For so many Indiana students, the university has a special place in their family’s hearts. That’s the case for Indiana baseball’s Tommy Sommer and his father, Juergen.
Tommy is one of Indiana’s starting pitchers and is off to a fantastic start to his 2021 season, but he is still chasing the success his father had in his time at Indiana. Juergen was started his Indiana journey as a walk-on with the Indiana men’s soccer team under Jerry Yeagley, but by his sophomore season, he was a national champion. As a senior, he was named American Goalkeeper of the Year.
Yeagley was never one to play favorites, according to Juergen. He would give playing time to whoever deserved it, whether that was a five-star recruit or a walk-on.
“He gave everyone a chance, whether you came in on a full scholarship or you were a walk-on,” Juergen said. “If you could help the team win games, and at that point, he guaranteed every incoming freshman a chance to play for a national championship.”
The men’s soccer program at Indiana has a lot of history. Eight national championship, a father and son coaching combo that has created one of the best programs in the country, and pros all over the MLS. Meanwhile the Indiana baseball program has started to build its own successful trajectory over the past decade or so.
Juergen believes the two programs are based on similar principles, and the way Jeff Mercer runs the baseball program reminds him a lot of the way Yeagley ran the soccer program.
Tommy and Juergen Sommer discuss growing up in the Sommer household, Tommy’s early baseball days, his high school sports decision, Juergen’s soccer career, and more.
Most people would believe that a son of an all-time soccer performer like Juergen would be destined for the pitch. However, his mother, a Division 1 softball player, had a different plan. At the age of three, Tommy’s mother taped his right hand to his hip so that he was forced to throw lefthanded. Now, he’s one of the best lefthanded pitchers in the country.
“Eventually, he [Juergen] let me go and play baseball,” Tommy said, “He could tell late in my high school career that I was done playing soccer. I wasn’t that great at it. I wasn’t that passionate about it. He saw that baseball was something that I wasn’t necessarily great at, but it was something I really wanted to do.”
Believe it or not, Indiana wasn’t a sure thing for Tommy in his recruitment. He was being recruited by the old baseball staff, led by current Mississippi State Head Coach Chris Lemonis, but he kept his options open, looking around at several different, high-level schools who were recruiting him.
“For some reason it was really hard for me to pull the trigger,” Tommy said.
Indiana was one of the first schools to offer Tommy a scholarship, but he wanted to go through the process, and his high-school self wanted to get away from home, spend a few years somewhere new. But when he really thought about it, he realized it made the most sense to stay in-state and pitch at Indiana.
Juergen and his wife Susie made sure to stay out of the way during the process, because when it came down to it, it was a decision Tommy would have to live with, not them.
But of course when he chose Indiana, Juergen was happy with that decision.
“We’re obviously very proud of that,” Juergen said. “He’s a third-generation Hoosier.”
Tommy and Juergen Sommer discuss Tommy’s recruitment to Indiana, the pride the parents have to see him in the Cream and Crimson, Tommy’s recent pitching success and more.
Juergen won a national title at Indiana and went on to be third in Indiana men’s soccer history in saves and wins. He also played overseas in the Premier League. But when asked what Tommy has to do to catch him when it comes to athletic success, Juergen was quick to admit he isn’t on top anymore.
“I think he’s already done that,” Juergen said. “I’ve fallen down the food chain. I’m like the red-headed great-grandchild. There’s baseball, football, basketball, pickleball and now soccer. I’ve already slid as far down the ladder as I can slide.”
Tommy was named the Big Ten Pitcher of the Week after an incredible eight inning performance in which he struck out ten batters and got the win over Minnesota. The Hoosiers are 9-2 this season, tied for first in the Big Ten.
Some people want to create their own legacies, but for Tommy and Juergen, it’s about continuing a long line of Hoosier greatness.
