Fulton, Mo. – From the moment he stepped onto William Woods' campus in the fall of 2023, Kaden Kinsler made it clear he wasn't just another freshman trying to find his way. With blazing speed, raw power, and an unshakable confidence at the plate, the Elsberry, Missouri, native quickly became one of the most exciting players in the Owls' lineup.
Now a junior, Kinsler has already etched his name into the program's record books — and he isn't finished yet. After tying the single-season home run record last spring with 14, he heads into 2025 with big expectations for himself and his team.
"I mean, yeah, there is definitely some pressure, especially when you have some expectations for yourself, but it's the ability to balance that pressure out," Kinsler said. "But, at the end of the day, you just have to treat it like another day and another game; it can't be any different. I feel like for me, that is the best way I balance out the pressure to keep performing at my best."
Kinsler's athletic journey began like so many others: a kid growing up in a small town, bouncing between basketball courts and baseball diamonds. His speed and natural instincts turned heads early, culminating in a MSHSAA record-setting 37 stolen bases during his senior year at Elsberry High School. That explosiveness, paired with his ability to drive the ball out of the park, caught the attention of William Woods.
"I chose William Woods because when I came here, it kind of reminded me of home," Kinsler said. "It's not a huge campus, smaller classes, which is something I am kind of used to coming from a small-town high school. It gave me a sense of personal connection with my professors, and not being in a class of 100 people where the professor might not even know my name was a huge bonus. When deciding on a school, I obviously wanted the opportunity to play. I think Coach Cavness gave me the best opportunity there. Between that and the great academics at Woods, I couldn't resist."
That decision paid off quickly. In just two seasons, Kinsler has become a staple of the Owls' order, boasting a .360 batting average, 23 home runs, 94 RBI, and a remarkable 1.461 OPS. His trophy case has filled just as fast: AMC Freshman of the Year, All-AMC First Team, All-Tournament honors, and more.
But behind the numbers is a player who embraces preparation as much as performance.
"If we are facing a guy we've seen prior, I can prepare that way, or we get provided a decent scouting report that helps us analyze pitchers and what to expect when we show up to the yard, and we pick it up as the games go on," Kinsler said. "For the mental side, it's just trusting your own ability, no matter who's on the mound, just trusting you're training and not caring who you are facing is the biggest mental thing for me."
For Kinsler, growth has come not just from at-bats, but from the example of those who wore the uniform before him. He points to former captain Jack Niggemeier as a model for leadership. "I didn't really know what to expect coming in, but we had a great captain in Jack Niggemeier, and I was able to learn a lot from him as we were both in the outfield, so it gave us a lot of time together," Kinsler said. "I don't need to be vocal; I like to lead by what I do on and off the field because I think respect is something you must earn. The importance of being a leader is not to be overbearing and demanding; rather, it's more about being one of the guys. You can be a teammate and a leader at the same time; I learned that from Jack."
That lesson pairs well with a coaching staff made up entirely of William Woods alumni.
"I definitely think it's unique, Coach Cav talks about it a lot that he's been here and been through here and so have the coaching staff," Kinsler said. "They know all the ins and outs of playing college baseball and repping WWU, and I think that is important to have. It gives you a good mindset of what you're going to go through. They know what is always going on, and Cav says all the time he will never put us through something they haven't gone through."
While Kinsler's numbers speak for themselves, his time at William Woods isn't defined solely by baseball. A business major, he's taking advantage of the WWU Bridge Program to begin work on his MBA. "The business school is very inclusive, and I think it's great that we have the Bridge Program here that has helped me start to get my MBA at the end of the semester," he said. "They have all been very helpful and very welcoming to me and all my fellow classmates in just being open to any help that anyone needs."
He's also embraced the school's unique LEAD program, which fosters involvement and community. The LEAD Award program is an annual tuition award granted to all undergraduate students, regardless of financial need, who commit to campus and community involvement. "It definitely helps get people involved, whether you're an athlete or a traditional student; it helps build a sense of community," Kinsler said. "You can take LEAD as an opportunity to meet new people and create new connections you might not have if this program weren't here."
With two years still ahead of him, Kinsler is already preparing for a life after Woods. "I would love to keep playing, obviously, I love baseball. But I am a realist, at the end of the day, if Woods is my last stop on the journey, that's just a part of the journey," Kinsler said. "If things work out where I can keep playing as long as I possibly can, I will, but when I leave here, I will have my bachelor's and master's so I can use that as a jump start to my career in the business world."
Until then, he continues to add to a résumé that already includes:
And a growing list of honors:
For Kinsler, it all comes back to what happens between the lines — and what it means to wear William Woods across his chest.
The Owls open their 2025 season in Jefferson City with a three-game series against Lincoln University at historic Vivian Field, and their junior slugger will once again be right in the middle of it.
