Let’s all daydream for moment.
Imagine you are an 18-year-old gifted athlete from a rural town.
For the past two years, you have had professional scouts at your practices, your games and even in your home.
Last week, five-time All-Star Frank Thomas called out your name and high school on national TV.
You come to a decision that few 18-year-olds have to make — uphold your two-year commitment to the University of Florida and attend the school for free; or take a big payday and become a professional baseball player before you’re old enough to buy a six pack or rent a car.
For one Plant City resident, this is no daydream.
Tyler Danish, a right-handed pitcher, graduated June 3, from Durant High School. Three days later, he was drafted by the Chicago White Sox, in the second round (55th overall) of the Major League Baseball First Year Player Draft.
He will forgo playing for the Gators and begin his professional career, pending passing a physical in Chicago today.
It’s a decision that shouldn’t be taken lightly, even at 18 years young, and Danish didn’t take it as such. Playing professionally has been a lifelong dream for the hard-throwing right-hander, and although he already had a piece of his heart at UF, the opportunity was too good to pass up.
With all things considered, everything played out perfectly for Danish. Scouting reports going into the draft had him going in the third round or later.
Some reports have said the White Sox took a “risk” or made a “stretch” by drafting Danish, who has been criticized by some scouts for his unorthodox low 3/4 delivery, which some fear could lead to injuries in the future.
A lot of pitchers employ unique aspects in their deliveries, but Danish’s is truly one-of-a-kind.
Comparisons have been drawn to Oakland relief pitcher Pat Neshek and fellow White Sox Jake Peavy, but Danish’s stuff is unique.
White Sox Director of Amateur Scouting Doug Laumann commented on this uniqueness in an article on MLB.com: “I can honestly say that after — this is my 32nd year total — I don’t know that I’ve ever been as intrigued by a player since I’ve been scouting,.”
With a low 90s fastball matched with a slider, Danish provides a good contrast to hitters along with deception added by his delivery, especially to right-handed hitters. If he continues to develop the changeup he added to his repertoire this year, he will have three solid pitches that could make him a viable bullpen option, a closer or a possible middle of the rotation starter.
Sure, there will be a learning curve, and it’s safe to say he will never have another 0.00 ERA season, but moving into the minor leagues now will let him develop and progress as a pitcher and determine his path for the future — whether that’s in the bullpen or in the starting rotation.
Even if some of the scouts are correct, and Danish’s throwing motion leads to injuries down the road, getting into the thick of things now — opposed to spending at least three years playing in college — will give him a leg up, and he already could have an established career in MLB by that point.
Safe or not, there is no denying that Danish will be a fun prospect to follow for baseball fans.
Although stats, especially in high school, only carry so much weight when evaluating a player’s pro potential, there is one stat that no one can deny — Danish’s 0.00 ERA.
This virtually speaks for itself, but to put it into perspective, Danish’s numbers this year trumped high school seasons by other former Hillsborough County standouts, including Dwight Gooden, Danny Graves and Plant City’s own Kenny Rogers.
All three played in the Major Leagues and were All-Stars, but none of them ever had a 0.00 ERA in high school.
You literally cannot get any better than that.Related Stories