Outlook

Will Heller is one of the most athletic pitchers on the staff … Really worked hard on his mechanics this fall and the sky is the limit this spring … Will be used out of the bullpen or as a spot starter.

Freshman Year 2019

Made 11 appearances, all in relief … Finished 2-0 with 17 strikeouts and an ERA of 1.42 … Allowed just three hits and three runs in 12.2 innings of work … Had two strikeouts in an inning of relief in a 12-2 win over Ellsworth (2-13-19) … Followed with another perfect inning of relief with two strikeouts in a 15-2 win over Rockhurst JV (3-1-19) … Allowed a hit and had two strikeouts in 1.1 innings in a 14-5 win over Highland (3-22-19) … Got his first win pitching 2.1 innings in relief, allowing a hit, not runs with a season-high four strikeouts in an 18-11 win over Allen (3-3-19) … Logged a season-high 3.0 innings of scoreless relief with two strikeouts as the pitcher of record in a 16-9 win over Rockhurst JV (4-2-19) … Only allowed one hit and two runs with four strikeouts over his final five relief appearances ... Earned first-team NJCAA All-Academic honors with a 4.0 GPA.

High School  

Was a two-year starter for coach Ben Baier at Blue Spring South High School, Blue Springs, Mo. … Graduated 2018 … Was a second-team Missouri Class 5 All-State selection as a designated hitter/utility player following his senior year … Also earned Class 5 All-District and  All-Area as a senior … Selected honorable mention Suburban Gold All-Conference at pitcher his senior year … Voted the 2018 Blue Springs South Pitcher of the Year … Helped Blue Springs South to a 23-9 record and a third place finish in the Missouri Class 5 State Tournament his senior year … Pitched a complete game win and hit his first home run of the season in a 7-3 victory over Grain Valley in the Class 5 District 14 semifinals … The Jaguars also captured the District 14 title his junior year … Hit .365 with 32 hits,  seven doubles, a home run, 26 runs scored and 19 driven in,  and posted a 2.08 ERA, a 6-1 record and 36 strikeouts in 49 innings as a senior … As a junior, hit .289 with 24 hits, six doubles, a triple, a home run, 19 runs and 17 driven in … Was 2-0 on the mound with a 2.48 ERA and 11 strikeouts over nine innings … Earned Academic All-State his junior and senior years.

Personal  

Born William Robert Heller on Oct. 30, 1999, in Lee’s Summit, Mo. … Nicknames are Will and Will the Thrill … Son of Tim Johnson and Ruth Heller … Majoring in health science … Also recruited by Rockhurst University, Kansas City Kansas Community College, MCC-Maple Woods and State Fair Community College … Favorite fast food restaurant is Chipotle, and his favorite food is a Chipotle burrito … Favorite restaurant is Kobe Steakhouse … Favorite TV shows is SportsCenter … Favorite movies are I am Legend and The Incredibles … Favorite sports movie is The Sandlot … Favorite actor is Will Smith … Favorite book is The Book of Ivy … Favorite music entertainer is Travis Scott … Favorite cartoon character is Dash from The Incredibles … Favorite athletes are LaBron James and Alex Bregman … Favorite sports teams are The Kansas City Royals and Kansas City Chiefs … His greatest sports moment was winning sectionals … Best player he has played against is Luke Mann, 2018 Missouri Gatorade Player of the year out of Vianney High School … A notable alumnus from his school 2008 American Idol winner David Cook.