For the first time ever two Shore Conference players were selected in the first round of the Major League Baseball draft and in the case of one of them he was picked by his favorite team.

17-year old Barnegat High School pitcher Jason Groome was taken 12th overall by his beloved Boston Red Sox while four picks later the LA Angels took 2013 Jackson Memorial graduate Matt Thaiss, a catcher at the University of Virginia.

At one time this spring it appeared Groome might be drafted by the Phillies with the first overall selection and that might have meant the chance to see him play for the Lakewood BlueClaws. But in recent weeks it became obvious the Phillies would not take a high school pitcher and instead chose a prep outfielder from California. Groome has been a headline-maker this spring for both good and not-so-good reasons and where he would be picked had become the $64,000 question.

In recent days stories circulated that his advisor had made it clear that the 6’6 lefthander would not sign for less than $4 million and by changing his commitment from Vanderbilt University to a junior college in Florida it meant Groome could go back into the draft next year. As I was watching on TV last night speculation kept building that maybe he would even end up with the Yankees or Mets who were picking 18th & 19th respectively. However the drama ended when the Bosox picked him and from all accounts they will have just over $3.1 million to get his name on a contract and cancel his junior college plans.

Thaiss certainly did not garner as much pre-draft buzz as Groome but that was partly due to the fact he’s been playing college ball for three years since leaving Jaguar country. He led Virginia in home runs and RBI’s in both his sophomore and junior seasons and his stock had climbed in recent weeks but being picked at #16 was likely a surprise to many.

Ironically he watched the draft last night with family and friends including his high school pitching coach J.M. Gold who was the 13th overall pick (Milwaukee Brewers) out of Toms River North in 1998 which had been the highest a Shore high school player had ever been drafted before last night. With only one year of college eligibility remaining Thaiss will likely come to terms with the Angels quicker than Groome as both players have until August 15th to get their signatures on contracts.

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