http://und.ocsn.com/sports/m-basebl/nd-m-basebl-frame.html

"Success is where preparation and opportunity meet" Bobby Unser

I always wondered if he was overthrowing...

"Show me a guy who can't pitch inside and I'll show you a loser." Sandy Koufax

I had the pleasure of meeting Jeff this past summer and seeing him pitch for the USA Jr. National Team. His performance against the Netherlands Antilles team before a packed house in Curacao, with island TV rolling, was ELECTRIC! I believe he struck out 15 in 7 innings that night. He has a tremendous curve ball that buckles hitters' knees at the international level to go along with a 90 mph fastball. On top of that, he is a super young man, complete with good manners and a look-you-straight-in-the-eye sincerity.

Jeff is a baseball player that our kids can definitely look up too. My family's prayers and best wishes for a very speedy recovery for Jeff.

quote:

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with his combined statistics from the '02 and '03 seasons including a 0.65 seven-inning ERA (0.83 for nine innings), a 22-2 record, four no-hitters (one a perfect game), nearly an 8-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio (292/37) and nine-inning averages of 17.4 strikeouts, 2.2 walks and 3.1 hits allowed

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Jeezzz, this kid was a phenominal pitcher. Does anyone know how he came out of the draft from HS? Seems there would have been some big bucks on the table.

Knowledge is Power! Thank you Mavens and HSBBWEB!

He was picked in the last round #1479 by AZ. A smart kid who made it clear college was the way to go. I'm sure there will be some that will use hind site and say he made a mistake.

Jeff and I have played on teams together since little league. The stats you read are correct and he would have been the stud at ND this year. His parents made it clear to ALL scouts both he and his older brother rhp Matt (Stanford) were going to college. Matt was not even drafted. I remember the last game of our season last year Jeff going 11 innings throwing 148 pitches in a 1-0 lost. We couldn't believe the coach left him in. I wonder if that was the beginning of the troubles. Jeff will bounce back.

That's an old story in TX. See Kerry Wood @ Grand Prairie HS. No injury, but a similar high pitch count situation at Southlake Carroll last year w/ Charles Benoit.