Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

IOWA CITY – The easy thing for Brett McCleary would be to block out the early days of his City High baseball career.

A rare four-year varsity starter, there were certainly more low moments than high ones during a freshman season that saw McCleary hit a career-low .221.

It would be easy for McCleary to chalk his freshman season up to youthful inexperience or easier yet to forget it completely.

Then again, McCleary has never been interested in doing what’s easy.

“Those three years led up to this point and it’s really shaped me to who I am,” McCleary said. “We’ve had ups and downs and I think that’s why I am here today and that’s why I play the game the way I do.”

McCleary hasn’t forgotten his early struggles which he described as ‘all part of the process’.

He just doesn’t think about them too often these days.

McCleary has established himself as one of the top players in the state with a strong senior season that has helped Class 4A fifth-ranked City High to a 19-5 record.

The senior catcher and recent Iowa commit is hitting a career-high .380 with five home runs and 31 RBI, all career bests.

“It was kind of a rollercoaster but coach Mitchell always talks about how it’s a process and you have to understand the process,” McCleary said. “I think over four years in the big picture I was just trying to figure out the process.”

His natural talent combined with a City High roster thin on talent made McCleary a starter as a freshman.

He hit .221 with three doubles that season and has steadily built on that performance each of the next three seasons.

McCleary hit .318 with 12 extra-base hits as a sophomore and .350 with 13 extra-base hits and 25 RBI last year.

“It was probably because we needed him more than what we would have even wanted to have him but the maturity that he has shown over the last couple of years is pretty impressive,” Mitchell said. “He has seen the lows of low in that situation and he is starting to see some more consistent highs playing the game.”

The numbers were solid but not what McCleary wanted or expected.

Described as a ‘cage rat’ by his coach, McCleary wanted more than just steady production.

“Absolutely it was frustrating,” McCleary said. “I think the last couple of years I’ve definitely been pressing. It’s almost like I knew where I wanted to be and I couldn’t get there.”

This season McCleary has gotten there.

He credits extra effort in everything from flexibility workouts and nutrition to weight lifting and batting cage sessions for what has been a breakthrough season.

The 6-foot-2 McCleary is up to 210 pounds, 35 more than what he played at as a freshman.

His five home runs are more than his previous three season combined and his 31 RBI are four more than his previous career-best.

“He’s been absolutely outstanding from the end of last year all the way through. His leadership has been great, his work ethic and he has also taken responsibility as a verbal leader and bringing the group together and getting guys to work out together,” Mitchell said. “He’s way more relaxed, you can tell he is just letting it happen and letting his talent take over.”

McCleary has also been close to unhittable on the mound, allowing just 13 hits in 22 2/3 innings while striking out 39.

He has put an estimated four to five miles per hour on his fastball that now tops out in the upper 80s.

The increased velocity combined with a sharp breaking ball has helped McCleary put up a 3-1 record and sparkling .62 ERA.

“When I was younger I don’t know if I really knew how to pitch I was just trying to hit spots,” McCleary said. “As I got older I learned how to pitch and how to attack.”

The biggest difference for McCleary hasn’t been physical its been his mental approach.

He no longer plays with the weight of a college decision on his shoulders or the pressure to carry his team.

Older and more experienced McCleary is doing what he did as a kind on the baseball field, he’s having fun.

“I know who to be a leader now which helps a lot and I’ve had so much fun with it,” McCleary said. “I’m around a great group of guys the attitudes are great and I think that really translates into my game because I’m having a lot of fun and having fun really makes the difference in baseball.”

McCleary could pitch or catch and says he could pitch or catch in college and hasn’t ruled out a possible move to the infield.

Mitchell, a former City High and Iowa standout isn’t sure what McCleary will do at the next level but could see him fitting in several spots.

“I have no idea we will let them figure that out,” Mitchell said. “All I know is that he loves to do both.”