LSU commit MJ Seo, a right-handed pitcher, displays special abilities

JUPITER, FLORIDA – MJ Seo was in his comfort zone toeing the rubber on the mound in the big stadium on Thursday afternoon.

To the 18-year-old right-hander from Plano, Texas, pitching at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium was just another day at the ballpark. That’s because Seo is used to facing top competition at the top showcase events.

This weekend, Seo and the rest of his 3n2 Sticks Baseball Brewster/White Sox Scout Team were participating in the annual Perfect Game WWBA World Championship, one of the top wood bat tournaments in the country.

“It means a lot,” Seo told SB Live. “Obviously, all the best teams from all over the country are in one place, trying to win it all, and having the same goal in mind. This means a lot, especially this being my last travel ball tournament.”

Seo, a pitcher/shortstop, plays for Hebron High School in Carrollton, Texas.

Committed to sign with LSU, Seo is no stranger pitching in front of large numbers of scouts. Few showcases have as many scouts as the WWBA World Championship.

“I saw they said there were 7,000 college and pro scouts here, combined,” 3n2 Sticks coach Chase Brewster said. “I don’t know if that’s accurate, but it feels like 100,000. Everywhere you turn, it’s a ‘Who’s/Who’ and a somebody, a bunch of special people.”

Next summer, Seo likely will find himself with a decision to make after his senior season – to attend LSU or sign professionally?

That’s a decision for a later date, after the 2023 MLB Draft.

“I’m set on going to LSU, that’s the priority,” he said. “Whatever happens, may happen. I focus on that. It’s a couple of months down the road. I’m living in the present.”

The wood bat tournament is one of Perfect Games’ premiere events. A year ago, three of the first four overall picks in the 2022 MLB Draft played in this event: first pick Jackson Holliday (Baltimore Orioles), second pick Druw Jones (Arizona Diamondbacks) and fourth pick Termarr Johnson (Pittsburgh Pirates).

“It’s definitely special, just knowing a lot of great players have come and played on the same fields as us,” Seo said. “It means a lot. It’s pretty cool.”While this tournament lacks projected top of the first-round players, it does include many who could go later in the first round or certainly the first few rounds.

Seo fits into that category.

“He had a great, great summer for us, and he’s turned himself into one of the best pitching prospects in the country,” Brewster said. “We’re super proud of him.”

Seo’s younger brother, Minjae, also plays for 3n2 Sticks Baseball. Part of the 2025 class, Minjae already is committed to Vanderbilt.

Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium is the Spring Training home of the Miami Marlins and St. Louis Cardinals. Games are being played on the backfields that are used by the big league clubs in Spring Training, and then the Minor Leaguers take over, keeping the complex active pretty much the whole season.

Only a select few games are being played in the stadium that seats close to 7,000. 3n2 Sticks Baseball Brewster is one of the teams to have its game streamed over the internet.

For the players, the PG tournament provides a platform to show their skills against the best of their peers.

“I just try to show off my arsenal on the mound, and obviously in the box, I try to take good at-bats, and I try to be a consistent player,” Seo said. “Whoever is back there, the coaches or scouts, it’s obviously great. I try to play the same game, no matter what. Whether it’s 100 scouts out there, or zero scouts. I try to play the same game. It doesn’t really change anything for me, but it’s more exciting, for sure.”

When not on the mound, Seo usually plays middle infield.

“MJ is one of the few kids that we’ve had who really gets the pregame preparation, and the post-game,” Brewster said. “He’s an extremely hard worker. He works out all the time. He does yoga. He does little things that some people may think are silly or take for granted. It’s made him a lot better athlete, and it’s put his body in a position to be able to do things that it probably shouldn’t be able to do every three or four days off the mound.”

A few weeks ago, Seo added meditation to his routine.

“Obviously, he’s an incredible hitter, so we have to monitor when he plays in the field, before and after he pitches,” Brewster said. “He normally plays shortstop. He was our shortstop all summer. We play him at second after he pitches and we DH him before he pitches, just to make sure he’s fresh.”