Jacob Campbell set to lead Illini baseball team come February
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (BVM) — Illinois baseball will return in February and the Fighting Illini will hope to bring success to Champaign once again. Among the most thrilling Illini to watch this upcoming season is catcher, Jacob Campbell.
Campbell has been with the Illini since his freshman year in 2019, serving as a vital piece on the team over the past three years. His growth as a player can be attributed to many influences, but the guidance of team leaders is at the top of Campbell’s list. Entering the University of Illinois as a freshman, he learned from two senior catchers on the team, David Craan and Jeff Korte.
“They were great teammates, great leaders,” Campbell said. “Without those guys, it’s hard to envision being where I am today.”
Campbell also gives credit to the entire 2019 team, noting how instrumental they were to his development thus far in his Illini career.
Campbell’s transition from playing baseball in high school at Janesville Craig to college at Illinois was difficult for him to detail, but it has been monumental in the way he approaches the game.
“Looking back on it, I’m thankful for all the players and coaches that worked with us during high school,” Campbell commented. “Once I got the hang of things, it’s been a fun time ever since I got here.”
One of Campbell’s primary focuses is remaining conditioned all year round. There is a vast difference in training during the season and during the offseason.
“In season, just try to stay loose and stretch as much as you can,” Campbell said.
His priority is strength and muscle maintenance during this time of the year.
“The offseason is higher weight, to get after it more,” Campbell added. “Strength Coach Justin [Houng] does a really good job with us there in the offseason, doing everything possible to help our baseball performance.”
A measure of Campbell’s success is apparent in his impressive numbers posted during the 2021 season. He batted .299 while amassing six home runs and 28 runs batted in across 30 total games. It was evident that Campbell was among the most impactful contributors on the squad, especially with playing at such a physically taxing position, where other critical fielding statistics are overlooked.
One accomplishment that Campbell received during high school was being drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the 2018 MLB Draft. This encouraging nod, while impressive, was merely a milestone for Campbell and his budding career.
“Out of high school, getting drafted by the Cubs, it was a really cool experience, just to kind of receive that recognition,” Campbell said. “It was the tip of the iceberg, a great honor at the time.”
While Campbell is sure to keep his hopes high and remain striving for the best, he prefers to not get too ahead of himself in anticipation for each season and career benchmark.
“Living in the moment, enjoying this time with my teammates,” Campbell said.
Campbell’s baseball career has been noteworthy, but his story starts in a time before he ever threw a baseball. This, he accredits to his greatest coach and mentor, his father. Campbell grew up watching his oldest brother playing catch with his dad, sitting on the porch and wishing he was out there playing himself.
“My passion for baseball started before I even started playing,” Campbell noted.
This excitement toward the game grew as he was able to learn closely from his dad, who was also a catcher in college. Campbell’s evolving relationship with his dad has helped him achieve what he has up to this day, listing him as his greatest influence.
“Far and away got to be my dad, he’s been one of my coaches since I was a kid,” Campbell said. “He always pushed me, but he always knew how to pull back at times and make sure that I was doing what I love.”
As much as his dad has influenced his career, Campbell did not begin playing organized ball until he was 9 years old. That being said, his late start did not curb his talent or performance on the diamond.
While the Illini baseball program is coming off of a .500 season, finishing at 22-22, the team is ready to take the next step in 2022. The Illini put together a couple of impressive seasons prior to the shortened 2020 season, but the pandemic halted much of what was being built throughout the team. Campbell cites the culture that surrounds the baseball program and the potential he foresaw with his teammates.
“Had to get acclimated to the Big Ten culture, there’s something special going on down here and I know a lot of my teammates feel the same way,” Campbell said. “We’re just ready to play a full season of games, we haven’t had that since our freshman year.”
The COVID-19 pandemic caused the world to shut down in many regards, but responsibilities remained amidst the chaos. In 2020, Campbell’s sophomore campaign was newly underway and the team had no choice but to stop the season along with the rest of the Big Ten Conference. This time provided Campbell with one option, which was to endure and get back to work.
“It was a good opportunity to use the time that we have,” Campbell said. “Made the most out of it with my workouts and stayed in shape baseball wise.”
The limits of Campbell’s baseball career are hard to diminish, but he has prioritized keeping himself focused on what lies in his immediate future.
“Living in the moment, enjoying this time with my teammates,” Campbell added.
The team is set on great heights this season and looks to get after the Big Ten Conference. The Illini will face the Kansas Jayhawks in their first battle of 2022 in Corpus Christi, Texas on Feb. 18.
