25th Round Pick - Daniel Ayers - LHP - Columbus North HS (IN)

HS

6'03" 205lbs DOB: 03/24/95

http://www.ihigh.com/cnbulldogs/video_916961.html

http://www.perfectgame.org/players/playerprofile.aspx?ID=306974

Ayers has pitched 42 innings this season and has a 3-0 record, one save and a 0.83 ERA. He has struck out 80 batters, while issuing just 23 walks. This past month, he was ranked No. 175 on the Baseball America 2013 Draft Top 250 Scouting Report.

In the first game of the 2013 season, Ayers fanned 14 of the first 15 batters against Fishers High School. He then had a 13-K, one-hit performance against Bloomington North High School and threw another one-hitter against rival Columbus East, tallying 10 K's in that game. He struck out a season-high 16 batters against Perry Meridian. Ayers went on to toss three consecutive complete-game shutouts.

Ayers is listed as having a low-90's fastball and was named preseason honorable mention All-American. He carries a No. 2 ranking among high school players in the state of Indiana by Prep Baseball Report.. In 2012, Ayers was an all-state honorable mention and first team all-conference.

- Although Ayers doesn’t require much physical projection at 6’3”, 205 pounds, the fact that he already features two plus pitches makes it less of a concern.

While the left-hander’s stuff has fallen off a bit over the course of the spring, he’s still shown a live fastball in the low-90s that’s reached 94 mph. Ayers’ curveball remains one of the more underrated secondary pitches in the class, as it’s a true swing-and-miss offering in the upper-70s and effective against both right- and left-handed hitters.

http://www.ihigh.com/cnbulldogs/article_173102.html

Columbus North recent graduate Daniel Ayers has been named first-team all-state by the Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Association.

Ayers earned that designation by virtue of been a player selected in the recent Major League Baseball entry draft. All Indiana high school players chosen in the draft are recognized as first-team all-state picks. Ayers was drafted in the 25th round by the Baltimore Orioles.

The remainder of the IHSBCA all-state team will be announced later.

Ayers, a left-handed pitcher, also has been chosen to the to the South Team for the Indiana North-South All-Star Series that will be played July 13-14 at Wabash College in Crawfordsville, Ind. The teams will play at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. on July 13 and a single game at noon July 14.

During his recently completed senior season, Ayers posted a 3-1 record with 88 strikeouts and a 1.24 earned-run average in 43 1/3 innings. He also posted one save.

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Daniel Ayers’ high school baseball career didn’t end the way he wanted, but fortunately for the hard-throwing left-hander, he has plenty of baseball still ahead of him.

The recent Columbus North graduate was selected by the Baltimore Orioles in the 25th round of Major League Baseball’s First-Year Player Draft. If he doesn’t sign, he has a scholarship waiting for him at Western Michigan.

“Just being drafted in the first place is an honor,” said Ayers, The Republic Athlete of the Year for Baseball. “How I pitch (this summer) is going to determine how much money they offer. It’s a win-win situation either way. I go to college for three or four years, or I start my professional career right now. There’s not a losing side to it.”

I hope the O's sign this kid and I have a feeling they might. No offense to Western Michigan, but that far from a premier program worth turning down pro ball for.

?Just being drafted in the first place is an honor,? said Ayers, The Republic Athlete of the Year for Baseball. ?How I pitch (this summer) is going to determine how much money they offer. It?s a win-win situation either way. I go to college for three or four years, or I start my professional career right now. There?s not a losing side to it.?

The tournament he's pitching in is scheduled for July 13-14, but the signing deadline is

July 12.

Perhaps reading into the limited information above too much, I am encouraged that I do not hear Ayers saying - they don't have the $ to sign me. With the 175 ranking, Ayers could have been expecting $ somewhere in the fourth to sixth rounds. If our FO will pay the related penalty, I think we could get him for $250k-$400k, but that's some speculation from afar, obviously. We don't know the kids number, but it would be nice to add this kid of arm to the stable.

I don't know why a HS LHP who touches the low 90s ends up at WMU. Especially with the state school starting to emerge as, at least, a regional power and occasional college WS entrant. :thumbsup1:

Signed 200K.

Signed 200K.

Very nice guy for us to get. Money is excellent.

Excellent news. A low 90s HS LHP with a secondary plus offering and a BA Top 200 ranking.

Love adding these type of arms to the stable.

Very nice guy for us to get. Money is excellent.

I agree. Was 100K all that was left in the O's poll without going over the cap?

I agree. Was 100K all that was left in the O's poll without going over the cap?

Without going into penalty. I know they have room before losing picks.

I had feeling he was a target.

I had feeling he was a target.

I had you visit the Field of Weams. It seemed appropriate