Tampa Bay’s rich tradition of elite prep baseball prospects stretched all the way to Brooksville on Thursday night.
Hernando shortstop Christian Arroyo became the first high school player in Hernando County history to be drafted in the first round when the San Francisco Giants picked him 25th overall in the amateur draft.
Arroyo was the state’s only first-rounder drafted directly from high school Thursday, and he became the highest drafted player from Hernando County since Bronson Arroyo (no relation) was chosen by the Pirates in the third round of the 1995 draft.
“It was the most exhilarating moment of my life,” Arroyo said. “It was crazy.”
The moments leading up to it were tense.
Rumors had been circulating in Brooksville for weeks about the Giants snagging Arroyo in the first round. But when San Francisco came up at No. 25, Arroyo’s phone didn’t ring, even though the draft had fallen his way with three middle infielders already off the board. Arroyo and his family started thinking about the next possible landing spot.
Instead, MLB commissioner Bud Selig stepped to the podium and called Arroyo’s name.
“You work your whole life for a moment like this,” Arroyo said. “I can’t ask for anything more right now.”
Although the pick didn’t surprise Arroyo, it shocked some analysts.
Baseball America ranked him as the draft’s No. 102 overall prospect, and called the pick “a bit of a reach” for an “undersized grinder.”
He was the first player chosen who didn’t crack MLB’s top 100 prospects list, and ESPN ranked him at No. 99 overall. The MLB Network’s telecast called it “a shocking pick,” not because of his potential but because of his hard-to-project position.
Arroyo’s credentials are strong. He signed with the Gators after committing during his junior season.
He not only represented the United States in the under-18 world championships in Korea last September — he was the tournament MVP, guided the United States to gold with a .387 average and appeared in Sports Illustrated.
And this week, the Florida Dairy Farmers named Arroyo their Class 5A player of the year and a finalist for the state’s Mr. Baseball award. As a senior, he batted .524 with 35 RBIs and ranked among the state’s leaders with 11 home runs for the Class 5A, District 7 champs and region finalists.
Despite his production, some scouts feared his 6-foot-1, 185-pound frame and below-average speed might project better at catcher or second base than shortstop, though the Giants said they plan to try him at shortstop.
“He’s an offensive middle infielder and we’re excited about being able to select him,” Giants assistant general manager John Barr told the San Francisco Chronicle.
Arroyo said this week that he wants to stay at shortstop initially but isn’t opposed to moving positions if shortstop doesn’t work out.
“If I don’t have to do it as soon as my career begins, I don’t want to,” Arroyo said. “I want to stay a shortstop as long as possible.”
Thursday was the culmination of a whirlwind week for the 18-year-old Arroyo. He graduated high school Monday and gave his school’s salutatorian speech. Three days later, he realized a lifelong dream, heard his name on national television and made North Suncoast history.
The coming weeks could get even crazier as he faces the biggest decision of his life. Arroyo carried a 4.4 GPA at Hernando and would like to study engineering at Florida if baseball doesn’t work out. But a pro contract — slotted at $1,866,500, according to Baseball America — might keep him out of Gainesville.
Arroyo said he’ll spend the summer in negotiations with a club that’s won the World Series twice in the last four seasons.
“It was an exhilarating moment,” Arroyo said. “Words just can’t explain it.”
Matt Baker can be reached at mbaker@tampabay.com or on Twitter @MattHomeTeam.
Making history
Christian Arroyo is Hernando County’s only first-rounder. A look at the players drafted out of high school in the county:
Year Player, HS Team, Round
2013 SS Christian Arroyo, Hernando Giants, 1st
2011 LHP Brett Maggard, Hernando Phillies, 38th
1995 RHP Bronson Arroyo, Hernando Pirates, 3rd
1993 RHP Landon Hessler, Hernando Astros, 23rd
1993 RHP Brent Stentz, Hernando Padres, 45th
1989 RHP Avery Duval, Hernando Rangers, 54th
1988 3B Tyrone Woods, Hernando Expos, 5th
1986 3B Steven Livesey, Springstead Yankees, 29th
1984 RHP Mike C. Walker, Hernando Expos, 14th
1976 C Charles Farmer, Hernando Tigers, 9th
Source: Baseball America