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Senior Blake Stouffer turned down the major leagues to play his senior season at A&M. His goal is for the Aggies to win the national championship. 'I will do whatever it takes to make that happen.'

Eyes on the championship

Senior Blake Stouffer skips major leagues, returns for senior season at A&M

By: Jack Molitor

Posted: 2/21/08

Senior Blake Stouffer was drafted in the fourth round of the Major League Baseball Amateur Draft in 2007. He had just completed a breakout season, hitting .398, with 12 homers and 85 RBIs. The Aggies had a somewhat successful season that ended in a Super Regional loss to Rice, and Stouffer earned national fame, which he parlayed into All-American honors from Rivals.com. If there was a good time to take off for the big show, that was it.

But he said he wanted more.

"The decision process [about returning to A&M or going to the Majors] went on through the summer," Stouffer said. "In the end, I thought about how I wanted to end my career here, and I hadn't finished it yet. I wanted a national championship. That was really the deciding factor for me coming back."

The national championship was not all Stouffer wanted to accomplish. He said he was confident about improving his draft status and becoming an even more attractive prospect.

"Last year did not end like we wanted it to, and this year I get one more try at it," he said. "I'm excited. I'm confident it will be a successful year and hopefully we'll come out on top."

Stouffer might have improved his status before the season began, as he was named to the preseason Louisville Slugger All-American team. Stouffer said it was a goal of his to make the All-American team, and he was proud of the award.

"It was awesome," he said. "I told the coaches before the year that I wanted to be an All-American. I came out here every day to work extremely hard for it. It was a really proud moment when that came out."

Stouffer said he would be willing to put all the honors and accolades aside if it would help his team. The words that came up again and again were "national championship."

"It's not about me," he said. "I don't really care about the stats because it's what the team does that matters. That would make me the happiest, if we were the last team standing in Omaha [the site of the College World Series]."

His record has proven his selflessness. In his college career, he has been moved around to five different positions, but the hitting never went away. Stouffer said it has been a blessing in disguise because it expanded his versatility. He said he felt good about playing any place the team needs him.

"It builds up my confidence as a player, knowing I can play a lot of different positions," he said. "At the next level, it's good to know how to play several different positions. You give yourself a chance to be in the lineup every day."

Stouffer will have an established position at second base in 2008, and, unlike years past, the lineup changes that take place during the season will happen around him, not involving him. However, he echoed his sentiment of helping the team at any cost, and changing positions, if necessary, would be part of that.

"We just want that national championship," he said. "And I'll do whatever it takes to make that happen."