Merfeld’s recruiting explodes in senior year
After receiving 8 offers, ScoutU baseball prospect commits to Saint Mary’s in Minnesota
March 14, 2019
By ScoutU staff
Brandon Merfeld had all the athleticism and speed colleges covet. The problem was, however, the colleges weren’t aware of him.
When ScoutU Head Scout Jason Lauren started helping Merfeld in July 2018 before his senior year at La Crosse Aquinas High School in Wisconsin, he had no offers and very little interest, despite his elite 6.60 60-yard speed, 35-inch vertical and numerous accolades in high school.
Fast forward about 8 months later and Merfeld received eight offers and phone calls from about 25 schools. The 5-foot-11, 160-pound, lefty-hitting outfielder recently committed to Saint Mary’s University, an NCAA Division III school in Minnesota.
“Through ScoutU and Jason Lauren, I was able to be connected with hundreds of schools that fit me both athletically and academically,” Merfeld said. “I was able to get my name out there and Jason followed through on everything he said he was going to do. I greatly appreciate Jason and everything he did for me, knowing he did everything in my best interest.”
Merfeld received seven other offers from one NCAA Division II school, four NCAA Division III schools and two NAIA schools: Truman State (D2 in Missouri), Wisconsin-Whitewater (D3), Loras (D3 in Iowa), Concordia-Chicago (D3 in Illinois), Bethel (D3 in Minnesota), Midland (NAIA in Nebraska) and Viterbo (NAIA in Wisconsin).
Even though he had an offer from a Division II school (Truman State), Merfeld felt D3 Saint Mary’s was the better all-around fit to pursue his pre-med degree. He also really took a liking to SMU’s coaching staff, which is led by head coach Nick Winecke, who is in his 11th year at Saint Mary’s.
“What stood out to me was the coaching staff,” Merfeld said. “They really love what they are doing and all the players I talked to while at practice brought up how lucky they were in having their coaches.”
The Cardinals are getting a top-notch athlete. Along with his baseball talents, Merfeld also is a star basketball (1st-Team All-City as a junior) and football (led team in receiving yards and receptions as a sophomore and junior) player. In baseball, he earned 1st-Team La Crosse Tribune All-Area, 1st-Team Mississippi Valley All-Conference, Honorable Mention WBCA West Central All-District and led his team in batting average (.466), on-base percentage (.560) and stolen bases (16) as a junior. He also batted .444 with a .529 OBP with his American Legion team in 2018.
“With Brandon’s athleticism, his ceiling is extremely high,” Lauren said. “You rarely see baseball players running a 6.60 60 like Brandon and his patience at the plate makes him a dynamic leadoff hitter. His speed and ability to read the ball well off the bat also make him an elite outfielder.”
Saint Mary’s finished 19-17 overall and 13-7 in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in 2018 and are 6-4 so far this season.
“I am excited to compete at the highest level and be able to hopefully build on my skills to help Saint Mary’s in any way I can,” Merfeld said.