One local baseball player we are following is playing out his field of dreams story pitching for Baylor University’s baseball team. Mason Marriott, a junior, is already setting records on the mound and holds career honors for making the Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll in Fall 2021, and Spring 2022.
“Mason has been a conference starting pitcher for us for the last two years. He is an ultra-talented young man that can run the fastball up there at 95 mph,” shares Baylor baseball’s head coach Mitch Thompson. “It has been fun to watch Mason grow both on and off the field. He is a self-starter who demands a lot out of himself.”
Mason shared that he fell in love with the game of baseball when he was very young. “Baseball has always been a part of my family because my dad played professionally,” Mason shares. “When I was young my dad coached a travel ball team, and I would always be there in the dugout.”
Mike and Misty Marriott are proud parents and Mason’s mom shared that it is a dream watching Mason develop along the way and loves how humble he has been. Her momma’s heart smiles inside watching him at games and getting pictures and signing autographs for his young fans and long-time fans alike.
One challenge that Mason faces at Baylor is time management. Balancing a full day of classes with baseball has led him to leverage technology by using a calendar app to prioritize the week. “This allows me to get what I need to get done and be able to know what time practice is and when I need to be at the field,” Mason says.
Mason took responsibility while at college and recalls the pressure he felt making the transformation from high school to college and living on his own which made him work harder.
“Sometimes, because he wants to be excellent at everything he does, he can be too hard on himself. He has grown as a pitcher and as a student during his time here at Baylor,” Coach Thompson says. “He takes his education seriously and earning a Baylor degree is a big deal to him. It will be fun to watch Mason earn that degree next year as he and others lead our program on the field.”
“The pressure is a big thing in college because you have so many young talented guys that all can play every single game, but you have to show coaches that you can perform at your best,” Mason shares. “You can learn from the older guys that are already there and that can be very beneficial for a young player. I learned a lot from upper class players.”
Support and encouragement are critical in maintaining the balance and rigors required from playing college ball. Mason emphatically shared that what helps him stay focused on the field is his family and girlfriend. “They all keep me on track and make me stay focused and push me to be my best,” Mason says. “They are always there to support me at every game and are the first people to tell me good job. My mom and dad are always there for me and gave me this opportunity in life to play the game I love so very much.”
Mason has nostalgic memories growing up in the Woodlands and remembers so many different restaurants, but growing up in Tomball, one of his favorite restaurants is Mel’s Country Cafe. “It is a local favorite and has very good food,” he says.
Of course, Mason hopes to continue his baseball career, like every college player. The summer is already shaping up as Mason was selected to attend the MLB Draft Combine from June 17 to June 22, at Chase Field in Phoenix where he has the chance to show off his skills where the MLB teams from all 30 clubs are closely watching the players for potential offers. “Wherever that takes me will be a dream come true,” Mason shares. “Baseball has been the biggest impact on my life, and I am so excited to see what is in store for me.”
“It has been fun to watch Mason grow both on and off the field. He is a self-starter who demands a lot out of himself," says Head Coach Mitch Thompson.
“Wherever that takes me will be a dream come true, baseball has been the biggest impact on my life, and I am so excited to see what is in store for me," shares Mason Marriott.