Jacob Hendren

Classroom

Jacob Hendren maintains a 3.89 cumulative grade-point average as a mathematics/pre-medicine major. He was named both a CoSIDA Academic All-America and All-Region selection in 2015. His GPA is the highest among non-freshman members of the baseball team, and he was named a Missouri Valley Conference Scholar-Athlete First-Team selection in 2015, while also earning
the MVC Commissioner’s Academic Excellence Award. He was named to both the AFNI and MVC academic honor rolls.

Character

Hendren is a leader by example. He is less vocal, but when he does speak, his teammates listen. He has never been a distraction off the field, and despite all of his individual success, he always defers praise to his teammates and the team instead of himself.

Community

Hendren is active in many of Illinois State’s community service efforts including a team blood drive co-sponsored by the American Red Cross, as well as a longstanding partnership between the Illinois State baseball team and the Miracle League of Central Illinois.

Competition

Hendren was named the MVC Newcomer of the Year and an All-MVC First-Team selection as a junior in 2015. He also was named a Louisville Slugger third-team All-American and an MVC All-Defensive Team pick. Prior to the 2016 season, he was named a Preseason All-American by both Louisville Slugger and the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association. In 2015, he tied the Illinois State single-season wins record (10) and broke the school’s innings pitched mark (106). He posted quality starts in 12 of 15 starts and pitched three complete games, including a nine-inning shutout of Bradley in which he struck out a career-high 11 batters. He led the team with 99 strikeouts in 2015 and entered the 2016 season as Illinois State’s No. 1 starter.