff Mercer since 2018, the program has captured seven Big Ten regular-season titles (1925, 1932, 1938, 1949, 2013, 2014, 2019) and four Big Ten tournament championships (1996, 2009, 2013, 2014) .
History
Andres, Lawrence, and Smith eras (1949–1983)
In 1949, the Hoosiers hired Indiana University alum and former MLB third baseman Ernie Andres to manage the team. Andres would eventually become the longest serving head coach of IU baseball, to date, amassing a 388–367–3 overall record (129–209 conference record) during his 25-year tenure. Andres' Hoosiers would capture one Big Ten conference championship, while also finishing third or better in conference standings three times.
In 1974, Bob Lawrence replaced longtime-tenured coach Ernie Andres. In seven seasons with the Hoosiers, Lawrence compiled a 132–164 overall record (44–71 conference record); Lawrence never led Indiana to a post-season appearance, with his highest conference final standing of third place occurred in 1976.
In 1981, Larry Smith replaced Bob Lawrence as head coach for the Hoosiers. During Smith's three-year tenure at Indiana, he compiled a 74–74–1 overall record (13–30 conference record) and never achieved a post-season appearance.
Bob Morgan era (1984–2005)
In 1984, Bob Morgan replaced Larry Smith as head coach of the Hoosiers. Morgan would take the Hoosiers to five Big Ten Conference baseball tournaments and one appearance in the NCAA Regionals. Indiana would lose in the opening round of the 1996 NCAA Midwest Regional to Wichita State, 4–0. Morgan would finish his career with Indiana in 2005, with an overall record of 782–499–4 in 21 years of managing the team as the second-longest tenured coach in Hoosiers' history.
Tracy Smith era (2006–2014)
On June 23, 2005, Indiana replaced long-time coach Bob Morgan with former Miami (OH) head coach Tracy Smith.
On June 9, 2013, the Hoosiers completed a sweep of in the best of 3 Super Regional to advance to their first College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska. The Hoosiers would eventually lose 1–0 to Oregon State in the second round. Consequently, the 2013 roster would also notably include future-Chicago Cubs player Kyle Schwarber and his eventual selection in the 2014 Major League Baseball draft.
Following the conclusion of the 2014 season, then-head coach Tracy Smith was hired by Arizona State to the same position. In nine years as head coach of the Hoosiers, Smith finished with a 287–237 overall record (127–111 conference record), two Big Ten Baseball Championships and three NCAA Regionals, including one College World Series appearance in 2013.
Chris Lemonis era (2015–2018)
On July 24, 2014, the Indiana Hoosier's Athletic Department hired former Louisville assistant coach Chris Lemonis to replace Smith as head coach. On June 25, 2018, Mississippi State confirmed that it had hired Lemonis as their new head baseball coach, formally ending Lemonis' tenure with the Hoosiers. Lemonis compiled a 141–91–2 overall record, 55–37-1 conference record and three NCAA tournament appearances, while head coach of the Hoosiers.
Jeff Mercer era (since 2019)
On July 2, 2018, Indiana University Athletics announced the hiring of former Wright State head coach Jeff Mercer, to the head coaching position for the Hoosiers. Mercer would then make a notable acquisition to the Hoosiers' coaching staff on July 18, 2018, with the hiring of former-MLB All Star third baseman Scott Rolen as Director of Player Development.
On May 18, 2019, the Hoosiers became the 2019 Big Ten regular season champions, following their win over Rutgers by a score of 13–3. Indiana would finish the regular season 36–19 overall and 17–7 in conference play.
Following the culmination of the regular season, on May 21, 2019, Jeff Mercer was named Big Ten Coach of the Year. With the award, Mercer became the third Hoosier manager to be bestowed the honor.
On March 12, 2020, it was announced that the remainder of the 2020 season would be cancelled, due to the COVID-19 virus outbreak.
Indiana in the NCAA tournament 1996 1–2 Midwest Regional 2009 0–2 Louisville Regional 2013 6–2 College World Series 5th place, hosted Bloomington Regional 2014 2–2 Hosted Bloomington Regional 2015 1–2 Nashville Regional 2017 1–2 Lexington Regional 2018 2–2 Austin Regional 2019 1–2 Louisville Regional 2023 2–2 Lexington Regional 2024 1–2 Knoxville Regional 17-20
Conference affiliations Independent (1895–1905, 1943) Big Ten Conference (1906–1942, 1944–present) Known as the Big Nine Conference from 1906 to 1917
Home fields
Jordan Field (1887–1950) Created in 1887, Indiana's first athletic grounds, Jordan Field was originally named University Athletic Field before being renamed in 1898, in honor of then-Indiana University President David Starr Jordan. The field was a mixed-use facility utilized by both the football and baseball teams. Bleacher seating for 4,000 persons were added in 1901, with field drainage added the following year to alleviate flooding.
In 1904, a track and field component was added to the athletic facility; however, conditions of the field continued to be a problem for the Hoosiers. The track and field portion of Jordan Field was upgraded in 1915. The final varsity athletic event for Jordan Field, a baseball game, would occur in 1950 prior to the facility being turned into a parking lot for the nearby Indiana Memorial Union.
Sembower Field (1951–2012)
Sembower Field was the main baseball stadium utilized by the Hoosiers from 1951 to 2012. It was named after former Indiana baseball player Charles Sembower. The stadium was located just north of the Foster Quadrangle dormitory on Fee Lane, less than 1 mile southeast of the current Hoosier baseball facility: Bart Kaufman Field. The former site of Sembower Field is presently used as a recreational sports complex for university students.
Bart Kaufman Field (since 2013)
Bart Kaufman Field is the home of the Hoosiers and is located in Bloomington, Indiana, on the campus of Indiana University. Indiana alumnus Bart Kaufman (1960–1962) pledged $2.5 million to start construction on the facility, with the rest of the funding coming from private donations and the university. Construction of Bart Kaufman Field was completed in March 2013 and formally dedicated on April 26. Bart Kaufman Field hosted its first Big Ten baseball tournament from May 24 through 28, 2017.
Notable players
Current and former Major League Baseball players
Ernie Andres Caleb Baragar (Arizona Diamondbacks) Ralph Brickner John Corriden Doug DeVore Alex Dickerson (Atlanta Braves) Jake Dunning Scott Effross (New York Yankees) Sammy Esposito Kyle Hart (San Diego Padres) Micah Johnson Barry Jones Ron Keller Ted Kluszewski Mike Kosman Kevin Mahar Pinky May Zach McClellan Bruce Miller Mike Modak Mickey Morandini Kevin Orie Chris Peters Josh Phegley Andrew Saalfrank (Arizona Diamondbacks) Kyle Schwarber (Philadelphia Phillies) Mike Simon Aaron Slegers Jonathan Stiever (Chicago White Sox) Sam Travis Kermit Wahl John Wehner Bob Wellman Whitey Wilshere
Major League Baseball All-Stars YearNamePositionTeamNotes1940Pinky May3BPhiladelphia Phillies 1953 Ted Kluszewski 1B Cincinnati Reds 1954Ted Kluszewski1BCincinnati RedsNL Home Run Leader NL RBI Leader1955Ted Kluszewski1BCincinnati Reds1956Ted Kluszewski1BCincinnati Reds1995Mickey MorandiniSSPhiladelphia Phillies2021Kyle SchwarberOFWashington Nationals2022Kyle SchwarberOFPhiladelphia Phillies
→=== Notable Drafted Players ===
Year Round Pick Name Position Team 1965 8th 154 Ron Keller RHP Minnesota Twins 1970 20th 469 Bruce Miller SS Chicago White Sox 1984 3rd 69 Barry Jones RHP Pittsburgh Pirates 1988 5th 120 Mickey Morandini SS Philadelphia Phillies 1988 7th 174 John Wehner 3B Pittsburgh Pirates 1993 1st (Comp A) 29 Kevin Orie SS Chicago Cubs 1993 37th 1046 Chris Peters LHP Pittsburgh Pirates 1999 12th 358 Doug DeVore OF Cincinnati Reds 2000 5th 134 Zach McClellan RHP Kansas City Royals2005 19th 591 Brett Sheber C Houston Astros 2009 1st (Comp A) 38 Josh Phegley C Chicago White Sox 2009 33rd 987 Jake Dunning RHP San Francisco Giants 2011 3rd 91 Alex Dickerson 1B Pittsburgh Pirates 2012 9th 291 Micah Johnson 2B Chicago White Sox 2013 5th 140 Aaron Slegers RHP Minnesota Twins 2014 1st 4 Kyle Schwarber C Chicago Cubs 2014 2nd 67 Sam Travis 1B Boston Red Sox 2015 15th 443 Scott Effross RHP Chicago Cubs 2016 19th 568 Kyle Hart LHP Boston Red Sox201618th527Jake KelzerRHPPhiladelphia Phillies 2016 9th 275 Caleb Baragar LHP San Francisco Giants 2017 9th 267 Craig Dedelow OF Chicago White Sox 2017 31st 916 3B Minnesota Twins 2018 5th 138 Jonathan Stiever RHP Chicago White Sox 2018 22nd 647 Luke Miller 3B Philadelphia Phillies 2018 28th 828 Logan Sowers OF Chicago White Sox 2018 29th 883 Tim Herrin LHP Cleveland Indians 2019 2nd 57 Matt Gorski OF Pittsburgh Pirates 2019 6th 182 Andrew Saalfrank LHP Arizona Diamondbacks 2019 6th 187 Tanner Gordon RHP Atlanta Braves 2019 15th 444 Matt Lloyd OF Cincinnati Reds 2019 23rd 680 Pauly Milto RHP Chicago White Sox 2019 36th 1077 Scotty Bradley 1B Toronto Blue Jays 2019 36th 1080 Cam Beauchamp LHP Philadelphia Phillies 2019 37th 1116 3B Seattle Mariners 2019 40th 1204 OF Pittsburgh Pirates 2019 40th 1207 Cade Bunnell 2B Atlanta Braves20213rd79McCade BrownRHPColorado Rockies20217th209Gabe BiermanRHPMiami Marlins202110th286Matt LitwickiRHPBoston Red Sox202110th305Tommy SommerLHPChicago White Sox202115th444Cole Barr3BSeattle Mariners202117th513Grant RichardsonOFNew York Yankees20225th154Jack PerkinsRHPOakland Athletics202212th347Bradley BrehmerRHPBaltimore Orioles202220th587Reese SharpRHPBaltimore Orioles
Year-by-year results Below is a table of the program's yearly records.
Championships
Conference Regular season Championships SeasonConferenceCoachOverallConference 1925 Big Ten Everett Dean 12–6 9–2 1932 Big Ten Everett Dean 13–2 6–2 1938 Big Ten Everett Dean 14–7–1 7–3 1949 Big Ten Ernie Andres 18–5 8–4 2013 Big Ten Tracy Smith 49–16 17–7 2014 Big Ten Tracy Smith 42–13 21–3 2019 Big Ten Jeff Mercer 37–23 17–7 Total Regular season Conference Titles 7
Conference Tournament championships SeasonConferenceCoachWinning TeamLosing Team 1996 Big Ten Bob Morgan Indiana 6 Illinois 4 2009 Big Ten Tracy Smith Indiana 13 Minnesota 2 2013 Big Ten Tracy Smith Indiana 4 Nebraska 3 2014 Big Ten Tracy Smith Indiana 8 Nebraska 4 Total Conference Tournament championships 4
Honors & Awards
National Awards Sporting News National Player of the Year Mike Smith (1992)
NCBWA National Player of the Year Mike Smith (1992)
NCAA Triple Crown Winner Mike Smith (1992)
ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove Tony Butler, 2B (2016)
NCBWA National Coach of the Year Tracy Smith (2013)
Conference Awards Big Ten Player of the Year Mike Smith (1992) Kennard Jones (2002) Alex Dickerson (2010) Sam Travis (2014)
Big Ten Pitcher of the Year Eric Arnett (2009) Aaron Slegers (2013) Joey DeNato (2014) Andrew Saalfrank (2019)
Big Ten Coach of the Year Bob Morgan (1991,1993) Tracy Smith (2013, 2014) Jeff Mercer (2019)
Big Ten Freshman of the Year Alex Dickerson (2009) Sam Travis (2012) Devin Taylor (2023)
All-Americans