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Q&A with Missouri State Commit Ty Buckner (Ladue, 2017)

October 5, 2015

Shon Plack
Missouri Scouting Director

Ty Buckner (Ladue Horton Watkins, 2017) has recently committed to Missouri State in Springfield.  Buckner, 6-foot 180-pound right-handed pitcher and tossed a perfect game last spring in a 2-0 win over Parkway West.  For the Rams last spring, Buckner finished with a 2.23 ERA and a 5-0 record.  He struck out 41 batters and only walked nine in 47 innings pitched. But, that was only the start of his success in 2015. 

Buckner opened college recruiters eyes at the Underclass Games in June, posting one of the top velos of the event at 87 mph.  At the PBR Future Games, Bucker was nearly untouchable in two innings of work, facing only seven batters and fanning two against Team Select.  Buckner worked 83-85 mph at the Future Games, with a fastball that has late life,

Buckner throws from a high three-quarters arm slot, with clean arm action.  He repeats his delivery and throws a high number of strikes with three pitches. His curveball is at 68-71 mph, with 11-to-5 shape and fastball arm speed, showing late action and sharp movement down in zone.  Buckner's change-up is at 73-76 mph, with late arm side release.

Below is a look inside the recruiting process for Ty Buckner.

PBR: What were your expectations about the recruiting process? Was it as expected? Easy/Difficult?

Buckner: The recruiting process happened quickly. I did not originally expect the process to move as fast as it did. It started in the middle of the summer and lasted until September 20th.

PBR: Did location or distance from home play a factor in your decision?

Buckner: Location of the school did play a factor in my decision. I decided to look at schools within about five hours of St. Louis. One of the many reasons I chose Missouri State was the location from home.

PBR: Where did Missouri State first see you? How did your relationship develop with them?

Buckner: Missouri State first saw me play at the Premier tournament in Joplin, Missouri. They also watched me throw at the Future Games in Indianapolis. I went on a visit in late August, and committed in September.

PBR: Who is the best player you have faced in your state, and why?

Buckner: Dalton Hill had an impressive start against us early in the summer. He plays for the Building Champions organization out of Kansas City.

PBR: Describe your experience at the PBR Future Games.

Buckner: My experience at the Future Games was great. I really appreciate the PBR - Missouri staff selecting me to play in the event. The event was organized and highly recruited.

PBR: What advice would you give to young baseball players striving to get where you are?

Buckner: I would tell a young player to work at getting better everyday. When you work hard it will eventually pay off.

PBR: What do you do in the offseason to keep yourself in baseball shape and prepare for the upcoming season?

Buckner: In the past, I have focused on overall strength and conditioning.  As I head into the next few years, I will get more sport and position specific with a focus on improving as a pitcher.

PBR: What is the most memorable moment in your baseball career to this point?

Buckner: The most memorable moment in my career was throwing a perfect game in high school ball last spring. My entire team played very well behind me, and it was great sharing the experience with them.

PBR: What other schools were on your short list before you made your final decision?

Buckner: Schools on my short list were Arkansas, Arkansas State, Kansas State, Missouri State, and SLU.

PBR: When did the recruiting process really start to heat up for you? Was there a particular game or event that you feel turned the corner for you?

Buckner: The recruiting process started in June, after the PBR Underclass Games at Mizzou, and stayed consistent throughout the summer until the Future Games. The process really heated up on September 1st because of the number of DI calls I received.

PBR: Preview your high school season for us. How do you feel your team will be? What are your expectations and goals? Name some players that will play a key role for Ladue in 2016.

Buckner: We have group of scrappy guys this year. They really work hard at getting better. We do not have many seniors returning so the younger guys will have to be ready to play. All of the returning players and some newer guys will play key roles for us this season.

PBR: Where do you play in the summer? And what has been your most memorable experience with them?

Buckner: I play for the St. Louis Prospects for Coach Craig Ringe. I am very fortunate to play under such a great coaching staff and organization. The most memorable moment from last summer was winning the Hagan Memorial in Memphis, Tennessee.

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