prior to playing professionally, he attended logan-rogersville high school and then missouri state university. in 2008, he played collegiate summer baseball with the brewster whitecaps of the cape cod baseball league, and was named a league all-star. in 2009, baumann was named the missouri valley conference pitcher of the year, a finalist for the national pitcher of the year award and a semifinalist for the golden spikes award. he was selected by the kansas city royals in the 7th round of the 2009 major league baseball draft and was signed by scout scott melvin.