SE: Mount Crushmore: How K-State BSB’s Drew Mount Developed a Powerful Reputation
Mar 13, 2018 | Baseball, Sports Extra
By Corbin McGuire
As K-State's Drew Mount bit into a turnip — yes, the vegetable — and held up a sledgehammer to celebrate his second grand slam in one game on Friday, it could be easy to peg him as a grip-it-and-rip-it batter who grew up smashing baseballs over outfield fences.
Aptly given the recent nickname, Mount Crushmore, Mount does not fit in the natural power category, however. Truthfully, the 5-foot-11 Californian probably doesn't fit any normal baseball stereotype.
The same player who leads the Big 12 in home runs (7) and the nation in RBI (29) entering play on Monday never hit a homer in high school. Before Friday, Mount had never hit two in a game, let alone two grand slams, a feat no Wildcat had achieved since 1994. In fact, before Mount only two Big 12 players had ever hit two grand slams in one game, the last being in 1998.
"It definitely boosts my confidence," he said of his eight-RBI game against Mercer, which K-State (10-5) won two out of three against heading into a midweek game against Creighton (8-5) at Tointon Family Stadium on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. "I was just glad it helped the team get a 'W.'"
The same player who started his collegiate career as a football player at San Jose State now warms up on the on-deck circle with a sledgehammer. He bought the sledgehammer while at De Anza College for $5 on Craigslist. Why? Because he saw someone use one at his high school alumni game and thought, "That's pretty sick. I want one of those."
"I bought it in junior college and have used it ever since," he added.
The same player who now enjoys the taste of a raw turnip — "It was actually better than I thought," he said of the Wildcats' new home run tradition, which originates from the team's favorite show, "Trailer Park Boys" — is as well read on baseball as any player on K-State.
After giving up football, which he played one year of at De Anza College, to focus solely on baseball, he read a number of baseball books. These included, "The Science of Hitting," by Hall of Famer Ted Williams; "Elite Swing Mechanics," by Bobby Tewksbary, a renowned swing coach who's helped countless MLB players; and "Heads-Up Baseball: Playing the Game One Pitch at a Time," by Ken Ravizza and Tom Hanson, to name a few.
"I just started being accountable for my swing and did a lot of research. I read books, watched videos about my swing and I changed my swing. I added a leg kick, tried to get some more barrel tilt. That was the biggest thing, changing my swing," Mount said. "I wanted to start hitting homers, so I put in the work and I read a lot."
The work paid off and then some.
As a freshman, he hit .260 with two home runs, 12 RBI and 20 stolen bases. He also collected 25 tackles in nine games as a linebacker during the fall of 2015, his last on the football field.
After his swing change and complete commitment to baseball, Mount's sophomore numbers jumped considerably. He hit .333 with nine homers, 29 RBI, 39 runs scored and 12 doubles to earn first team all-conference honors and open up the door to play at the Division I level.
Where did the California native who was used to playing in beautiful weather year-round want to go?
"I really wanted to come to the Midwest," said Mount, standing in sub-40-degree weather at the time and receiving the typical head-tilting reaction to his statement. "I know…a lot of people look at me like that. I've been in California my whole life and I thought the Midwest would be pretty cool, so that's why (I wanted to come to K-State)."
So far, the match has been as perfect as the Mount Crushmore nickname that soon followed. For the record, Mount said he's had plenty of nicknames before. Mountain Man, Big Mount, Mountain Dew and Mountain Drew are a few examples, but he likes the new one.
"I've embraced it," he said. "I really like the nickname and my parents love it, too. It's a good one."
Mount slid immediately into a starting spot at center field for K-State and has added a significant boost to the offense. There was an adjustment period at the plate, however.
"I've been seeing a lot of changeups, a lot of sliders, even in hitter's counts when it's 2-0, 3-1, they'll throw their off-speed. That's been the biggest adjustment," he said. "I feel like I'm getting better and I'm understanding when they're going to throw off-speed."
The junior-transfer went 12 at-bats without a hit to start his K-State career. His first was a big one, however. Mount blasted a three-run go-ahead homer in the eighth inning of K-State's win over Virginia Tech, the Wildcats' first victory of the season.
Since then, Mount has notched at least one hit in nine of 11 games to raise his average to .315.
"(The coaches) just tell me to see the ball up and be more patient," he said. "Sometimes I get a little too aggressive and swing at pitches that are out of the zone, so just see the ball up and find my pitch."
Entering play on Monday, Mount ranks in the top 10 nationally in triples (3, 3rd), home runs (7, 7th), RBI (29, 1st), slugging percentage (.870, 8th) and stolen bases (12, 3rd). Among Big 12 players, he leads or is tied for the lead in five of those categories.
He has also earned three straight Big 12 Newcomer of the Week honors — a first in Big 12 history. The latest came on Monday, when he was also named as one of 10 Collegiate Baseball's National Players of the Week and NCAA.com's Player of the Week.
"It feels really good. I'm excited and I'm just going to keep working hard," Mount said of his recent success, which stems as much from his football mindset as his baseball brain. "I try to bring energy in the dugout every day, in the weight room and in everything we do. I try to be aggressive on the base paths, aggressive out on the field. I'd say I have a football mentality out there.
"I just like to play the game 110 percent and just be crazy out there."
As K-State's Drew Mount bit into a turnip — yes, the vegetable — and held up a sledgehammer to celebrate his second grand slam in one game on Friday, it could be easy to peg him as a grip-it-and-rip-it batter who grew up smashing baseballs over outfield fences.
Aptly given the recent nickname, Mount Crushmore, Mount does not fit in the natural power category, however. Truthfully, the 5-foot-11 Californian probably doesn't fit any normal baseball stereotype.
The same player who leads the Big 12 in home runs (7) and the nation in RBI (29) entering play on Monday never hit a homer in high school. Before Friday, Mount had never hit two in a game, let alone two grand slams, a feat no Wildcat had achieved since 1994. In fact, before Mount only two Big 12 players had ever hit two grand slams in one game, the last being in 1998.
"It definitely boosts my confidence," he said of his eight-RBI game against Mercer, which K-State (10-5) won two out of three against heading into a midweek game against Creighton (8-5) at Tointon Family Stadium on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. "I was just glad it helped the team get a 'W.'"
The same player who started his collegiate career as a football player at San Jose State now warms up on the on-deck circle with a sledgehammer. He bought the sledgehammer while at De Anza College for $5 on Craigslist. Why? Because he saw someone use one at his high school alumni game and thought, "That's pretty sick. I want one of those."
"I bought it in junior college and have used it ever since," he added.
The same player who now enjoys the taste of a raw turnip — "It was actually better than I thought," he said of the Wildcats' new home run tradition, which originates from the team's favorite show, "Trailer Park Boys" — is as well read on baseball as any player on K-State.
After giving up football, which he played one year of at De Anza College, to focus solely on baseball, he read a number of baseball books. These included, "The Science of Hitting," by Hall of Famer Ted Williams; "Elite Swing Mechanics," by Bobby Tewksbary, a renowned swing coach who's helped countless MLB players; and "Heads-Up Baseball: Playing the Game One Pitch at a Time," by Ken Ravizza and Tom Hanson, to name a few.
"I just started being accountable for my swing and did a lot of research. I read books, watched videos about my swing and I changed my swing. I added a leg kick, tried to get some more barrel tilt. That was the biggest thing, changing my swing," Mount said. "I wanted to start hitting homers, so I put in the work and I read a lot."
The work paid off and then some.
As a freshman, he hit .260 with two home runs, 12 RBI and 20 stolen bases. He also collected 25 tackles in nine games as a linebacker during the fall of 2015, his last on the football field.
After his swing change and complete commitment to baseball, Mount's sophomore numbers jumped considerably. He hit .333 with nine homers, 29 RBI, 39 runs scored and 12 doubles to earn first team all-conference honors and open up the door to play at the Division I level.
Where did the California native who was used to playing in beautiful weather year-round want to go?
"I really wanted to come to the Midwest," said Mount, standing in sub-40-degree weather at the time and receiving the typical head-tilting reaction to his statement. "I know…a lot of people look at me like that. I've been in California my whole life and I thought the Midwest would be pretty cool, so that's why (I wanted to come to K-State)."
So far, the match has been as perfect as the Mount Crushmore nickname that soon followed. For the record, Mount said he's had plenty of nicknames before. Mountain Man, Big Mount, Mountain Dew and Mountain Drew are a few examples, but he likes the new one.
"I've embraced it," he said. "I really like the nickname and my parents love it, too. It's a good one."
Mount slid immediately into a starting spot at center field for K-State and has added a significant boost to the offense. There was an adjustment period at the plate, however.
"I've been seeing a lot of changeups, a lot of sliders, even in hitter's counts when it's 2-0, 3-1, they'll throw their off-speed. That's been the biggest adjustment," he said. "I feel like I'm getting better and I'm understanding when they're going to throw off-speed."
The junior-transfer went 12 at-bats without a hit to start his K-State career. His first was a big one, however. Mount blasted a three-run go-ahead homer in the eighth inning of K-State's win over Virginia Tech, the Wildcats' first victory of the season.
Since then, Mount has notched at least one hit in nine of 11 games to raise his average to .315.
"(The coaches) just tell me to see the ball up and be more patient," he said. "Sometimes I get a little too aggressive and swing at pitches that are out of the zone, so just see the ball up and find my pitch."
Entering play on Monday, Mount ranks in the top 10 nationally in triples (3, 3rd), home runs (7, 7th), RBI (29, 1st), slugging percentage (.870, 8th) and stolen bases (12, 3rd). Among Big 12 players, he leads or is tied for the lead in five of those categories.
He has also earned three straight Big 12 Newcomer of the Week honors — a first in Big 12 history. The latest came on Monday, when he was also named as one of 10 Collegiate Baseball's National Players of the Week and NCAA.com's Player of the Week.
"It feels really good. I'm excited and I'm just going to keep working hard," Mount said of his recent success, which stems as much from his football mindset as his baseball brain. "I try to bring energy in the dugout every day, in the weight room and in everything we do. I try to be aggressive on the base paths, aggressive out on the field. I'd say I have a football mentality out there.
"I just like to play the game 110 percent and just be crazy out there."
Players Mentioned
OF
/ BaseballK-State Baseball | Batcat Bash Recap
Tuesday, February 10
K-State Baseball | First Look - New Bats
Thursday, February 05
K-State Baseball | Media Day Press Conference - February 4, 2026
Wednesday, February 04
K-State Baseball | Practice Begins 2026
Tuesday, January 13
