The MLB Draft is just around the corner in July, and right in the thick of the conversation is one of our own local products. We caught up with Missouri State University junior third baseman and former Logan-Rogersville standout Curry Sutherland on The Starting Lineup to get a pulse on his life during this high-stakes waiting game. He’s currently navigating that unique mid-June limbo: working out, talking to scouts, and deciding whether he’ll head to pro ball next month or return to lead the Bears for his senior season.

Navigating the MLB Draft Uncertainty

Right now, Curry is keeping his head down and putting in the work right here in the Ozarks. He’s been taking part in pre-draft workouts, completely transitioning to wood bats as he prepares his game for the professional ranks. While he’s received text messages and interacted with big-league scouts at recent workouts, much of the background talk goes directly to Coach Joey Hawkins (“Hawk”). Curry isn’t putting a strict cap or limit on his draft positioning; instead, he’s embracing the honor of the process while remaining genuinely excited about the possibility of returning to Springfield for one more year with the Bears.

Tweaking Mechanics for a Breakout Junior Season

If you watched the Bears this past spring, you noticed the massive statistical leap Curry took. He batted over .300, driven by 54 RBIs and 16 home runs, which tied for the team lead. When we asked him what sparked that sophomore-to-junior transformation, he pointed directly to his balance in the batter’s box. Early in his college career, he found himself falling hard onto his front side. By shifting his focus to staying balanced on his back leg, he kept his head still, saw the ball longer, and absolutely torched Missouri Valley Conference pitching.

Holding Down the Hot Corner

Defensively, pro scouts are incredibly intrigued by Curry’s glove at third base. He acknowledged entering the season knowing he had to prove he could defend the hot corner at a high level. To handle the absolute missiles hit his way, Curry revealed a fascinating training insight: he uses a mini glove during practice drill sessions. This forces him to lock into his leg mechanics and focus intensely on the baseball. By over-preparing his muscle memory in practice, he ensures that everything becomes completely automatic and reaction-based on game day.

The Two-Way Dilemma and Summer Preparation

We also had to look back at his elite utility as a pitcher—specifically his legendary nine-up, nine-down relief performance against the Arkansas Razorbacks. While some wonder if he was underutilized on the mound, Curry noted that playing 53 of the team’s 56 games at third base makes it tough to consistently insert a two-way player into the pitching rotation. Reflecting on his journey, he credits his past summers playing away from home for teaching him how to self-correct and solve hitting slumps independently. It’s a self-reliance that will serve him well whether he’s on a minor league road trip next month or chasing a trophy at Route 66 Stadium next spring.