Barnegat at RBC is one of the top matchups in the Shore Conference’ s Strike Out Autism Showcase
By Rich Chrampanis
Update Thursday, April 14 (after this story went to press in The Two River Times): Top MLB prospect Jason Groome of Barngeat High has been ruled ineligible by the NJSIAA for a violation of transfer rules. Barnegat must forfeit the two games Groome pitched in.The 6-foot-5 left-hander was scheduled to pitch this Saturday night in Red Bank against RBC as part of the Shore Conference’s Strike Out Autism. Groome can return to the Barnegat varsity roster following 30 days or 12 games into the season.
BARNEGAT – Most high school baseball games have sparse crowds in April. Afternoon start times as well as cold and windy weather play a role in the intimate gatherings on the diamond. But in Barnegat, a senior left-handed pitcher has brought big crowds in the stands and a large contingent of Major League Baseball scouts watching his every move. Jason Groome is a 6 foot 5 hurler who brings a fastball that peaks at 97 miles per hour and a curveball that buckles the knees of batters. After spending his junior season at IMG Academy in Florida, Groome secured a scholarship to Vanderbilt University and made the choice to return to the Shore Conference for his senior campaign. It’s highly unlikely that Groome will ever set foot on the Nashville campus, because he has seen his stock as a pro baseball player go through the roof over the last 12 months.
MLB Network Insider and WFAN reporter Jon Heyman took to his Twitter account stating that a baseball GM told him that Groome was the best high school pitching prospect since Clayton Kershaw, the LA Dodgers ace who is considered one of the best in the game today. That’s just one example of a long list of pundits who see massive potential in the 17-year old. The best barometer of the hype and accolades is the travelling contingent of scouts who surround him during a pre-game bullpen session and peer through the chain link fence watching every pitch he throws.
“It was just mainly going out in the summer and seeing all the scouts behind home plate, all the advisor and agents calling me,” Groome said. “It really set a tone that I’m pretty good. I’m having fun. This is amazing to see all these people turn out. Even the people in town coming out to see me pitch. It’s awesome.”
You can find draft projections all across the internet and many feel that Groome is going to be the top pick this summer. The Major League Baseball Amateur Draft features high school seniors and college juniors and seniors. On June 9, the Philadelphia Phillies will have the first selection. Last year’s No.1 overall pick, Dansby Swanson, received a $6.5 million dollar signing bonus from the Arizona Diamondbacks. A seasoned college baseball player is usually the safer pick at the very top of the draft board, but Groome’s immense talent and upside will make it awfully tough for the Phillies to pass on a South Jersey product that is a short drive away from First Citizen’s Park.
“He’s effortless,” Barnegat baseball coach Dan McCoy said giving a scouting report on his No.1 pitcher. “The ball comes out of his hand and all of the sudden, boom, it’s up on you. In the pitching world you hear about max effort guys who are silky smooth. That’s exactly what he is. He’s just free and easy and lets it loose.”
There were over 100 scouts and baseball executives in Barnegat on April 3 to watch Groome’s first start against Point Pleasant Boro. On a 60 pitch limit, Groome gave up just one hit and struck out 10 against the Panthers. In tough weather conditions, the lefty was able to hit 94 miles per hour in his opening start.
One week later on April 10th, the Barnegat ace grabbed headlines all across baseball when he delivered a no-hitter in a 6-0 Bengals win against Central Regional. Facing 21 batters, Groome struck out 19 Golden Eagles. One player reached first on an error on a slow dribbler that was mishandled by the third baseman. After a flyout to left field in the 4th, the game ended with 11 straight strikeouts. He was scheduled to throw 75 pitches, but when he had 16 strikeouts and a no-hitter through six innings, Groome asked head coach Dan McCoy for the ball in the 7th with 78 pitches under his belt. He finished the game with 92 pitches and the first no-hitter in Barnegat history.
“I started thinking about it after the 5th inning,” Groome said talking about the no-hitter. “I knew that one error happened, but I was just determined to get the no-hitter. I just went out there, composed myself and just threw strikes. I’m pretty excited, it’s the first one in Barnegat history. I’ve been waiting for it – it almost happened my freshman year against Central, but I blew it in the 7th. I’m happy I got it.”
Now the Jason Groome show comes to Red Bank this Saturday night when Barnegat faces RBC at 7pm at Count Basie Field as part of the Shore Conference’s Strike Out Autism. Once again, scouts will be lined up to watch Groome face a Caseys team that has Division I talent including future Bucknell Bison Evan Madigan and Rutgers commit Anthony DeRosa. Fans in Monmouth County have a chance to see up close what all the hype is about. One of the beauties of baseball is the constant rebirth of a team bringing up young future stars. For baseball fans in our area, it’s a golden opportunity to see a potential big leaguer on his meteoric journey to the pros and support autism awareness in the process. Get to Count Basie Field early, as there promises to be a large crowd on hand to watch RBC and Barnegat under the lights.
