BY STEVE KRAH
When Matt Parenteau goes back to college in August he will be donning new colors — the Royal Blue and White of Indiana State University.
With two remaining years of baseball eligibility, the right-handed pitcher has transferred after two seasons at the University of Mississippi.
Parenteau, who turns 23 in December, is a 2019 graduate of Guerin Catholic High School in Noblesville, Ind.
He pitched for Sinclair College in Dayton, Ohio in 2020 — a season shortened by the COVID-19 pandemic. That summer he was with the Park Rangers in the College Summer League at Grand Park in Westfield, Ind.
When the Sinclair Tartans program guided by Steve Dintaman shut down Parenteau transferred to National Junior College Athletic Association member Parkland College in Champaign, Ill., and pitched for the Jon Goebel-coached Cobras in 2021 (posting a 1.94 ERA with 74 K’s in 46 1/3 innings and landing on the all-Mid-West Athletic Conference and NJCAA all-academic first teams) then took the mound for Ole Miss in 2022 and 2023.
Parenteau pitched eight times out of the bullpen through April 14 and the Mike Bianco-coached Rebels went on to win the 2022 College World Series.
The summer saw Parenteau hurl in two games with the Northwoods League’s Kokomo (Ind.) Jackrabbits. He got a PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma) injection in the fall to strengthen the tendons and ligaments in his elbow.
The tall righty threw 49 in-game pitches for Ole Miss this past season. He got into games twice in February and twice in March. His last appearance for the Rebels was March 12, 2023 against Purdue. He underwent Tommy John reconstructive elbow surgery shortly after that and is now about two weeks away from being able to throw again.
In 26 collegiate games — 14 at the NJCAA level (11 starts) and 12 at NCAA Division I (all in relief) — he is 7-2 with one save, 94 strikeouts and 33 walks in 62 innings.
Parenteau says his role at ISU will be up to his coaches and his progress in building back up after surgery.
Indiana State — with Mitch Hannahs as head coach and Justin Hancock as pitching coach — is coming off a 2023 season in which the Terre Haute-based Sycamores went 45-17 overall, 24-3 in the Missouri Valley Conference and advanced to the Fort Worth Super Regional.
Parenteau is 6-foot-6 and 240 pounds and delivers his pitches from a high three-quarter arm slot.
He throws a four-seam fastball, curveball and slider and hopes to add a change-up to his arsenal.
Pre-surgery, his four-seamer was clocked at 91 to 94 mph. His curve is of the “11 to 7” variety. It’s a traditional slider than Parenteau uses — not a sweeper.
“I’ve always had a strong arm growing up,” says Parenteau. “I worked hard and was a good teammate.
“I’ve always been tall. That’s always helped.”
One of his favorite big leaguers is 6-foot-8 Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Tyler Glasnow.
“He’s similar guy to me,” says Parenteau.
Born in Indianapolis, Parenteau grew up in Carmel, Ind. He played rec and travel ball through Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church and School until high school then for the Circle City Hoosiers and Indiana Lumber Kings — the last summer being 2019.
He was a baseball and basketball player at Guerin Catholic.
On the diamond, his varsity head coach was Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Famer Rich Andriole.
“He was awesome,” says Parenteau. “He was fun to play for. He was a really good coach.
“He taught us a lot — on the off the field.”
Andriole died in 2020.
On the hardwood, Parenteau had two head coaches — Pete Smith (who brought state championships to the Golden Eagles in 2012 and 2015) then Bobby Allen.
“Playing basketball adds another aspect of athleticism that colleges coaches like to see,” says Parenteau. “Coach Smith taught the game really well.
“Bobby Allen is a lot younger and brought a different style to the program. I really enjoyed playing for both of them.”
As a baseball senior, Parenteau posted a 1.90 earned run average with 73 strikeouts in 58 1/3 innings and was named all-Circle City Conference and all-Hamilton County.
Parenteau earned a General Business degree at Mississippi in the spring. He is unsure what is academic pursuit will be at Indiana State.
Matt is the oldest child of Bob and Andrea Parenteau. He is in ticket sales with the Indianapolis Colts. She is a nurse. Both were swimmers at Ball State University. Uncles Jon and Dan Parenteau swam at Ohio University and the University of Connecticut, respectively.
Siblings of Matt include brothers Jack and Will and sisters Ally and Anna. Former prep basketballer Jack Parenteau (Guerin Catholic Class of 2021) nows attends Purdue University. Will Parenteau (Guerin Catholic Class of 2025) is a basketball player and golfer.
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