Robert Prieto

Inducted in 2021

Baseball

As a Lion

Robert Prieto came to Freed-Hardeman from Venezuela in 2010. He was one of the purest hitters to ever come through the FHU baseball program, and he followed his abilities at the plate to a 2021 FHU Athletics Hall of Fame induction.

At induction, Prieto was in the top 10 in multiple categories in FHU baseball history. His single-season rankings include: .417 batting average (2012, 10th), 85 hits (2012, 1st), 79 hist (2011, 2014, 7th), 20 doubles (2011, 5th), and 58 RBIs (2014, 10th).

In his career, he is the third all-time in batting average (.398), first in hits (310, 53 more than No. 2 on the list), first in doubles (58), second in RBIs (177), fourth in runs (186), sixth in stolen bases (79), first in at-bats (779), 10th in walks (79), and third in total games played (214).

"What a great and well-deserved honor for Robert and his family." coach Jonathan Estes said. "Robert was a model of consistency. He simply came to the yard every day and did something he loved. His passion to improve, his love for his teammates, and his exceptional abilities defined Robert as a player. Everyone that had the privilege to watch Rober play or be his teammate knew this day would come."

Prieto was named a Second-Team All-American in 2012 and was a four-time All-Conference player while also being named National Player of the Week in 2011.

"It is an absolute honor and privilege to be selected into the Hall of Fame," Prieto said. "To be part of such an elite group of outstanding student-athletes that have left their marks and records throughout the years, it is something really special that I will hold with me forever along with the amazing and caring people that I met during the process. Teachers, friends, coaches, trainers, and staff members all made my experience at Freed-Hardeman University so remarkable."

Prieto lives in Springfield, Missouri, where he works as a mortgage loan officer with Simmons Bank and travels the country with a slow-pitch softball team out of Kansas City. He has a son, Gabriel, and has been married to his wife, Sommer, for four years.