Scout.com > Boston Sox Select Place In First Round Story URL: http://redsox.scout.com/2/537487.html Jerry Beach DiehardMagazine.com Jun 6, 2006 Jason Place’s first season in professional baseball could be a summer-long homecoming celebration. The Red Sox broke from tradition today and selected Place, a 6-foot-3, 205-pound outfielder from Wren High School in South Carolina, with their first pick of the amateur draft (no. 27 overall). (FREE PREVIEW OF PREMIUM CONTENT) Wren is located 15 miles outside of Greenville, which just happens to be the home of the Sox’ Single-A South Atlantic League affiliate. Since Theo Epstein became general manager in 2002, the Sox have typically concentrated on college players, particularly during the early rounds. Place is by far the earliest high school draftee of the Epstein Era—right-handed pitcher Michael Bowden was selected 47th as a supplementary first round pick last year—and the first high schooler selected by the Sox in the first round since John Curtice in 1997. Place is currently in Albuquerque, New Mexico preparing to play in the All-American Game, which will be telecast Wednesday on Fox Sports Net. He has a scholarship offer from the University of South Carolina, but Place’s coach, Randy Thompson, hinted Place is eager to begin his professional career. “I think if the money is right it won’t take long for him to make a decision,” Thompson told Diehard today. Thompson and Wren athletic director Mickey Moss expected Place to go in the first round and Thompson said the Sox, represented most often by area scout Rob English, were among the most interested suitors. “[English] was at probably as many games as anybody,” Thompson said. “They got real active with Jason early this year and attended most of our games and brought a lot of the upper level guys in to watch Jason. I know they worked him out several times and they were probably one of the teams that showed the most interest in him.” The Sox proceed cautiously with their high school picks—the four high schoolers they signed out of last year’s draft all played for the Sox’ rookie-level Gulf Coast League affiliate—but Thompson and Wren athletic director Mickey Moss believe Place, who has played baseball exclusively since seventh grade and started for the Wren varsity as an eighth-grader, is mature and talented enough to handle a higher level right away. The South Atlantic League is the lower of the full-season Single-A leagues. “I’m not sure that Jason’s not ready to [contribute] on a college [graduate] level-type player because he’s physically mature for his age,” Thompson said. “He’s not a thin kid just waiting to explode, like you get in most high schoolers. His physique’s outstanding. And his work habits—he already knows the regimen it’s going to require to get where he wants to get. I think it was a no-brainer deal to take him where they took him because of his work habits and his maturity and his body and how he knows the game. I bet they feel like they’ve got basically a college-level type player with Jason.” Place, the first player ever selected in the first round out of Wren, hit .544 as a senior for Wren, which won the Region 1-AAAA championship, with four homers and 10 stolen bases. Place, who also pitched for Wren, finished his career with a robust .478 average and 40 homers. Place is a natural all-around athlete whom Thompson believes could have been a Division I-caliber player if he played football or basketball. “I’d love to have him playing football for me,” said Moss, who also coaches Wren’s football team. “He’s a five-tool player if there ever was one,” Thompson said. “He throws extremely well, he hits for power, he hits for average, he’s a plus-plus runner and he knows the game. He’s an exciting player to watch. Coaching him for six years, I have been amazed more and more every year. I catch myself just sitting back instead of coaching, just kind of in amazement. He’s a special player and I look for him to be at Fenway within five years.” And, maybe, at Greenville’s West End Field a lot sooner than that. Thompson would be doubly happy to see his former player patrolling the outfield for the Drive: His former roommate is Drive general manager Mike deMaine. “It’s something that me and Mr. deMaine talked about,” Thompson said. “It would help not only Jason to be familiar with an area, but also I can imagine the crowds that the Drive would [bring], having a hometown guy out there. He would be able to bring them in just because his name’s been thrown out so much this year and he’s got so much recognition because of the draft day coming up. “And [the hype] was all true. I think it would be special, not only for Jason but also for the Drive organization.” Diehard managing editor Jerry Beach can be reached at diehardmag@yahoo.com. To receive a free issue of Diehard, call 888-979-0979. Copyright © Scout.com and DiehardMagazine.com