These are a couple of articles on a collegiate baseball player Jacoby Ellsbury. Jacoby grew up in my hometown (pop 5370), and is playing baseball at OSU. My brother was his baseball coach from 8 to 16, and the team he played on when he was 15, and that my brother coached, finished 2nd in Senior Little League Western Divisionals Tournament, which is one step removed from Regionals, and another step removed from Nationals. The team they lost to in Divisional's was the eventual second place team at Nationals.
Jacoby is on track to get drafted in one of the first 2 rounds of the MLB draft next year. He was rate the 27th best collegiate Sophmore starting this season, and was a Freshman All-American. The Angels were prepared to draft him the 7th round coming out of high school, but he wanted to go to college, so they passed on him, and he was eventually the 23rd round pick of the DRays.
He is a great kid, very respectful. His mother is Navajo Indian, so I would assume he will be the first Navajo Major Leaguer. In talking with him, all the scouts have told him that expect him to be taken in the first 2 rounds. Hits for average, hits for power, tremendous defensive player, great arm, and run like the a gazelle. Incredible athlete, and really a very nice kid. We are hoping he gets drafted by a West Coast team so we can go see him play.
http://www.oregonlive.com/sports/oregonian...67198015850.xmlhttp://www.portlandtribune.com/archview.cgi?id=23782
