HP Lefty Kershaw Tops One Prospect List
09:09 PM CDT on Tuesday, May 23, 2006
By TIM MacMAHON / The Dallas Morning News
UNIVERSITY PARK – Highland Park pitcher Clayton Kershaw's talent makes him an easy target for his buddies' wisecracks.
They love bringing up the probability that Kershaw will be a first-round pick in June's Major League Baseball draft, because the subject makes the humble left-hander squirm. And Kershaw can't stand it when his friends facetiously beg for him to buy gifts when he becomes a millionaire this summer.
"We're all giving him a list," said Josh Meredith, Kershaw's teammate and best friend.
Another list recently gave Kershaw's crew more ammunition. Baseball America named Kershaw the No. 1 prospect among high school seniors in its rankings released last month.
Kershaw, No. 34 in the preseason rankings, refuses to let the attention go to his head. He said it's too early to speculate on whether he'll pass up a scholarship to Texas A&M to turn pro. He said he'll have no expectations entering the draft, because he doesn't want to be let down.
"I'll just play high school ball, do the best I can and try to help my team win," Kershaw said while sitting in the living room of the cozy, one-story house where he lives with his mother, Marianne. "When the draft gets here, if my name is called, then we'll talk about it."
Kershaw hopes his high school career won't be finished when he's drafted. The draft is June 6 and 7, the same week as the state tournament.
Highland Park is 6-0 in the playoffs despite only one pitching appearance from Kershaw, who will start Thursday night's Class 4A Region II semifinal against Corsicana. He did not pitch in the first two series after straining a muscle in his side during the regular-season finale against Forney. About a dozen scouts packed their radar guns and headed for the Scotland Yard exit when Kershaw left the game.
The scouts were back in the stands for Kershaw's sensational performance Friday night against Justin Northwest. He pitched a perfect game, needing only 73 pitches to strike out all 15 batters he faced in the 10-0, run-rule victory.
Scouts consider this year's national crop of seniors to be a weak class. Several of the top prospects have been inconsistent, including Mansfield right-hander Jordan Walden, whose velocity has fluctuated from the upper 80s to upper 90s.
But Kershaw's stock has steadily risen throughout the season. He has overpowered opponents, going 11-0 with a 0.41 ERA and 119 strikeouts in 51 innings.
Kershaw (6-4, 210) established himself as an elite prospect last summer, when he was selected for the U.S. Junior National team. His stuff has improved significantly since then.
"He powers the ball down the hill at 94 miles per hour, has a plus breaking ball and throws strikes," said A&M coach Rob Childress, who is well aware that Kershaw might never pitch an inning for the Aggies. "There's not many kids who do that from the left side."
Kershaw, who has a 37-8 record in four varsity seasons, credits Navarro Junior College coach Skip Johnson for helping him become a polished pitcher. Johnson gave Kershaw 15 lessons over the winter, focusing on improving his lower-body mechanics and finding a consistent arm slot. Kershaw said the result was better control and an additional three to four mph on his pitches.
Scouts are almost as enamored with Kershaw's makeup – a combination of character, composure and competitiveness – as his stuff. They love how Kershaw seems to thrive in pressure situations.
"He never gets flustered, but he's one of the most competitive people I ever met," said Highland Park third baseman Justin Walker, a fellow A&M recruit. "Those two attributes go together really well for a pitcher."
Kershaw's ability to block out the scouts while he's on the mound awes his teammates. He admits getting butterflies before every start, but he said the scouts don't make him nervous.
"I have two great opportunities – college or pro," said Kershaw, who is being advised by J.D. Smart of Hendricks Sports Management, the firm that represents Roger Clemens. "There's nothing to stress about. Either way, I'm going to be playing baseball."
For now, he's focused on playing as long as possible for Highland Park, happily sharing a dugout with a bunch of guys who love giving him a hard time.
KERSHAW UP CLOSE
A look at Highland Park pitcher Clayton Kershaw's pitches, based on conversations with coaches and scouts:
Fastball: Consistently clocked at 92 to 95 mph. Has natural sink and excellent movement with extra life at the plate. Considered major league caliber.
Breaking ball: Throws a "slurve," a combination of a curveball and slider that is 10 to 12 mph slower than his fastball. Sharp-breaking pitch that he commands well.
Changeup: Rarely uses it during high school games, when he can dominate with his two best pitches. Has used it effectively against elite competition, but needs improvement for it to be a reliable third pitch in the pros.
FEELING A DRAFT
Highland Park's Clayton Kershaw is one of three area senior pitchers projected to go in the early rounds of the major league draft. The trio, with their Baseball America ranking among high school seniors and key statistics from this season (*regular season only):
Rank Player, School
1 - Clayton Kershaw, Highland Park: 11-0, 0.41 ERA, 119 Ks in 51 IP
7 - Jordan Walden, Mansfield: 7-1, 0.86 ERA, 95 Ks in 49 IP*
25 - Nathan Karns, Arlington Martin: 7-1, 1.90 ERA, 66 Ks in 51 2/3 IP
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/highsch...ershaw.16f3c193.html
Original Post
