June 7th, 2011
Padres Draft Bishop O'Dowd's Ross
High school hurler drafted 25th overall in MLB first round
Nine years had passed since an East Bay high schooler last heard his name called in the first round of the Major League Baseball amateur draft. On Monday, a pair of hard-throwing right-handed pitchers made up for lost time. Bishop O'Dowd High's Joe Ross was selected with the 25th overall pick by the San Diego Padres, and minutes later, the Cincinnati Reds took Alhambra's Robert Stephenson with the 27th selection. James Harris, an outfielder from Oakland Tech, was the final compensation round pick, going at No. 60 to the Tampa Bay Rays, to cap an outstanding day for East Bay talent. Ross' and Stephenson's selections mark the first time since 1979 that two Bay Area players have been taken in the first round directly out of high school. Ross, who is 6-foot-3, 185 pounds, was at home watching the draft with a group of friends and family when he got a phone call from the Padres just before the selection was officially announced. "I tried to hide it, but I walked back in with a huge smile on my face so they all knew and when my name was called I was dog-piled on," Ross said. "I'd been talking to (the Padres) for awhile, and they showed a lot of interest, it was just up to if I (was still available). I'm really excited."
It's not the first time the Ross family has watched the MLB draft expectantly. In 2008, Joe's older brother, Tyson, was selected out of Cal by the Oakland A's in the second round. Currently on the disabled list, Tyson was among those assembled at the Ross household on Monday.
Add your comment