Inductees

Being a big-bopper seemed pretty cool to Jason Hart.

Well, until his freshman year of college when one afternoon Missouri State University coach Keith Guttin (MSHOF 2015) decided to throw him batting practice. He’s still laughing about it.

“He didn’t throw BP that often. But the next thing I knew, he whizzes one over my head,” Hart said. “I was like, ‘What the heck?’ At the time, I was trying to hit 450-foot homers to left field. But I learned that you can’t be a dead-pull hitter and be a good hitter.”

That moment, in essence, sparked an impressive career worthy of the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame, which proudly inducted Hart with the Class of 2021.

In short, the Fair Grove High School graduate became the most prolific hitter in Missouri State history from 1996 to 1998. He then rose to prominence in the Oakland Athletics’ organization and reached the big leagues in 2002 with the Texas Rangers – all before spending 13 seasons as a valued minor league hitting coach during a Golden Era in the Rangers farm system.

It’s quite a story, especially considering that few in the Ozarks knew of Hart in 1994, when Hart’s mom and dad relocated their family from the Bay Area in California. But his bat piqued the interest of many as Hart hit 20 homers in his final two high school seasons.

“Missouri State was right where I wanted to be. I wanted my parents to see me play college ball, and it was one of the best decisions I ever made,” Hart said. “Coach Guttin, coach Brent (Thomas) and Paul Evans (MSHOF 2021) helped me along and prepared me for my 22-year career in pro ball.”

As Hart put it, he became a hitter, not just a slugger.

Collegiate Baseball recognized him as a Freshman All-American and an All-American again as a junior, when Baseball America magazine and the NCBWA (National Collegiate Writers Association) plopped Hart on their All-American lists, too.

He ended his collegiate career as the Bears’ all-time leader in five offensive categories, including home runs (63), RBI (203) and slugging percentage (.725). In fact, in his third and final season he was the first Bear to claim the team’s triple crown in consecutive seasons after leading MSU in homers, RBI and batting.

In that junior season, he hit a Missouri Valley Conference-best 28 home runs and ranked fourth in the conference in both batting (.416) and RBI (91).

And then it was off to pro baseball after the A’s drafted Hart in the fifth round of the 1998 draft.

Hart was the TOPPS Minor League Baseball Player of the Year in 2000 following a 30-homer, 121-RBI season for Midland of the Double-A Texas League.

“That was a fun group,” Hart said. “I didn’t have any expectations of moving up. I just wanted to be the best I could be at whatever level I was at and didn’t get caught up in being called up.”

In 2002, months after being traded, he played 10 games in the big leagues. His first hit, a ground-rule double, was off Oakland’s Mark Mulder.

Unfortunately, after experiencing vision issues in the summer of 2003, Hart was diagnosed with a non-malignant brain tumor, underwent surgery and missed the 2004 season. He played two more years and called it a career.

Fortunately, he made an even bigger impact in the game. While working for Kraft Foods in Springfield in 2007, the Rangers recruited Hart to be a hitting coach.

Over the next 13 years, he helped their farm system earn six Top 10 rankings (between 2009 and 2016) from Baseball America magazine, including No. 1 twice.

The Rangers also won American League pennants in 2010 and 2011, with several players mentored by Hart in the Class A ball. Of note, from 2012 to 2019, he coached in the prospect-rich Double-A Texas League.

“Whenever one of our guys got called up, it was like I got called up, too,” Hart said. “I tried to teach them the lessons I learned and wanted them to know I had their back.”

Hart thanks many for inspiring his success, especially his parents as well as his wife, Jenny, and their children, Kloe, Camdyn and Karolina. Numerous teammates at MSU and in the minors played significant roles.

“I’m just really thankful for every moment,” Hart said. “I wouldn’t change anything. I’m so thankful for everyone who helped me along the way.”