Southeast Missouri State baseball team adds former All-OVC first baseman

~ John Hogan led the conference in RBIs in 2011 while playing for Austin Peay

The Southeast Missouri State baseball team has added what should be an impact transfer from a fellow Ohio Valley Conference program -- even though he hasn't played collegiately the past two years.

Southeast coach Steve Bieser, whose squad begins fall practice today, is excited about what John Hogan can bring to the Redhawks during the 2014 season.

Hogan, a first baseman/DH, put up impressive numbers as a two-year starter for Austin Peay in 2010 and 2011.

Hogan has not played the past two seasons due to concussion problems that eventually led to him leaving Austin Peay and returning to his native St. Louis. He enrolled at Southeast this year and Bieser said he appears to be fine physically.

"So far everything has been positive. It's a great pickup for us," Bieser said.

Bieser already had a strong connection with Hogan, having coached him at Vianney High School in suburban St. Louis.

"Basically his dad contacted us," Bieser said. "Once he got his release [from Austin Peay], we started talking to him and everything worked out for him to come here."

Hogan was a member of the 2010 OVC all-freshmen team when he batted .328 with two home runs, 12 doubles and 30 RBIs.

That was followed by a spectacular 2011 season that saw Hogan make first-team all-conference at first base as the Governors won OVC regular-season and tournament titles.

Hogan batted .310 while tying for the OVC lead with 13 homers and leading the league with 63 RBIs. He added 12 doubles and led the Govs with a .539 slugging percentage.

"He had two very good years at Austin Peay," Bieser said.

Bieser said Hogan will have at least one year of eligibility at Southeast, and there is a good chance he'll receive a medical hardship from the NCAA that would allow him to play with the Redhawks for two seasons

"We're excited," Bieser said. "Obviously he's a good hitter and he's a good first baseman. He can also play the outfield or DH for us."

Southeast added another transfer from a Division I program, although speedy outfielder Brendon Neel will have to sit out the 2014 season under NCAA transfer rules.

Neel, a native of Festus, Mo., who will have one year of eligibility at Southeast, played last year at Cincinnati after playing his first two seasons at Jefferson College in Hillsboro, Mo.

Neel batted .234 while making 28 starts for Cincinnati in 2013. He had a team-high three triples to go along with five doubles, a homer, 15 RBIs and six stolen bases in seven attempts.

Neel was an all-region selection as a sophomore at Jefferson College in 2012 when he batted .335 with 16 homers, five triples and 18 steals in 18 attempts.

"He'll be a good addition for us. Being from the Festus area, I've got a little history with him as well," said Bieser, a native of Ste. Genevieve, Mo.

Meanwhile, Bieser said junior pitcher Christian Hull and sophomore pitcher Cody Spanberger, who both missed all of last season after undergoing Tommy John surgery in November, will be ready to go for the 2014 season.

"They're progressing well," Bieser said. "Health-wise, they'll be fine."

Bieser said Dylan Lynn, a third pitcher who missed all of last season after undergoing Tommy John surgery in November, is no longer at Southeast. Lynn decided to use his final season of eligibility at a non-Division I program.

Another notable absence from last year's squad is pitcher Luke Shearrow, who after a slow start to the season following his transfer from junior college boasted the OVC's top ERA in league play (0.90).

Shearrow had academic issues and would not have been eligible for Division I play this season so he transferred to a non-Division I program for his final year of eligibility.

Bieser said he's looking forward to fall workouts that will feature 28 practices during a 45-day window allowed by the NCAA.

The Redhawks, who have been doing individual drill work the past few weeks, will scrimmage most Fridays and will hold their annual intrasquad series next month.

"We've got a nice looking group of guys. We're anxious to get them in a full setting," Bieser said.