Jaxson Huffman will enter his senior year this spring having just 11 total career varsity at-bats for the Poplar Bluff baseball team.
He's already signed a National Letter of Intent to play Jefferson College in the fall.
"Jaxson is a guy that's forgotten a lot of times because he's not on the field," Mules coach Steve Edwards said. "He's that utility guy we had in the past and this year we're looking for him to step up and being a senior leader, playing and doing a lot of things for us."
Playing behind older players for a Mules team that reached the state quarterfinals for the first time last spring and was 46-11 over the past two seasons, Huffman kept working.
"I think it helped me because I've just worked so hard to get above them," Huffman said. "I think it's made me a better baseball player overall."
During the summer Huffman played for a team in Springfield, Missouri, the Midwest Nationals, which he called "a big help,"
Huffman is undecided on what he will study at the Hillsboro, Missouri junior college school.
A corner infielder who can also play a corner outfield position and pitch, Huffman played in five varsity games as a junior for the Mules. He scored seven times and was 2 for 10 with an RBI, a double, three walks and was hit by a pitch. He played one varsity game as a sophomore.
"He's a big guy and has a great swing," Edwards said. "It's hard not to see that. Few tweaks here and there and hopefully he's a .400 hitter for us this year."
Huffman said he knew he had to work on hitting a lot the last four years to earn a shot at the next level.
"If you can't hit the ball you can't do anything," Huffman said.
Edwards sees Huffman playing first and third base and maybe even some outfield this spring while also offering to pitch.
"He's like 'coach I'll do whatever it takes' as always," Edwards said. "That's what makes him such a great athlete, he's willing to do whatever it takes for the team."
Huffman will join a Jefferson College program that had 17 players move on to four-year schools. The Vikings were 45-14, losing to Crowder in the NJCAA Region XVI championship in May, after a 27-3 region record and finished ranked No. 25 in the national poll.
Huffman credited his family and Edwards with helping during his journey from the junior varsity to junior college.
"Had to be patient," said Huffman of the recruiting process, adding, "They're a decent program and I'm very excited about it."