Texas pitcher Jared Southard talks mental health, resetting mid-season

Texas pitcher Jared Southard revealed he dealt with some mental health issues during the regular season following the Longhorns’ regional tournament victory. A trip home as a college student always helps when you’re feeling down, and Southard used his to “recommit” to his craft, helping Texas earn a Super Regional berth along the way.

“I was having a tough time mentally, I had a lot of things going on,” Southard said. “I went back to my high school and the saw the kids there and talked to them. They just lost in the playoffs – I don’t know, it just kind of gave me some hope.

Southard said that he helped out a bit at practice that day. He stepped on the mound but never felt himself while throwing that day. After the workout, one kid in particular stopped him and asked if Southard would be coming back to work with them again, to which Southard said yes.

“He gave me this frost blue Gatorade,” Southard recalled. “I don’t know – I only drink that now. It’s kind of a change and it just kind of gave you some hope to see those kids look up to me, that’s what really changed.

Southard must have had some of that Gatorade in the dugout during their deciding regional victory over Air Force last week. The Longhorns reliever logged three innings on the mounds, only allowing one hit and one walk while striking out six of the 12 batters he faced.

Since, he’s pitched less than an inning, pitching 0.2 in the Super Regional Game 1 loss to East Carolina. He allowed one hit and was pulled after the second batter and hasn’t returned to the lineup since.

Of course, he was likely resting his arm for the massive Game 3 set for Sunday. The winner will advance to the College World Series, and Southard is ready for his opportunity to lock his team into one of the seven remaining spots available after Texas A&M punched their ticket to Omaha after sweeping Louisville Saturday afternoon.

“My coaches and teammates and my friends they all have my back, and they’ve always had my back,” he said. “I guess that recommitment just kind of clicked. I also had some dreams that helped – like literal dreams. It all just kind of came together, I just prayed about it and God’s there.”