Outlook

Mikal Ashley is a physical specimen … Looks to be an impact power arm in the rotation again this season ... Throws three-plus pitches and is the most competitive player on the squad ... Has committed to play at Angelo State University in 2022-23.

Sophomore Year 2022

Made nine appearances on the hill, four as a starter … Logged a 1-2 record with a 10.66 ERA, striking out 15 batters in 12.2 innings of work … Allowed 17 runs, 15 earned on 16 hits and 17 walks … Did not allow an extra base hit … Started the second game of the season against nationally ranked Crowder allowing five runs off six hits with five strikeouts in a 13-6 loss (2-10-22) … Allowed a run off one hit with two strikeouts in 2.0 relief innings in an 18-4 win at Highland (4-9-22) … Was the winning pitcher in a 19-9 win over Metropolitan, allowing a run off four hits with four strikeouts over 3.0 innings of work (4-26-22) … Pitched a scoreless inning of relief in a 15-3 win at Allen (5-7-22).

Freshman Year 2021

Made 10 appearances, nine as a starter … Ranked second on the staff in victories with perfect record of 6-0 … Logged 31.1 innings with 47 strikeouts and an earned run average of 4.02 … Pitched four innings in his season debut, allowing four hits and one run with 10 strikeouts in an 11-1 win over Southwestern (2-23-21) … Picked up his second victory striking out five over two innings in a 12-2 win over Southeast (2-27-21) … Allowed two runs off three hits and struck out five in an 11-2 victory at Fort Scott (3-19-21) … Hurled a one-hit 14-0 shutout with 10 strikeouts against Baker JV (3-26-21) … That performance earned him Kansas Jayhawk Conference Pitcher of the Week … Allowed just one hit with six strikeouts over four innings in a 14-1 win against Highland (4-11-21) … Allowed three runs, two earned with five strikeouts in a 15-4 win at Neosho County (4-19-21).

High School

Started his sophomore and junior seasons for coach Dave Behm at Grant Community High School, Fox Lake, Ill. … His senior season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic … Was a two-time All-Lake County Conference performer … Selected second-team as a sophomore and first-team as a junior … Hit .277 with 14 singles, two doubles, a triple, a home run, 16 runs scored and 14 driven in a as a sophomore … As a junior hit .333 with 13 singles, six doubles, four triples, five home runs, 19 runs scored and 30 RBI … Was also 3-0 with on the mound with three saves and 39 strikeouts in 21.2 innings pitched … Helped the Bulldogs to its best season in school history at 25-7, along with a conference championship … Played summer baseball for Pro Player Canes … Was a two-year starter and four-year letterman in basketball. 

Personal

Born Mikal Ellis Ashley on September 8, 2001, in Round Lake Beach, Ill. … Nickname is Big Mike … Son of Michael and Evette Ashley … Has one sister … His father played basketball at Sacred Heart University … Has two cousins that played football at Yale University … Majoring in kinesiology … Also recruited by Grambling State University and Illinois Southern University … Favorite foods are Chinese, chicken parmesan and macaroni and cheese … Favorite fast food restaurant is Freddy’s Frozen Custard and Steakburgers, McDonald’s and Chick-fil-A … Favorite restaurant is Maggiano’s … Favorite TV shows are The Office, Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and Wife and Kids … Favorite movies are Maze Runner, Maize Runner Scorch Trials and Transformers … Favorite sports movies are Hoosiers, Coach Carter and Like Mike … Favorite book is Maze Runner … Favorite music entertainers are Lil Baby, DaBaby and The Weekend … Favorite athletes are Khalil Mack, Aaron Donald and Giancarlo Stanton … Favorite sports teams are the New York Yankees, Baltimore Ravens and Milwaukee Bucks … Has a superstition of running sprints when the umpires show up … His greatest sports moment was hitting a 400-foot home run at Wrigley Field … The player he played against is Quinn Priester, a pitcher in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization.