Bogenpohl’s early efforts rewarded with NCBWA Freshman All-America honors

Missouri State's Caden Bogenpohl stands on deck during a Tuesday, March 12, 2024 game between the Saint Louis University Billikens and the Missouri State Bears in St. Louis.

Tony Capobianco ~ tcapobianco@semoball.com

Caden Bogenpohl got some mighty honors on Monday as the National College Baseball Writers Association tabbed him as a second-team Freshman All-American.

The Missouri State outfielder was selected as one of the top freshmen outfielders in the country, joining the likes of some of the greatest players in the country.

After being selected as the conference’s top freshman entering the season four months ago, Bogenpohl lived up to the hype as he led the Bears’ offense on a tear in 2024.

In fact, as a freshman, he led Missouri State in OPS with a 1.085 mark, with a lead of more than 50 points as he clubbed his way to a ridiculous season in his first year among the Division-I ranks.

As a true freshman, Bogenpohl finished second among the Bears with 20 season home runs, creating a team-high slugging percentage of .639, an excellent number for a first-year player.

The longest home run Bogenpohl hit this year, by our records, flew a ridiculous 453 feet to right field on a 113 mph bullet against Illinois-Chicago back in April.

The local Jackson High School standout started all but one game this season, getting immediate trust from the coaching staff right away as his tremendous impact got him that playing time.

A changing of hands at the top of the organization, with longtime head coach Keith Guttin retiring after 42 years with the program.

Potentially feeding the idea that Bogenpohl may look for other options, that idea was swatted down quickly as new coach Joey Hawkins’ team meetings brought good news.

Bogenpohl pledged his commitment to the program to Hawkins, suggesting he’ll be back with the Bears next season, first reported via Twitter by Wyatt Wheeler of the Springfield News-Leader.

With such a breakout in his freshman year, the Bears will likely rely heavily on the production of a sophomore Bogenpohl to guide him a year from now as he looks to double down on his first-year success.