From this year’s graduating class, ten players have advanced on to collegiate play:
- Caelen Ball (1B), of the Austin Texans, has accepted an offer to play for the University of Houston at Victoria, TX
- Javen Coleman (LHP), of the Houston Northside Falcons, has accepted an offer to play for Louisiana State University, LA
- Micah Davis (RHP), of the Houston HCYA Eagles, has accepted an offer to play for Rice University, TX
- Hayden Key (LHP/OF), of the Oklahoma City Broncos, has accepted an offer to play for Arkansas Tech University, AR
- Reagan Kirby (1B/LHP), of the Carrollton TACA Storm, has accepted an offer to play for Colorado Christian University
- Carter Lee (INF), of the St. Louis Patriots, has accepted an offer to play for Fontbonne University, MO
- Alex Meadows (RHP), of the Memphis MHEA Eagles, has accepted an offer to play for Christian Brothers University, TN
- David Olejnik (OF), of the St. Louis Patriots, has accepted an offer to play for Western Illinois University, IL
- Jonah Purvis (C), of the St. Louis Patriots, has accepted an offer to play for Ecclesia College, AR
- Jayce Roberts (1B/OF), of the Tulsa NOAH Jaguars, has accepted an offer to play for Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College, OK
This bring the total HWSA Alumni tally to 209 players who have gone on to play college ball. An impressive total, isn’t it? Check out the full list here…
And our alumni haven’t stopped there. We know of 10 HWSA alumni who’ve gone on to the Minor leagues. Three are still active now!…
- Matt Merrill (RHP), c/o ’17, of the Tulsa NOAH Jaguars, was drafted out of high school by the Houston Astros in the 37th round, and played on two of their minor league teams at Rookie level from 2017-2018. The NAIA reinstated his amateur status in 2019, and he pitched in the 2019 and 2020 seasons for the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma. Just a few months ago, Matt was signed by the Tulsa Drillers, a AA affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers, so his story isn’t over yet! Go Matt we’re praying and cheering for you!
- M.D. Johnson (RHP), c/o ’15, of the Dallas HSAA Angels, was drafted last year out of Dallas Baptist University in the 6th round by the Miami Marlins, and played that summer for their low-A affiliate Batavia Muckdogs. The COVID pandemic has kept him from action this year.
- Jon Rosoff (C/3B), c/o ’14, of the Raleigh WCHS Warriors, was signed by the Detroit Tigers after 4 outstanding years playing at Army. Jon has climbed up to AA so far in the Tigers’ organization, and is currently on the roster of the Lakeland Flying Tigers, their high-A affiliate.
And these 7 other HWSA alumni have also made their mark in professional baseball…
- Patrick Goetze (RHP), c/o ’13, of the Raleigh WCHS Warriors, was drafted in 2013 by the Boston Red Sox in the 36th round, and played in their minors system up to A+ from 2013-2017
- Blake McKnight (RHP), c/o ’09, of the St. Louis Patriots, played at Evangel University. He was drafted in 2013 by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 38th round, and played in their minors system up to AA from 2013-2017
- Jake Smith (RHP), c/o ’08, of the Augusta GA CSRA Crusaders, played at Darton State College, GA and Campbell University, NC. He was drafted in 2011 by the San Francisco Giants in the 48th round, – after serving as the groundskeeper for the Giants’ A affiliate Augusta Green Jackets, where he attended a tryout. Jake played in their minors system from 2012-2016 through AA before being claimed by the San Diego Padres (see below)
- Kevin Winn (SS), c/o ’05, of the Middle Tennessee (Nashville) Monarchs, was drafted in 2009 by the San Diego Padres in the 26th round, and played in their minors system up to A that year
- Joel Hartman (1B/3B/OF), c/o ’02, of the Bradenton FL Manatee HEAT, after playing at Southeastern College, FL and Palm Beach Atlantic University, FL, played for several independent minor league teams (Texarkana TX, Corpus Christi TX, Bay Area CA, Washington, White Sands NM, Roswell NM) from 2008-2011
- Matthew Betsill (3B/1B/SS), c/o ’02, of the Atlanta South Christian Knights, was drafted out of Furman University, SC in 2005 by the Minnesota Twins in the 10th round, and played in their minors system up to A+ from 2005-2007
- Dennis Winn (2B/SS/3B), c/o ’02, of the Middle Tennessee (Nashville) Monarchs, and older brother of Kevin Winn, was drafted out of high school by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 48th round, and after playing in college at Western Kentucky University and Louisiana Tech University, played in the Phillies’ minors system up to A from 2007-2008
To our knowledge, there is only one HWSA alumnus who has made it to an MLB roster. Jake Smith, eight years after competing as a senior for the Augusta Crusaders in the 2008 HWSA tournament, was waived in July 2016 by the San Francisco Giants AA team in Richmond (after 4½ years in their system). He was probably wondering if his baseball career was coming to an end, short of his ultimate goal of making it to the majors. Providentially, the San Diego Padres weren’t about to let an arm of his talent clear waivers; they claimed him and soon elevated him to their MLB roster for the remainder of the 2016 season.
Making 4 appearances from the Padres’ bullpen that season, Smith allowed just 2 runs, 5 hits and 1 walk, striking out 3. His career MLB ERA is a very respectable 4.50 (as is his minors ERA at 3.23). It was a short stint in the Majors, as San Diego sent him to AAA in 2017, but in that short time, Smith validated the Padres’ belief in him and proved he could compete at the MLB level.
Hats off, Jake, for making your dream come true, and for showing everyone affiliated with the HWSA tournament that with talent and lots of hard work, it’s possible for homeschool ballplayers to reach the pinnacle of the sport.
Please contact us if you have contact information for any of these players. We would love to write up their stories on the HWSA website so our community can hear about their baseball journey.
Also, please visit our Alumni Page and let us know if there are other HWSA alumni who’ve made it to the next level(s) – we’d love to include them in our listing.