Cole Sturgeon, OF/LHP, Louisville
Selected: 10th round (#314 overall)
B/T: L/L
H/W: 6'0"/180
Hometown: Owensboro, KY
Named Most Outstanding Player at last weekend's NCAA Regional (hosted by Louisville), and he was playing in the opener of the Super Regionals when the Sox selected him ... A "premium defensive center fielder" per Baseball America, and I saw his cannon of an arm first hand when he played for Wareham in the Cape League ... Also displayed a smooth uppercut swing on the Cape, skillfully took outside offerings to the opposite field, and showed occasional gap power to the alleys ... Patient plate approach ... Joins Mike Carp & Mike Trout in the MLB All-Fish Outfield.
Chris Hatfield, Louisville Cardinals writer (not the SoxProspects editor)
Alex Speier, WEEI
From Baseball America, an anonymous scout breaks down the Louisville club prior to this weekend's NCAA Super Regionals:
Eric Crawford, WDRB sports columnist:
Trivia/Likes/Dislikes
Selected: 10th round (#314 overall)
B/T: L/L
H/W: 6'0"/180
Hometown: Owensboro, KY
Named Most Outstanding Player at last weekend's NCAA Regional (hosted by Louisville), and he was playing in the opener of the Super Regionals when the Sox selected him ... A "premium defensive center fielder" per Baseball America, and I saw his cannon of an arm first hand when he played for Wareham in the Cape League ... Also displayed a smooth uppercut swing on the Cape, skillfully took outside offerings to the opposite field, and showed occasional gap power to the alleys ... Patient plate approach ... Joins Mike Carp & Mike Trout in the MLB All-Fish Outfield.
Chris Hatfield, Louisville Cardinals writer (not the SoxProspects editor)
In his first at-bat after being drafted by the Red Sox, Cole Sturgeon works an 8 pitch count. But has single stolen from him on web gem.
Alex Speier, WEEI
The left-handed hitting, left-handed throwing Sturgeon hit .325 with a .410 OBP, .468 slugging mark, two homers and 18 steals as a senior, wrapping up a four-year career in which he showed consistently solid averages and OBPs as well as low strikeout numbers.
He also proved a strong mound contributor as a left-handed pitcher, going 3-0 with a 2.06 ERA in 24 games, with 35 strikeouts and 14 walks in 34 innings while holding opponents to a .161 average. However, his pick was announced as an outfielder (though it’s worth noting that the selection of Alex Hassan in 2009 was announced as a pitcher, but he ultimately signed as an outfielder).
As a college senior, he lacks negotiating leverage, meaning that the Red Sox can likely sign him for less than the slot recommendation and thus reallocate some of the bonus pool money available to them (a figure determined by the recommended slot bonuses of the first 10 rounds of the draft) for other picks.
From Baseball America, an anonymous scout breaks down the Louisville club prior to this weekend's NCAA Super Regionals:
“Sturgeon is a ballplayer, in every aspect of it. Another lefthanded hitter for them, a senior out there, obviously can steal some bases, can run, put some pressure on you. He’s a spark plug for those guys in so many different ways, and has a great arm on the mound."
Eric Crawford, WDRB sports columnist:
Eric Crawford @ericcrawford Jun 2
Cole Sturgeon: “Three great starts and great defense. That’s how you win championships."
Trivia/Likes/Dislikes
Post-collegiate Ambition: play baseball
Person with Greatest Influence on Athletic Career: my father
Biggest Thrill in Sports: day piling on a bus
Athlete You Most Admire: Michael Jordan
What Impresses You Most About Your Coach: his commitment to excellence
Hobbies and Outside Interests: friends and family
Favorite Professional Team: Boston Red Sox
Favorite Movie: Step Brothers, Pitch Perfect
Favorite TV Shows: Duck Dynasty
Favorite Foods: Macaroni and cheese
Favorite Professor: Jim Baumann
Favorite Class: CLAW 301 - Legal Environment of Business
Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Bob Knight
Best Advice I Have Gotten in Sports: it's how you come back after failure
If They Made a Movie of Your Life, Who Would Star in it: Ben Stiller
If You Could Have Dinner With Three People, Who Would It Be? Michael Jordan, Babe Ruth, and George Washington
Why I Chose UofL: the people here
What Is Your Favorite Place You Have Ever Visited: London
Favorite Season: Spring