MARIETTA, Ga. –Two Georgia high school outfielders, Clint Frazier (fifth overall) and Austin Meadows (ninth overall), headlined this year’s Major League Baseball Draft. The 2012 MLB Draft featured local Georgia standout Byron Buxton (second overall) who is already making noise on the professional circuit. Next year’s draft could sport another Georgia high school outfielder in the early rounds: Michael Gettys.
Gettys’ stock seems to be on a continuous incline at the 2013 18u WWBA National Championship, which is hard to do when you’re already at the top.
Gettys stood out to scouts as a five-tool player at the Perfect Game National Showcase, impressing as a pitcher and an outfielder. Gettys hit 94 mph on his fastball, recording an outfield velocity of 100 mph (an event record), ran a 6.46 60-yard dash, and kept scouts very busy during his batting practice session.
“It was great being with the best players in the country and being able to compete,” said Gettys. “I like competing with the best and it was great to do that.”
Despite the fact that he was over 1,000 miles from Georgia when he was attending the National Showcase, Gettys felt right at home alongside the best high school baseball players in the country.
“They are trying to fulfill the same dreams I am of going up to the Major Leagues one day,” Gettys mentioned about being at the National. “It’s great to be around those kinds of people who are serious about baseball.”
He set his goals high at National. Gettys wanted to go to Minneapolis and be the best everything: the best outfielder, the best pitcher, and the best hitter. His work ethic enables him to do just that.
“I workout at my house a lot,” Gettys said. “I’ve increased my speed. I hit everyday and I long toss a lot.” He cites the fact that he put on around 25-pounds last year as a key factor in increasing his power to go along with his eye-catching bat speed.
“I’ve always had a quick bat, but I’ve gotten a lot stronger over the years, so I’ve been able to hit a lot farther,” said Gettys.
The Georgia native displayed his bat speed today when he smoked a fastball back up the middle for a single that recording 98 mph off the bat.
Immediately after the scouts were done taking batting notes, they began filling in notes in the speed category. Gettys stole second on the first pitch and then stole third a few pitches later.
The outfielder with a plus arm later collected another single and stolen base as his team, Tigers Baseball 17u, defeated the Syracuse Sports Zone Chiefs and improved to 5-0.
“I wanna help my team be the best team here and I wanna show all my tools,” said Gettys.
So far, he is on his way to achieving both of those goals as well.
Just a stone’s throw away from the East Cobb baseball complex, Gettys is very familiar with playing baseball here and has been doing it for as long as he can remember.
“It’s great. It’s a lot closer than Minnesota from my house,” joked Gettys. “It’s a fun tournament. You’re trying to win so you’re playing for something.”
Today, much like past East Cobb complex games he has been a part of, the scouts filed in to check out the speedy outfielder with all the tools to impress. Gettys doesn’t worry about that though. He doesn’t let the dozens of scouts affect the way he plays.
“You can control what you can control and that’s it,” Gettys said about playing in front of scouts.
The fact that he’s already made up his mind as to where he wants to play his college baseball at probably eases the butterflies as well. The electric player knew since his freshman year that he would play baseball for the University of Georgia
“I committed to (the University of) Georgia a long time ago,” said Gettys. “They said I can be a two-way guy, so I’ll be able to play outfield and pitch. It doesn’t get better than that.”
Why wouldn’t colleges let him play both positions? He displayed his ability to thrive against the best competition at the National on the mound, in the outfield, in the batter’s box, and on the base paths. He’s doing it again this week at the 2013 18u WWBA National Championship.
When reporting on an earlier tournament game, one Perfect Game scout’s report read:
“Showing well in Minnesota at the National Showcase, 2014 OF Michael Gettys (Gainesville, GA) hasn’t slowed down on the field, literally, as he lined a triple to the LCF gap for a stand up triple, nearly passing the runner who was on the bases ahead of him. Earlier in the game Gettys had a double which made it to the left field fence and he also drew a walk. He showed the same speed and hustle down the line as he did in Minnesota, along with his excellent bat speed in the box.”
It shouldn’t come as a surprise that Gettys hasn’t slowed down even in the slightest since National. The high school standout with the major league mentality never slows down, literally and figuratively.
“You gotta just keep playing as you can,” said Gettys. “I’m just gonna play as hard as I can every time.”
Whether or not Gettys will be playing baseball in Athens, Ga. for the Bulldogs or in a professional ballpark remains to be seen. One thing is for sure, wherever he decides to take his game, he will excel on all levels.