The Hitting Zone

["With the eighth pick in the 2020 MLB Draft, the San Diego Padres select Robert Hassell, an outfielder from Independence High School, Thompson's Station, Tennessee."]

Everyone got a little quieter.

"The first high school player to be selected this year." Noah commented. "He's gotta be crazy good to beat you out, Garret."

And he was. Crazy good was even an understatement in my opinion. Like Garret, he played outfield and did some pitching for his high school team. Unlike Garret, he was recognized as a top collegiate prospect going INTO high school. As a freshman, he committed to University of Tennessee. Which changed to Vanderbilt his sophomore year. He's been named player of the year for his county all four years and even Tennessee's Gatorade Player of the Year. He had been to the Little League World Series twice, representing Nashville, Tennessee.

After his junior year, Hassell was named to the roster for the United States national baseball team to compete in the 2019 World Baseball/Softball Confederation U-18 Baseball World Cup and won the Richard W. "Dick" Case Award as the team's most valuable player after leading the team in 10 different offensive categories.

"God damn." Dave cursed. "Just when you think you see the top, there's another mountain to climb."

The men on tv, said that Robert had the nicest left-handed swing in the whole draft. He was mainly a contact-over-power hitter…just like me. But like Garret, he threw fast on the mound. Clocked 93mph in his last game.

"Well, at least you have him there." Noah patted Garret on the back as if to console him.

Garret held up his hands in defeat. "That's the advantage of playing on a higher level. Your name is more well-known. I didn't play for Team USA and go beat a bunch of other countries." He glanced at me. "This sounds more like Jake's future."

"Right!" Noah slapped my back. "You can totally take him, Jake! His batting average ain't shit compared to yours."

My lips twitched. "Thanks…"

"And you had more homers than him!" Dave added, reading off the screen. "Really, you make this guy look bad."

"I will definitely be here for Jake's draft day." Garret clapped his hands together. "He's a future number one. I know it."

"Yea."

"Same here."

"Agreed."

I felt my face heat up as everyone looked forward to the draft in two years. It kind of felt…like it really was my future. No colleges were mentioned as everyone guessed if I would be a real number one overall, or if I would slip a couple spots because I would be coming out of high school.

"Jake isn't like other high school players." Noah argued with some of the guys. "He's already using a wood bat. He would totally go first."

"As long as no one post any videos of him tripping over his own feet." Dave added with a laugh. He pulled out his phone. "Did I show you guys this?" He pulled out a very cringe-worthy video of me falling on my face during that first Regional tryout.

I covered my face with a hand, completely embarrassed.

The draft went on. Team after team. A handful of pitchers went. And a handful of outfielders. I would occasionally glance at Garret to make sure he wasn't upset. He truly didn't seem bothered. Maybe it had something to do with his confidence. Or that he truly liked playing baseball like Noah, so it didn't matter to him when he went.

On the tv, they would play the top available players and soon, Garret's name was in the top ten. He would go soon! Yankees was another team interested in him and they had the 28th pick. Baltimore and Kansas City would come up again soon too in the Competitve Balance Round A at picks 30 and 32 respectively.

Right after the 24th pick, Garret's phone went off and the room went dead silent. Everyone was here and no one would call him right now…unless…

Garret stood up and answered the phone as all eyes were on him. "Hello? Yes, I'm Garret. I'm good, how are you?" There was a lengthy paused. Garret broke out the biggest grin I've seen. "Awesome! Thank you so much! Yea, we'll talk again soon. Thanks, again. Bye." He hung up and turned to the tv. "Someone should probably turn it up."

Garret's dad was on it. The tv went to max volume.

The commissioner was walking back to the podium. ["With the 25th pick of the 2020 MLB Draft, the Atlanta Braves select Garret Knudsen, pitcher from Watsonville High School, Watsonville, California."]

The room burst into cheers and everyone jumped up to surround Garret. I grinned, yet got out of the way of the mob that was forming in the center of the room. I scooted close to the tv to hear what they had to say about my friend and teammate.

["This is actually Watsonville's second time in two years, having a first round pick. More famously, Zeke Atkins who declined and decided to go to Stanford where his teammate just got selected as the second pick."

"Yea, they're just cranking out some excellent players out there. It's just a small town, but they've made a big impact, having won back to back state championships with the help of this young man right here." Highlights of Garret pitching took over the screen. "This lefty knows speed and his accuracy has to be unparalleled at his age. He also throws a mean cutter that has the same start as his fastball. If that wasn't enough, he's been adding a slider to his arsenal."

"His accomplishments on the mound are some of the best at his level, but let's not forget that he's a beast at the plate as well. On the days he doesn't pitch, he plays in center and bats cleanup. He actually hit the walk-off single for his team to win their last state championship game."]

The analysts went on and on about him until the commissioner came back out to announce the next pick. I looked back to the others in the room, who were still celebrating.

"What did they say about him?" Noah left the group and came over to me by the tv.

I gave him a small summary. Then frowned. "I probably should have recorded it for him. They really like his cutter."

"His parents probably have the whole program to record to their DVR." Noah waved my worry off. "This is something special after all."

"We didn't do much for Zeke." I pointed out, kind of feeling bad.

"Zeke wouldn't change his mind." Noah shrugged. "No matter how much I wanted him to. Don't worry though, he'll get another chance soon enough. Next year, if he can finish his courses and graduate early." Noah grinned. "It'll be a great surprise for everyone in the draft. Our small town will be mentioned again." His eyes started to sparkle. "If Kyle gets drafted this year. And Zeke next year. Then it could be us to make it three years in a row."

I laughed. "Yea."

"Stupid Dave will probably want to graduate college and mess up the streak." Noah rolled his eyes. Then looked back to me. "Seeing that Robert guy from Tennessee got me thinking, we should hurry up and commit to a college. I want it mentioned that I was an early commit when I get drafted too."

"But don't we have to visit the schools first?" I asked, unsure.

"Probably." He shrugged. "At the very least, Mom would make us. But who cares. It's just for show. I think I'll commit to Stanford, no scholarship needed. Just want to use their name and then show off when I go pro."

I laughed at his idea.