Mizzou recruit Jackson Lovich has ‘all the tools’ for MLB future
Editor’s note: The New York Mets selected SS Jackson Lovich with the 569th overall pick in the 19th round of the 2022 MLB Draft on July 19.
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (BVM) – Blue Valley West head baseball coach Joe Allison knew that he had a potential star in Jackson Lovich when the tall, athletic shortstop was only a freshman.
Not only did Lovich already have the build, but he also had the swing, the bat speed, and the hand-eye coordination that set him apart from most players his age.
“From the get-go as a freshman he had all the tools,” Allison said. “What we saw over the next couple of years was him just grow into that position, grow into his body and it’s been fun to watch him. … I only get these guys for two and a half months and I always kind of joke it’s my job to utilize their talents and not get in the way. It’s definitely been one of those things, especially with Jackson.”
Now a senior, the 6-foot-4 Lovich is one of the best players in Kansas and he’s leading the No. 1-ranked team in the state’s biggest classification, batting .403 and slugging .792 with 15 of his 29 hits going for extra bases, including six home runs. The Jaguars are heading into the postseason with an impressive 18-2 record and they’ll host a regional as a top seed. Many players have helped make Blue Valley West the team to beat in Class 6A, but it’s Lovich who’s likely to draw the most attention from opposing teams and fans, and it’s not because he’s merely a good player. Lovich is on another level.
“We have a lot of good players in our program and we have a lot of great players in our area, but in order to be one of the elite players, you have to have that extra special thing that separates you and I think it’s his baseball IQ,” Allison said. “He knows what to do, where to be. He sees the play happen before it happens. Anytime that you have a player that has that high of a baseball IQ, it kind of gives them an extra edge, an extra step that allows them to make those great plays.”
Intrigued by 22' Blue Valley West (KS) SS Jackson Lovich (6-4, 185). Long, angular frame with a high waist. He's going to add a ton of muscle. Bat speed is present. Tons of torque and T-spine flexibility. Some phys. similarities to Colson Montgomery. Probably shifts to 3B or COF. pic.twitter.com/GH8GPiQKtc
— Joe Doyle (@JoeDoyleMiLB) May 9, 2022
As would be expected for such a promising prospect, colleges took notice of Lovich early in his high school career. He was originally committed to the University of Cincinnati, but during his junior year, he began to consider changing his plans the more he talked to his older brother Ross, a 2020 Blue Valley West grad who now plays for the University of Missouri.
“(Ross) said he was really enjoying his time down there and so in the back of my mind I’m like, ‘Well, if I can do it too I might as well make it a reality,’” Jackson said. “Him being really close to the coaches as well helped me get recruited to there and once they offered me it was kind of a done deal; we already knew that’s what I wanted to do.”
Ross is making a significant impact as a sophomore starting outfielder for Mizzou, leading the team in stolen bases (11) and hitting .267 with five home runs, 28 RBIs and 25 runs scored while also playing strong defense through 42 games with the Tigers this spring. And he continues to make an impact on younger brother Jackson, who leans on his older sibling for guidance.
“You can get as much help as you want, but being able to go home and relate to someone like your brother just helps you get through a lot of different things,” Jackson said. “And we’re only two years apart and so being close with each other like that it’s easy to get through some things and also to get better. He’s done it two years ahead of me and so seeing his progression has helped me as well.”
ROSS LOVICH, MY GOODNESS (cc: @SportsCenter)
🎥 @FloBaseball pic.twitter.com/WlMZSP735H
— Mizzou Baseball (@MizzouBaseball) March 5, 2021
The opportunity to team up with his older brother and the idea of “playing against the best players in the country” in the SEC has Jackson excited about college baseball, but there’s at least a chance that he won’t be playing in Columbia, Missouri next spring. As arguably the top shortstop prospect in Kansas, Jackson is already on the radar of pro scouts, and Major League Baseball teams could be reaching out to him at some point during the MLB Draft in July.
“It’s definitely surreal because my dream has always been to play in the major leagues,” Jackson said. “Getting closer to that is definitely eye-opening for sure just because you don’t really expect that until it happens and I always just try to keep my mindset of getting better every day so the stuff that comes along with it is special.”
Time will tell if his pro baseball career will begin this summer or a few years down the road after he teams up with Ross at Mizzou, but in the meantime, Jackson is intent on finishing strong with the Jaguars while also preparing for the next level, be it pro or college ball.
“I’ve kind of been taking it step by step just trying to make it a reality,” said of his pro dreams. “We’ve still got a state championship to win so I’ve been focusing on that. … Hopefully, we can get it done. Getting a ring on my finger for my senior season, that would be a great way to end it.”
