Batesville and Arkansas Sticks pitcher/infielder Mark Brissey is only going into the ninth grade, but he is already sure where he wants to play college baseball.
Brissey (6-2, 200) became Arkansas baseball's first 2025 commitment when he pledged to the Razorbacks over Texas A&M on Sunday.
“The thing I love about Arkansas so much is the fan base is so engaged,” Brissey said. “That was really important to me. I also have a lot of friends that go there and are going to go there. It is going to be a really good feeling. I already know that.”
I am beyond blessed to announce my commitment to the University of Arkansas! All glory to God! I would like to thank everyone that has help me achieve this life long dream.@Brewsterc29 @PBR_Arkansas @AR_Sticks @PerfectGameUSA @JBrownPG @3N2Sports pic.twitter.com/2jcuyja3nR
— Mark Brissey (@MarkBrissey) August 15, 2021
One of those friends is Batesville teammate Gage Wood, a 2022 Razorback commit who is pledged as a pitcher and hitter.
“Our pitching staff is going to be loaded,” Brissey said. “We have three or four guys in our rotation that look really good on the mound. I think our pitching staff is going to take us a long way this year.”
Brissey got to see several Razorback games last season.
“We went to 7-10 games this year beginning with Arlington and those three games and the Florida series and the Georgia series,” Brissey said.
The 2022 season will be his first in high school, but he has shined in summer baseball with the Sticks.
More than 40 players from Sticks coach Chase Brewster's program have made it to Fayetteville over the years or are committed to Arkansas.
“Mark is the first 2025 commit to commit to the Razorbacks and our first 2025 commit from the Sticks to commit,” Brewster said. “He played up this summer, an eight grader who played on our top ninth grade team with the 2024s.
“He held his own and got up to 88 mph as an eighth grader going into his ninth grade year, so he is definitely a strong young kid that throws a bunch of strikes.
“That’s what everybody is looking for now – velocity and command.
Brissey’s mom graduated from Texas A&M, where he camped last week.
“He had interest from a lot of programs and his recruitment could have went a lot of ways, but he wanted to be a Razorback and really looks up to Gage Wood,” Brewster said.
“I think he knew this entire season and all summer that he wanted to be a Razorback, so it was an easy decision for him.”
Brissey can also handle the bat.
“I think I hit right at .400 this summer on the season,” Brissey said.
He was pleased with his summer.
“Obviously 88 (mph) is pretty legit for my age group,” Brissey said. “I liked playing up because it was more fun and more challenging.”