Iowa Baseball lands Oklahoma State transfer Brant Hogue
It took the Hawkeyes seven days after the 2023 season concluded in Terre Haute, to turn their focus to 2024 and add a piece from the transfer portal. Rick Heller and Co. received a commitment from former Iowa Western and Oklahoma State left-handed pitcher Brant Hogue. Out of Bishop Heelan High School in Sioux City, Iowa, Hogue was a two-time Missouri River Conference Player of the Year and struck out 96 batters in 55 innings during his senior season.
In his freshman season at Iowa Western, Hogue appeared in 12 games with a 5.40 ERA over 20.0 innings. He struck out 28 and walked just seven. His second year with the Reivers, Hogue became a starter and had a breakout year. In 13 starts (14 appearances), he racked up 93 strikeouts to just 16 walks in 59.1 innings. He posted a 1.67 ERA, a 0.96 WHIP and allowed just 0.69 hits per inning.
“I have a three-pitch mix that includes a 4 seam fastball at around 88-91, a slider at 78-81, and a changeup at 80-84,” said Hogue. “My best pitch is my fastball because I have a very unique delivery, so it is difficult for hitters to pick up my FB sometimes.”
After two years with the Reivers, Brant opted to enter the transfer portal and decided to join the Oklahoma State program for this past season. He put up a scoreless outing against Missouri during the first weekend of the season, but appeared in just two games the rest of the season.
“I had a very good fall at OSU and a good first outing against Mizzou in the first game of the year. I didn’t throw particularly well in the next two outings, so I did not pitch very much throughout the next few weeks.”
His season was cut short in early April after partially tearing his UCL, while throwing live batting practice to his teammates at a practice. He has since had surgery and is currently going through the rehab process.
“I underwent surgery (UCL Repair with an Internal Brace) on May 3 with Dr. Keith Meister of the Texas Rangers. He said the surgery went extremely well and expects me to be back at game-speed by January or February, depending on how smoothly the rehab process goes.”
Brant says that his relationship with the coaching staff at Iowa started back in during his recruitment to Iowa Western. He visited Iowa in the fall of 2021 when he was in the transfer portal the first time around and said that he nearly chose the Hawkeyes over Oklahoma State. When he entered the portal this time around, he was hoping that a phone call would come from the Iowa coaching staff.
“I knew that I wanted to be a Hawkeye so I was just hoping that they would reach out. Spoke to Coach Sutherland and Coach McGrath on the phone a couple of times after the regional concluded. I came to Iowa City on Friday, June 9 and talked with Coach Sutherland and Coach McGrath and it went very well,” said Hogue. “I love the way that Coach McGrath goes about developing players and takes an evidence-based approach. Can’t wait to be apart of it.”
Several other schools reached out to Hogue after he entered the portal, but nothing went past a couple of calls with other programs, as he was set on becoming a Hawkeye. As for his role on the Iowa pitching staff, Brant says that he is ready to accept whatever role he is given for next season.
“The returning members of the pitching staff are very talented. I bring a lot of college baseball experience to the table, both as a starter and a reliever. I am willing to accept any role and contribute to the team in any way that I can.”
The Hawkeyes are set to return weekend starters Brody Brecht and Marcus Morgan, while Jack Whitlock, Luke Llewellyn, Cade Obermueller, Zach Voelker, Aaron Savary could all return. With the departure of Jared Simpson, this addition gives the pitching staff another left-handed arm to go with Obermueller, while left-handers Drew Proskovec, Ben DeTaeye and Caleb Strack are also back.
