High School Watch
Is it too early to start scouring for the next great high school or college prospects in anticipation of your keeper league drafts?
Young catchers with hitting and fielding skills are always a commodity that excites the fantasy owner, so let’s have a look at one of the top defensive backstops in the Illinois high school ranks, and one who swings a pretty mean bat as well – Dominick D’Agata.
D’Agata has just wrapped up his high school career, guiding Schaumburg to its unprecedented second straight Mid-Suburban League title.
Undrafted this year (although reportedly, the Rays were interested), he’s headed to Purdue in the hopes of garnering major league attention and ultimately following in the footsteps of other catchers from this league who made it the Show: Tom Lundstedt, Sal Fasano, Todd Hundley, Dan Wilson and Josh Paul.
If D’Agata can have the same kind of impact on Purdue that he had on Schaumburg (which went 49-14 in the last two years, winning consecutive league and regional titles), chances are there will be more big league teams wooing him in a few years time.
A productive hitter (he led the team in RBI this year), D’Agata has shown developing power (after last year setting a school record with 16 doubles, this year, a few of those ended up as long balls), an ability to shut down the opponents’ running game and great leadership skills.
The Cook County honourary captain of the 2008 Daily Herald All-Area baseball team, D’Agata is also a solid contact hitter, whiffing a mere four times in 88 at bats.
