1 week ago
Hannah Henderson/Rock M Nation
Infielder Chris Patterson announced his volition to participate nan transportation portal connected May 24, becoming Missouri’s first offseason departure aft 2 seasons pinch nan Tigers nether caput coach Kerrick Jackson.
Patterson missed astir 2 months this outpouring pinch an injury, sidelined from March 14 done May 9. He returned for nan last 3 SEC regular‑season games and some SEC Tournament matchups, starting each of them.
Playing chiefly astatine 3rd base, his absence opened nan doorway for freshman Keegan Knutson, who handled nan position for overmuch of that agelong and made 27 starts connected nan year. Patterson vanished nan play pinch 24 starts successful 24 appearances, hitting .237 pinch 2 doubles, a triple, 2 location runs and 14 RBI.
Jackson had antecedently said it was “unlikely” Patterson would return this season, but aft Patterson re‑entered nan lineup connected May 9 against Vanderbilt — going 2‑for‑4 successful Missouri’s 11–8 comeback win, htting 2 singles. The mentation from KJ connected what changed successful nan weeks starring up was straightforward.
“He sewage patient and wanted to play and get backmost into nan lineup,” Jackson said. “It’s that simple.”
As a freshman successful 2025, Patterson appeared successful 35 games pinch 30 starts and deed .232 pinch 8 doubles, 2 location runs and 18 RBI, tying for nan squad lead successful doubles. Across 2 seasons astatine Missouri, he posted a .234 mean successful 59 games pinch 32 RBI and a .955 fielding percentage. His departure marks nan first roster alteration arsenic Missouri moves into nan offseason.
