Wednesday, June 8, 2011

With their 42nd Round pick...

...The Astros select 6'2" 200lb Hoke Granger, a CF out of Northside Methodist Academy (HS) in Alabama.

Granger was the 89th-ranked player in Alabama, where MaxPreps went on to say:
D1 prospect OF, power hitter. Winner of 2010 Wiregrass HR Derby vs. 46 tri state high school hitters. High average and power hitter, team captain, a leader! Recently had pro workout where he hit 8 HR's with a wooden bat and ran a 6.87 cross over 60! 30 games into season 2nd in nation in RBI's, 3rd in HR's.

And, imagine that, Granger has committed to Gulf Coast Community College, after hitting .441 with eight homers and 21RBIs.

From that previous link, we find, from Granger:
One of the most relieving things I have ever done in my life was signing on that line to finally not worry about where I was going next year. It is a great feeling to know something I have worked for 10-15 years has happened. As long as I have been playing baseball, what I wanted to do one day was play college baseball. To finally meet that goal is an awesome feeling. I went for a workout and I liked both coaches (Kandler and assistant coach Michael Murphree). It is a great program, a well-respected program, one of the best junior college programs in the nation. I am real excited about playing there. I think it will be a good experience. I will grow and mature as a baseball player and get some exposure down there.

And don't expect him to sign:
They (Houston Astros) said they would probably take me, but I would like to get some of that college experience before stepping into that level. I would like to mature more as a baseball player. Going from high school to pros and thrown in June 15 into rookie ball is such a huge step. I know it will be in my best interest to get more experience under my belt before I make that decision. Unless it is lot more than I think they will take me for (financially), I will probably go to college. I am excited about that. I would prefer that.