With their 5th Round pick (151st overall) the Astros selected 6'3" 215lbs lefty-hitting/righty-throwing catcher Nate Perry out of Bassett High School in Virginia.
Baseball America ranked him #9 in the state of Virginia, #314th in their Top 500, and the 28th-best catching prospect.
Back in April his head coach thought he'd go in the 10th-15th Round. Head Coach Grant Wickline:
He's one of the best catchers I've seen. We're averaging five or six (scouts) a night coming to see him.
Perry said opposing pitchers simply stopped pitching to him:
I'll probably see six or seven pitches. One or two might be fastballs, but they're nowhere near the zone.
This year, he hit .462 with a .606 OBP, with 2K:17BB. In his entire high school career, he struck out 12 times. TWELVE.
Perry is a University of Virginia commit, but the slot for the 151st overall pick is $326,600, so we'll see. Nope, wait, he's already said he'll sign.
Wickline:
The Astros are going to notice that there's no one that's going to outwork him. His work ethic is outstanding. It's something that you can't teach.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
