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BASEBALL: A “Fab Five” of local prepsters get chosen in MLB Draft, represent different mindsets
The state saw five high school baseball stars selected in the 2013 MLB Draft.
Temperance-Bedford Jackson Lamb (Michigan) was the first one to go.
It wasn’t a surprise. Considered the top position player in the state (who also pitches quite dominantly), the big, strong and athletic centerfielder went in the 20th round to the Texas Rangers. Lamb was recently named the Gatorade Player of the Year in the Mitten. Over the weekend, he led his prep club to a regional title.
Next to go was North Farmington hurler Sterling Sharp taken by the Atlanta Braves in the 30th round. Southfield-Lathrup centerfielder Johnny Slater (like Lamb, an ace pitcher as well) got scooped up by the Braves one round later in the 31st round.
The hometown Detroit Tigers capped off the area’s draft-day festivities, snagging Lake Orion lefty power pitcher Nick Deeg and University of Detroit-Jesuit catcher Harrison Wenson. Deeg went in the 37th round and Wenson the 28th.
Sharp, Deeg and Wenson sparked their respective high schools to Class A district championships on the diamond this spring.
Deeg helped pitch Lake Orion into the quarterfinals.
Of the five draftees, Lamb and Deeg are the ones showing the most interest in signing with the organizations that chose them and starting their professional careers right away.
Currently, Deeg is signed with Central Michigan for his college ball and Lamb is signed with Michigan. If Lamb decides to honor his collegiate scholarship with the Wolverines he will be teammates with Slater and Wenson, both destined for Ann Arbor. Slater has already announced that he will be attending school, instead of going pro.
Sharp is inked with Eastern Michigan. Both him and Lamb were standouts on the basketball floor as prepsters, each a three-year starter at forward.
