Almost every year, a highly-drafted high school pitcher spurns pro ball and immediately becomes a star on campus. From Gerrit Cole to Tyler Beede, it’s a pretty serious list.
Matt Krook appears to be next in line.
The Oregon freshman, who’s on the Orleans roster for 2014, was a supplemental first-round pick of the Marlins. He didn’t sign after a failed physical led to a significant reduction in his signing bonus.
He was the second-highest pick who didn’t sign, behind only Phil Bickford, who went 10th overall and is now at Cal State Fullerton (Bickford is not currently on a CCBL roster for 2014). While Bickford has been good in his own right in his freshman season, Krook’s numbers have been even a little better.
The lefty from San Mateo, Calif., ranks eighth in the nation in strikeouts with 49. That’s exactly one behind Carlos Rodon, the man who may be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2014 draft. Krook, who’s been the Saturday starter for the Ducks, has a 2.00 ERA to lead the team’s starters and opponents are hitting just .160 against him.
Clearly, Krook has little trouble adjusting from the high school ranks, which is no big surprise. Krook pitched a few innings in the Far West League last year, a collegiate summer league that allows college-bound players to compete, and was named the top prospect by Perfect Game.