Little Guy, Big Production

It's always easy to cheer for the little guy, whether it's an actual little guy or just an overmatched David of a team going up against a Goliath organization.

Corey Hassel is Oklahoma State baseball's `little guy.' But this little guy may be the Pokes' biggest weapon.

At 5-foot-10 and 175 pounds, Hassel is the smallest pitcher on a staff that averages 6-foot-2, and when he's in the outfield, he's among the smallest Cowboys on the diamond.

But Hassel is proving that size matters not -- he just may be the Cowboys' best hitter in 2015 after spending two seasons as a relative unknown.

Hassel entered his junior season with a .208 batting average in 86 career games, including making 53 appearances last year as a sophomore for the Big 12 champion Cowboys where he was typically a role player off the bench.

That's far from the case in 2015.

"I think what's changed is that I have lot of experience and my approach is different," Hassel said. "I've just been getting used to the game and how much faster it is up here than back in high school. I'm just sticking to my approach at the plate and trusting the plan."

With third year adjustments made and a new and improved approach, Hassel is leading the team with a .328 batting average and has started 28 game in the outfield. In Big 12 play, he's hitting .373 with a pair of home runs and leads the first-place Cowboys with 22 hits and 12 RBIs.

"Corey's role has grown because of the investment to his game," said OSU head coach Josh Holliday. "He had a role in the first two years as a runner, bunter and part-time player. He's been able to elevate his role due to his commitment to summer baseball. He was a smaller, frail player when he got up here, and he's put in the work to make his body stronger and fit for this level of baseball."

Hassel has been a Cowboy at heart since he was born in Stillwater 21 years ago. He grew up with his dad, Troy, taking him to OSU baseball games and said it was his goal to be a Cowboy ever since.

"It's kind of a dream come true," Hassel said. "I've lived here my whole life, and I've gotten to watch them play my entire life so I've always wanted to play here. I really didn't want to play anywhere else so it's just a great blessing that I've been fortunate to have.

"I didn't even really pursue anywhere else after I got this offer. I got it and committed the same day."

While it was his dad who introduced Hassel to the orange and black, his love for baseball began in a town of just over 1,000 people on the plains of South Dakota.

"I actually started playing baseball when I'd go up and see my mom in Groton, South Dakota," Hassel said. "When my dad introduced me to travel ball back in Stillwater, that's when I got serious about it."

Baseball wasn't just his only sport.

Growing up, Hassel wrestled and played football, and his dad was with him every step of the way, just like he is after every Cowboy baseball game.

"He's definitely one of the most special people in my life," Hassel said. "It was just he and I growing up. We spent my entire childhood together, and he was always there for every sporting event and every practice."

The elder Hassel even joined the coaching staffs of some of his son's teams to help out even more.

"He's always been the one there to tell me, `Hard work is the only way to get where you want to be,'" Hassel said. "I think with my size and a lot of stuff that has gone the other way in my life, I don't think I'd be anywhere close to where I am now without him. He's a huge part of who I am today."

Hassel is most known by Cowboy fans as the hero in the 18 inning epic game against Texas on April 3.

With two outs in the bottom of the 18th, Hassel hit a walk-off, three-run home run over the left field wall, ending the longest game in OSU baseball history and giving the Cowboys a 6-3 win in a series they went on to sweep.

"There was a lot of stuff that happened leading up to that," said Hassel, who was also the winning pitching in the game. "I actually failed to get the job done twice before because the game was so long so I guess the third time's the charm."

Like his game-winning hit, the third time has been the charm for Hassel in his junior season.

"Corey's worked extremely hard," Holliday said. "He's a great example of a guy who put time into helping his game over the course of a freshman and sophomore year and then developed into a very sound and solid player."

Hassel's success hasn't just been at the plate, however. He's one of the Cowboys' top defensive outfielders and has also made three pitching appearances, where he's 1-0 with a 1.69 ERA and seven strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings of relief.

"It's different, it's so much different," Hassel said about pitching as opposed to playing in the outfield. "Being in the outfield, it's not tough to stay locked in, but you're just waiting for your chance to make a play. You could go nine innings without even getting a ball hit to you. Then you get your four ABs, and you're done for the day.

"In pitching, you're competing every pitch, and that's what I love about it the most. Every single time you get on the mound, every single pitch, you're trying to beat the guy across from you."

He's beaten most of the batters he's faced this year, allowing only two hits and not issuing a walk.

"I understand how people approach the game as a pitcher and as an outfielder now," Hassel said. "Just all aspects of the game are so much faster and better, which means you have to adjust so much quicker than you did in high school."

Hassel's adjustment has helped the Cowboys continue their winning ways.

OSU is 27-13 on the season, and the ninth-ranked Pokes are in pursuit of repeating as Big 12 champs as they sit at 10-5 in league play and tied atop the standings tied with Bedlam-rival Oklahoma.

While the 24-2 pummeling of the Sooners on April 7 didn't count as a conference win, Hassel said that the historic victory was one of the best victories of his baseball career -- that and a little league title he won back in South Dakota.

"I was really young back then, and we beat a really good team," Hassel said. "It was just unreal. Looking back on it now, it's just one of those moments that you'll never forget. I was so young, and in hindsight that tournament didn't really mean much, but it still means a lot to me."

Prior to fulfilling his dream of playing for the Cowboys, Hassel had a standout prep career at Stillwater High School. As a senior, he led the Pioneers to the Class 6A baseball tournament, hitting .341 with 33 RBIs and a 6-3 record and 3.19 ERA on the mound. He also was an All-State wide receiver on the football team, hauling in 89 passes for 1,171 yards and 13 touchdowns in his final season.

"I wanted to play college football for the longest time," Hassel said. "When I finally realized I wasn't getting any bigger, I decided that I should just go the baseball route and it's the best route I could have taken."

The route Hassel chose has enabled him to fulfill a dream and also given him what he calls his second family.

"My teammates are very important to me," Hassel said. "I'd say I have 35 brothers and every single one of them I consider my best friends. The coaches are like our parents away from home, I mean, you can come to them with anything you have.

"I've never been to another program, but I imagine that it's not this way everywhere and we're very fortunate to have what we have."

Just 14 games remain in the 2015 regular season, including a contest against OSU Arkansas-Little Rock at Allie P. Reynolds Stadium on April 28 - Hassel's birthday - and Hassel will undoubtedly be on the hunt for a hit to keep his average up and give his brothers the win.

"We just have to show up to the yard with the same approach every day," Hassel said. "As long as we show up with a good mindset, everything will be OK and we'll continue to win."

Oklahoma State University Athletics

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Corey Hassel

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