Effingham's Mason Hull is Projected Missouri Valley Conference Freshman of Year

(MASON HULL'S SIGNING CEREMONY WITH MISSOURI STATE IN THE SPRING OF 2018 AT EFFINGHAM HIGH SCHOOL)

Effingham High School graduate Mason Hull is projected as the Missouri Valley Conference Freshman of the Year.

The publication "Baseball America" has tabbed Hull, a freshman at Missouri State University in Springfield, Missouri, as Freshman of the Year. Hull is projected as the starting shortstop for the Bears.

Here's what "Baseball America" has to say about Hull: "Hull, a native of Effingham, Ill., will have the unenviable task of replacing (Jeremy) Eierman at shortstop. No one is expecting him to be that type of player right out of the gate, of course, but he projects as a plus defender with good arm strength. Offensively, he’s coming off of a huge senior season in high school, but even if that breakout campaign doesn’t necessarily carry over into big numbers as a freshman, simply proving to be a steady hand at a premium defensive position will make him incredibly valuable as the Bears aim for another conference title."

Eierman went on to be drafted in the second round by the Oakland Athletics.

Missouri State is picked by "Baseball America" to be the Missouri Valley Conference champions.