When Maddux Frese was just 2 years old, he stood in the hallways of Principal Park in Des Moines and played catch with his father, Nate, who was playing his final season for the Iowa Cubs.
Nate Frese played for the Hawkeyes from 1996 to 1998, where he was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the 10th round of the MLB Draft. He played seven seasons in the minor leagues, advancing as high as AAA in Des Moines.
Nate Frese played in 601 games and finished his professional career with a .249 average with 32 home runs and 222 RBIs. He also stole 29 bases and hit 100 doubles in his seven-year career.
Now, in 2026, the same kid who grew up playing catch in the bowels of a minor league stadium is following his father’s footsteps at the University of Iowa, wearing the same number that Nate Frese did during his time at Iowa.
“I chose it,” Maddux Frese said about wearing his father’s number. “It just creates a special connection between him and me.”
Maddux Frese also said he always wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps, and landing in Iowa City was always the dream as he went through high school. The pitcher, however, had to take a slight detour to end up where he always wanted to be.
The junior spent his first two seasons at Southeastern Community College in West Burlington, Iowa. There, Frese pitched 112 ⅓ innings in two seasons, posting a 2.96 earned run average and 79 strikeouts.
Maddux Frese also logged 20 at-bats in 2024, collecting six hits with two RBIs, before switching to a full-time pitcher in 2025.
Now in his first season with the Hawkeyes, Maddux Frese has replicated that success. The Norway, Iowa, native has made five starts and 11 appearances in 2026, pitching to a 2.56 ERA with 36 strikeouts and just 18 walks in 59 ⅔ innings.
“He’s been great, locating extremely well,” head coach Rick Heller said. “Pounding the zone, working ahead in the count, getting tons of bad contact. He’s been fantastic for us.”
Maddux Frese said his time at Southeastern helped prepare him for Big Ten competition, specifically putting on weight and adding velocity.
“In high school, I was a little undersized,” Maddux Frese said. “Iowa was my dream school, so I went there [Southeastern], put on some weight, put on some velo, and Southeastern really set me up for the stuff I do now.”
The combination of two years of college experience before transferring to Iowa and his father’s guidance has made Maddux Frese the most consistent pitcher on the Hawkeye staff, throwing five or more innings in three of his five starts and in five of his 11 appearances.
“He just taught me with his own experiences,” Maddux Frese said about how his father has helped him throughout college. “If I have a bad outing, just flush it, and stuff like that.”
Maddux Frese isn’t the only Iowa player whose father played for the Hawkeyes, as Brian Mitchell, Troy Wulf, and current pitching coach Wes Obermueller all played at the same time and even roomed together.
“It’s a testament to the program,” Heller said about the legacy of former Hawkeyes’ sons. “They all want to be Hawkeyes and feel proud that they’re here.”
When Maddux Frese committed to Iowa as a transfer, his father’s reaction immediately let him know that joining the Hawkeyes was the right decision.
“He said it was awesome,” Maddux Frese said. “Wouldn’t want it any other way.”