Edwardsville baseball star was a possible MLB draft pick. Will coronavirus change that?
Drake Westcott was looking forward to his senior and final year as a member of the Edwardsville High School baseball team.
The first three years have been pretty impressive.
A pure left-handed power-hitting first baseman, Westcott is a three-time Illinois High School Baseball Coaches Association Class 4A all-state selection who, in his first three springs in a Tigers uniform, has batted .435, .510 and .380 with a collective 28 home runs and 112 RBI.
A year ago, Westcott achieved the pinnacle when, despite battling an injury for much of the season, he hit nine home runs and drove in 39 runs in helping the Tigers win the IHSA Class 4A state title.
But now, like most, if not all of the millions of high school, college and professional athletes throughout the nation, Westcott waits and wonders if there will be a season as the world wages its war against the coronavirus pandemic.
“Not being able to play does make you appreciate it more,” Westcott said this week. “Really, though, when you love baseball you are always just waiting for the next season, the next game, the next at bat and missing it in between. This wait is just different because there is no real start date for when we get to play again.”
And there may or may not be a decision any time soon. Following the announcement of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker on Tuesday that he is extending the Illinois stay-at-home order until April 30, the Illinois High School Association said Wednesday it remains optimistic a limited spring sports season can still take place if the situation improves in that time.
Illinois schools are closed through April 30.
“I am still trying to stay positive that we might get to have some sort of season even if it is a shorter season. The IHSA has been great about not making any quick decisions yet. That makes me hopeful that they are waiting to see what happens before canceling the season,” Westcott said.
“I also read there might be a chance to extend the season into summer. I will take whatever we can get. I just want to play ball again. The longer we are out of school the less optimistic I am though.”
Staying in shape
Edwardsville did have a scrimmage game before the coronavirus pandemic, but Westcott has still managed to stay in baseball condition, both physically and mentally despite being away from his Tigers teammates.
“Doing as much as I can to stay in baseball shape. I know we will play again someday and I need to be ready whenever that happens,” Westcott said.
“I am hitting off a tee and playing catch as much as I can. I lift weights at home and we have workout equipment so I am continuing to work on my strength and conditioning every day. Yesterday (Monday) I rowed a boat around a lake just happy to be outside.”
But being away from his teammates has been difficult.
Edwardsvillle, which defeated St. Charles North 3-2 at Route 66 Stadium in Joliet last June to win the third state title in school history, returns several key players from that team and was poised to make another run at the state finals..
Instead, Westcott and his teammates must face the possibility they may not get the opportunity.
“Not being able to play my senior year is tough for a lot of reasons. We had a really solid roster again this year and think we could have a legitimate shot at defending our state title or at least making it deep into the postseason,” Westcott said.
“Wearing the Tigers uniform has been such an incredible experience. It is just hard to think that might not happen again. I keep saying if we don’t get to play again that at least my last game in a Tigers uniform was when we won state last year. Hard to top that. Still just unbelievable that our senior season may have only been a scrimmage game.”
The future ... Louisville or the pros?
The reigning Belleville News-Democrat large school Player of the Year, Westcott gave a verbal commitment to the University of Louisville early in his high school career and he is looking forward to playing for the Cardinals beginning later this summer.
That is, if he does not get drafted and sign with a major league organization.
The actual draft will have a different look to it this June. Instead of the normal 40 rounds as it has been since 2012, the draft this year will have a maximum of 10 rounds and a minimum of five. The actual number will be released at a later date.
Also, the announcement this week the NCAA has granted its spring sport athletes an extra year of eligibility because of the coronavirus pandemic will effect who gets drafted..
Westcott is among the top high school players who could get taken. He has had at home visits from a few MLB organizations and attended and completed showcase workouts for major league teams.
But Westcott has no idea where he stands with the scouts.
“This year’s MLB Draft is still pretty up in the air. With it being 5-10 rounds, it changes many things for many players,” Westcott said. “I have known several players that have gone through the process in recent years and the one thing they have all agreed on is that things change constantly and you don’t really know where you might end up until you hear your name called or very shortly before that happens.”
But there is little doubt in those who know what makes the Tigers star tick that he has unlimited potential to compete at both the college and professional level. The Tigers first baseman is not only a pure hitter with power, but he has the knowledge of what it takes for him to perform at a high level.
“Drake has advanced hitting skills at the plate because he possesses power, but also the ability to hit for average and has a high level feel for the game in the box,” Edwardsville coach Tim Funkhouser said. “He understands what the pitcher has and how he may use his arsenal. Drake does a great job of being able to compute that and formulate a plan and is able to square up a lot of barrels (hard hit balls) because of that.
“There were two scouts that came by a scrimmage we had for the public on the Friday before we shut down and I know there has been a lot of interest, but nobody ever shares their cards. I would think with MLB changing the draft this year to 5-10 rounds and with all college players getting an additional year of eligibility it could change some things around the country, but in Drake’s circumstance it is hard to predict.”
Louisville sounds great, but MLB sounds even better
If Westcott is not taken in the draft, he will play at Louisville. The Cardinals are a perennial top 15 national power and will provide great competition as Westcott also gets a quality education.
But the end goal for Westcott is to play in the big leagues.
“My end goal is to play baseball professionally someday. That has not changed,” Westcott said. “Going to Louisville to play baseball and having the opportunity to develop with those incredible coaches in that environment is a great opportunity. Getting to go pro out of high school and being part of a professional club would also be great.
“I can’t say what happens at this point, I just know they are both amazing opportunities. I would be fortunate to take either path. I am just anxious for the chance to get to play baseball again.”
This story was originally published April 3, 2020 at 12:24 PM.
