University of Minnesota Athletics
2019 Baseball Roster
Jersey Number 1
Ben Mezzenga
- Position:
- Outfielder
- Ht./Wt.:
- 6-0 / 180
- Bats/Throws:
- L/R
- Class:
- Senior
- Hometown:
- Shoreview, Minn.
- High School:
- Totino-Grace
2019 | SENIOR Played in 48 games including 47 starts · slashed .286/.390/.323 with seven doubles, 11 RBIs, and 28 runs scored · stole a team-high 13 bases · Academic All-Big Ten Selection. Game Highlights: Stole two bases and drove in two runs at Dallas Baptist on Feb. 23 · went 5-for-11 with two RBIs and one double in a three-game series at N.C. State on March 2-3 · collected three hits including a double with two RBIs and one double vs. Washington on March 10 to start a five-game hitting streak through March 17 · went 3-for-4 and scored three runs at Penn State on March 24 · stole two bases and scored a pair of runs, drawing three walks vs. Augsburg on March 27 · reached base in 11 consecutive games from April 19 through May 22 · finished 2-for-4 with two RBIs, a double, and a run scored vs. Ohio State in the Big Ten Tournament semifinals on May 26.
2018 | JUNIOR ABCA/Rawlings All-Mideast Region Second Team · All-Big Ten Second Team · Academic All-Big Ten · played in all 59 games including 50 starts · finished second on the team with a .383 batting average while leading the team with a .466 on-base percentage. Highlights: Went 2-for-3 wsith a pair of walks at Kennesaw State on Feb. 17 · ripped two doubles on a 3-for-5 day against Creighton, driving in two runs and scored twice · scored three runs while going 2-for-4 with three walks at Purdue on April 13 · finished the season with a 32-game streak of reaching base and a team-high 13-game hitting streak · went 8-for-20 in the NCAA Tournament, hitting a triple against No. 19 UCLA on June 2.
2017 | SOPHOMORE Received Big Ten Distinguished Scholar Award • recorded a .296 batting average in 50 games • had a .415 on-base percentage after drawing 21 walks and 32 hits • batted .371 in conference play with 13 hits while scoring 10 runs • Academic All-Big Ten. Game Highlights: Recorded one hit, two walks, one run scored and one stolen base at UC Irvine (2/18) • was 1-3 with one RBI and one run scored vs Seattle U (2/24) • was 1-4 with one RBI and two walks vs Oral Roberts (3/3) • drove in two runs on two hits vs Iowa (3/5) • drew three walks and scored one run vs Milwaukee (3/8) • reached base with two hits and one walk vs NDSU (4/4) while scoring three runs and stealing one base • was 2-3 with one double and one run scored vs Nebraska (4/21) • recorded two hits including a triple along with one RBI and two runs scored at Penn State (5/6) • was 2-3 with one walk and three runs scored at Penn State (5/7) • drove in two RBIs on one hit vs Purdue (5/18) • had two RBIs in a pinch hitting appearance vs Indiana (5/26) in the Big Ten Tournament • was 3-6 with one stolen base and scored two runs vs Iowa (5/27) in the semifinals of the Big Ten Tournament.
2016 SUMMER BASEBALL Played in 34 games for the Eau Claire Express of the Northwoods League • had a .321 batting average along with two home runs, 16 RBIs, 39 runs scored and 22 stolen bases • was named to the Northwoods League All-Star Team.
2016 | FRESHMAN Made 23 appearances as an outfield and a pinch-runner • picked up three hits and had an RBI • was a perfect 3-for-3 in stolen bases. Game Highlights: Made career debut as a defensive replacement in the outfield versus Utah Valley (2/20) • started and went 1-for-3 with two runs, two walks and a pair of stolen bases against Utah (2/21) • pinch-ran and scored a run at Campbell (2/28) • earned start in outfield at Georgia State (3/4) • appeared in two pinch-hit opportunities and notched two singles and an RBI at Seattle U (3/12-3/16) • started in center field at Utah Valley (3/19) • scored runs and saw time in center field versus Saint Mary's (3/30) and Northern Illinois (4/6) • came on as a pinch-runner against Maryland (4/16) • drew a walk, scored a run and saw action in the outfield against North Dakota State (4/19) • pinch-ran and scored in non-conference home win versus Kansas (5/3) • appeared in the outfield in NCAA Regional action against Binghamton (6/4) and Wake Forest (6/5).
HIGH SCHOOL Graduated from Totino-Grace High School in 2015 • maintained a .508 average at the dish during senior campaign • had a .539 batting average and 17 stolen bases during his junior season with the Eagles • received All-Northwest Suburban recognition • excelled with the Tri-City Legion team during the summer • in 34 games in 2014, he batted .550 and stole 32 bases on the way to being named district MVP • previously received Legion all-district honors after his freshman year • on the football field, he scored four touchdowns to help the Eagles advance to the 2014 Prep Bowl • earned all-state, all-metro and all-conference acclaim last year and was named the conference’s special teams MVP • honor roll student and member of the National Honor Society.
PERSONAL Son of Tony and Rainie Mezzenga • has three siblings: Gabe, Luke and Isaac • older brother Gabe was a member of the Gopher football team • lists playing in the Minnesota State All-Star Game with the best players in the state as his greatest sports thrill.
2018 | JUNIOR ABCA/Rawlings All-Mideast Region Second Team · All-Big Ten Second Team · Academic All-Big Ten · played in all 59 games including 50 starts · finished second on the team with a .383 batting average while leading the team with a .466 on-base percentage. Highlights: Went 2-for-3 wsith a pair of walks at Kennesaw State on Feb. 17 · ripped two doubles on a 3-for-5 day against Creighton, driving in two runs and scored twice · scored three runs while going 2-for-4 with three walks at Purdue on April 13 · finished the season with a 32-game streak of reaching base and a team-high 13-game hitting streak · went 8-for-20 in the NCAA Tournament, hitting a triple against No. 19 UCLA on June 2.
2017 | SOPHOMORE Received Big Ten Distinguished Scholar Award • recorded a .296 batting average in 50 games • had a .415 on-base percentage after drawing 21 walks and 32 hits • batted .371 in conference play with 13 hits while scoring 10 runs • Academic All-Big Ten. Game Highlights: Recorded one hit, two walks, one run scored and one stolen base at UC Irvine (2/18) • was 1-3 with one RBI and one run scored vs Seattle U (2/24) • was 1-4 with one RBI and two walks vs Oral Roberts (3/3) • drove in two runs on two hits vs Iowa (3/5) • drew three walks and scored one run vs Milwaukee (3/8) • reached base with two hits and one walk vs NDSU (4/4) while scoring three runs and stealing one base • was 2-3 with one double and one run scored vs Nebraska (4/21) • recorded two hits including a triple along with one RBI and two runs scored at Penn State (5/6) • was 2-3 with one walk and three runs scored at Penn State (5/7) • drove in two RBIs on one hit vs Purdue (5/18) • had two RBIs in a pinch hitting appearance vs Indiana (5/26) in the Big Ten Tournament • was 3-6 with one stolen base and scored two runs vs Iowa (5/27) in the semifinals of the Big Ten Tournament.
2016 SUMMER BASEBALL Played in 34 games for the Eau Claire Express of the Northwoods League • had a .321 batting average along with two home runs, 16 RBIs, 39 runs scored and 22 stolen bases • was named to the Northwoods League All-Star Team.
2016 | FRESHMAN Made 23 appearances as an outfield and a pinch-runner • picked up three hits and had an RBI • was a perfect 3-for-3 in stolen bases. Game Highlights: Made career debut as a defensive replacement in the outfield versus Utah Valley (2/20) • started and went 1-for-3 with two runs, two walks and a pair of stolen bases against Utah (2/21) • pinch-ran and scored a run at Campbell (2/28) • earned start in outfield at Georgia State (3/4) • appeared in two pinch-hit opportunities and notched two singles and an RBI at Seattle U (3/12-3/16) • started in center field at Utah Valley (3/19) • scored runs and saw time in center field versus Saint Mary's (3/30) and Northern Illinois (4/6) • came on as a pinch-runner against Maryland (4/16) • drew a walk, scored a run and saw action in the outfield against North Dakota State (4/19) • pinch-ran and scored in non-conference home win versus Kansas (5/3) • appeared in the outfield in NCAA Regional action against Binghamton (6/4) and Wake Forest (6/5).
HIGH SCHOOL Graduated from Totino-Grace High School in 2015 • maintained a .508 average at the dish during senior campaign • had a .539 batting average and 17 stolen bases during his junior season with the Eagles • received All-Northwest Suburban recognition • excelled with the Tri-City Legion team during the summer • in 34 games in 2014, he batted .550 and stole 32 bases on the way to being named district MVP • previously received Legion all-district honors after his freshman year • on the football field, he scored four touchdowns to help the Eagles advance to the 2014 Prep Bowl • earned all-state, all-metro and all-conference acclaim last year and was named the conference’s special teams MVP • honor roll student and member of the National Honor Society.
PERSONAL Son of Tony and Rainie Mezzenga • has three siblings: Gabe, Luke and Isaac • older brother Gabe was a member of the Gopher football team • lists playing in the Minnesota State All-Star Game with the best players in the state as his greatest sports thrill.
2025 Gopher Baseball Highlights
Tuesday, December 30
First Practice of Fall
Thursday, September 18
Weber Neels Highlights
Wednesday, May 28
Gophers (11) - Michigan State (5) Highlights
Friday, May 16
