To be successful in baseball, five tools are necessary: throwing, running, fielding, power, and average. Some players can count on two, three, and sometimes even four tools as their strengths. Very rarely is someone able to count all five tools that St. Olaf shortstop Brian Sprout can.

"Sprout is what scouts call a five-tool player," said head coach Matt McDonald. "He has unique skills, but is first and foremost a great competitor." As a two-time MIAC Player-of-the-Year, Sprout's skills have become well known throughout the conference and to major league scouts.

He has shown his talent through a variety of ways on the field. He has set single-season school records for hits (74), runs (62), triples (7), home runs (11), and total bases (138), but Sprout also has shown a golden glove in the field.

"I remember a game at Bethel when he went up-and-over the fence to make a big league play in foul territory and he makes back-handed plays on the corner that are reserved for guys like Cal Ripken Jr.," said McDonald. It is through these accomplishments that Sprout has distinguished himself among the elite players in Minnesota and among college baseball's best.

Adjusting to College Baseball...

Sprout surprised a lot of people during his first year at St. Olaf. As a 5'10" 165 pound high school senior, coaches could tell he was an excellent athlete, but predicting a player-of-the-year season would have been crazy.

In the transition from high school to college, Sprout grew three inches and put on 10 to 15 pounds. After earning second team All-MIAC honors as a receiver in football, he came into the baseball season competing with a trio of players for a vacant third base position. "It was amazing how quickly he adjusted to college pitching," said McDonald. "After two days of practice he just jumped out as someone who had unique skills and could help our team."

In high school, players see some pitchers who have live arms and can throw hard. In college not only do the guys on the mound throw hard, but also most pitchers can locate three or four different pitches. "College is a lot different than high school or summer ball," said Sprout. "This is serious, it's all about winning. You expect a lot more consistency every game, the pitchers are better, and batters have more power."

Almost immediately Sprout established himself as a major contributor to the baseball program. In a year during which he was named to the All-Midwest first-team, Sprout won the MIAC's triple crown by leading the conference with a .473 average, six home runs, and 30 RBI.

However, Sprout isn't really concerned with what he's done as an individual. "All I'm really interested in is sweeping a double-header or winning the game we're playing. I try to always think on the field and be ready defensively. Big plays just don't happened, there are reasons why players can make a diving catch or turn an important double play. They were ready."

Offensively, Sprout also pays attention. Last season while playing against St. John's, Sprout watched from the on-deck circle as a Johnnie pitcher threw eight consecutive balls to load the bases. Sprout knew that no pitcher would want to throw an off-speed pitch when they're having control problems. Sprout anticipated a fastball down the middle of the plate and when Sprout stepped to the plate he took the first pitch over the fence for a grand slam.

The June Draft...

After a standout first year, Sprout followed it up with an equally impressive sophomore year leading to a first-team All-American selection. All of this recognition has drawn the attention of seven or eight major league teams, which could result in Sprout being drafted in June. "It might sound stupid, but I've always dreamed about playing major league baseball and realistically I've been working for it my whole life," said Sprout.

Sprout had a hitch in that dream last year when he discovered that he had torn all of the ligaments in his shoulder forcing him to have surgery on it in September. What followed was a missed football season and months of rehab. "It really got me down," said Sprout. "I felt like I had to start over. I would test it everyday, I went through a long rehab program, and I've done so much strengthening that I don't really think about it any more."

The shoulder is a concern of some major league scouts and the teams contacting Sprout almost always want to know his medical history and information to set up scouting this season. "[All the talk about the draft is] almost annoying," said Sprout. "I have no idea what is going to happen this summer. Most people have a job or know what they're going to be doing this summer, but I can't tell them, because I don't know."

St. Olaf's most recent draft pick, Colin Brackeen, is on the coaching staff this season and has given Sprout some advise on professional baseball. Brackeen knows about the financial aspects of getting drafted and how crazy life is in the minors. Minor leaguers don't make very much money, spend countless hours in the confines of a bus, and play baseball every day. Brackeen speaks from experience. Drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays, Brackeen spent three seasons in various small minor league towns and is going to be playing with the St. Paul Saints this summer.

Looking to 2001...

This year's baseball team returns a talented roster filled mainly by upperclassmen. In addition to Sprout, the team will rely on juniors Steve Ryan and Scott Stadsklev, and senior Nick Beissel to defend their 2000 conference title. The team is a favorite in the MIAC, but will start their season with a difficult non-conference schedule.

The Oles open up with a double header against the University of Minnesota-Duluth on Sunday at the Metrodome. Sprout can barely contain his excitement. "Basically, St. Olaf baseball is what I live for," said Sprout. "It's the reason I go to class everyday, it's the reason I want to be here. It's great to be on a team full of your best friends."

After the UMD series the team will depart for their annual southern trip to Texas. "[The southern trip] is what we've been looking forward to for months," said Beissel. "We will be playing against some of the best competition we'll see all year."

While Sprout is not playing for individual statistics, he will be counted on to produce and help the team win. He is no doubt one of the top talents to come through St. Olaf College and according to McDonald is among only a handful of elite players in the school's history. "Sprout is a great guy to coach and as a person he projects the image we want to project as a baseball program," said McDonald. "He makes a commitment to excellence in life on and off the field."