In front of roughly 500 scouts, including 350 representing major
league ball clubs, San Benito High incoming senior Darin Gillies
had more than enough evaluating eyes watching his fastball last
week in Long Beach. Pitching in the 2010 Area Code Baseball Games,
which is considered one of the most exclusive baseball showcases in
the nation, as prospective players must be invited by professional
scouts simply in order to compete, Gillies managed to deliver a
solid performance in his limited outing.
HOLLISTER
In front of roughly 500 scouts, including 350 representing major league ball clubs, San Benito High incoming senior Darin Gillies had more than enough evaluating eyes watching his fastball last week in Long Beach.
Pitching in the 2010 Area Code Baseball Games, which is considered one of the most exclusive baseball showcases in the nation, as prospective players must be invited by professional scouts simply in order to compete, Gillies managed to deliver a solid performance in his limited outing.
Playing for the Milwaukee Brewers “White,” which was made up mostly of players from Northern California, Gillies tossed three shutout innings and allowed one hit while striking out two last Sunday, Aug. 8, against the Cincinnati Reds, which was made up of select players from Utah, Nevada, Hawaii, New Mexico, Colorado and Arizona.
“I think I did good. I went out there and competed and just tried to pitch to the best of my ability,” said Gillies, who was named Pitcher of the Year in the Tri-County Athletic League last spring after going 9-2 with a 1.40 earned run average for the Balers. “You’ve got to stay composed and calm in order to show the scouts what you can do out there.”
With 150 scouts in attendance just representing college teams, Gillies threw between 89 and 91 miles per hour in his scoreless three-inning stint, which wound up being a 2-1 victory for the Reds.
The San Benito ace said it was the largest showcase he’s ever competed in, and perhaps even, the most elite.
The eight-team, five-game, wood-bat tournament, which was celebrating its 24th year, sets itself apart from other showcases by its player-selection process. Although tryouts are conducted, players find themselves at those tryouts only after they are invited by a major league scout.
Gillies was invited by Nathan Trosky, a scout with the Brewers.
“Being able to sit in the dugout with potential first-round pitchers and second-round pitchers,” Gillies said, “it was a good way to see where you weigh with some of the other talent out there.”
Gillies, who made a verbal commitment in April to Arizona State University, was one of 11 pitchers selected to the Brewers, received one of approximately 3,000 invitations that were sent out across the country from scouts, and was one of just 200 players total that was selected to compete.
“I was definitely pleased,” Gillies said of his performance.
“It was just great to play with a lot of the top players in the nation.”
