Mid-Prairie’s Grout signs with Iowa

WELLMAN — Mid-Prairie baseball standout Karson Grout is officially taking his talents to the next level.

The Golden Hawk senior signed his national letter of intent to play baseball for the University of Iowa on Wednesday.

Grout has been a verbal commit to Hawkeyes for a few years now, but with his name now on the dotted line it’s sealed.

For Mid-Prairie baseball, Grout has been nothing short of amazing.

Since joining the Golden Hawk program in his eight grade year, Grout has appeared in 104 total games and has started 102.

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At the plate, he sports a career .409 average in 330 plate appearances with a .513 on base percentage and .588 slugging percentage.

Grout has been sensational at the plate totaling 135 total hits, 115 RBI, 108 runs, walking 56 times and belting six homers.

Last season Grout didn’t pitch for Mid-Prairie, but in years prior he’s been one of the best in the area. He’s made 18 appearances on the mound with 13 starts. Through those 18 appearances, Grout as amassed a 6-1 overall record.

In 53 innings, he has racked up 77 strikeouts, allowing a .180 opponent average with a 3.30 ERA.

In his four years thus far, Grout has been named All-River Valley Conference and All-District three times a piece.

He was a 2023 All-State selection for his play last summer and he’s been a part of three Mid-Prairie River Valley Conference Championship teams and two state tournament squads.

During his time in Iowa City, Grout plans to study Enterprise Leadership. The Hawkeyes were 44-16 a year ago, earning a trip to the NCAA Regional Tournament.

Grout will join head coach Rick Heller’s squad after one more high school run.