TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Highlands Today

SFCC's Top Slugger Hopes To Feel A Draft

DECKER WAITS FOR NAME TO BE CALLED BY MLB TEAM

Chris Hoffman/Highlands Today

Brandon Decker

ADVERTISEMENT

By Christopher  Hoffman | Highlands Today

Published: June 4, 2008

AVON PARK — A cell phone will be Brandon Decker's best friend over the next few days as the SFCC record-setter waits to see if his name is called during the two-day Major League Baseball Amateur Draft being held at Walt Disney World Sports Complex in Orlando beginning today at 2 p.m.

"This is so exciting for me," Decker said Wednesday during a telephone interview. "I've watched the NFL and NBA drafts before, and now I know what those guys were going through as I watch the draft."

Decker, who batted a team-high .376 and belted a school record 20 home runs — fourth in the nation for junior college players this season — has had workouts with the St. Louis Cardinals, Toronto Blue Jays and Detroit Tigers during the weeks leading up to the draft.

All the teams put Decker through outfield drills and batting practice, but the Cardinals wanted to see the former Panther in action, so he played in a 12-inning game against the extended spring training players, where he went 3 for 6 with a home run.

That home run was his first as a "semi-professional."

"I had to adjust a bit to using a wood bat, but I waited for my pitch and got a hold of one," said the lefty slugger. "I enjoyed working out with the teams and they had nothing but good things to say about me and my ability."

Left-handed power is an attribute that most major league teams covet when looking for young talent. Panther head coach Rick Hitt believes that Decker can offer something special to any team that selects him.

"Ronnie Hanley, a former player of mine, had the purest right-handed power I've coached," Hitt said. "Ryan Raburn [currently with the Detroit Tigers] had the most tools of any player and Marcus Sanders and Kenny James were the speediest guys who could hit.

"But it's scary to think of how much power Brandon has for a left-hander. He's been the best power hitter I think we've had at SFCC. The numbers don't lie. He missed very few good pitches to hit and I think he's only going to get better. It's just an honor to be one of the one's considered for the big leagues. I should just enjoy this time because his life could change with one phone call."

Today and Friday will be spent with family, who'll congregate at the Decker home for just another early-summer gathering, but one that could turn into a celebration.

"I'll have enough family around to hopefully keep my mind off the draft," Decker said. "But I'll be watching because I have friends who are draft eligible and I want to see where they go.
"But the cell phone will be close by as I hope to get the call from a team that liked what they saw. I'm on the cusp of a lifelong dream and I wouldn't trade anything to be in this position right now."

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT