By Pete Cava
PBR Indiana Correspondent

The Boston Red Sox made Trey Ball their No. 1 pick – seventh overall – in last June’s draft. 

“I was watching it on TV,” said the left-hander from New Castle High School.  “My agent called, and he was like, ‘The Red Sox would like to take you, for this number (a reported $2.75 million – second-highest in team history).’  I said, ‘Yeah, of course.  Definitely!’”  

After spending the summer pitching for Boston’s rookie-level team in the Gulf Coast League, Ball saw his new employers beat the St. Louis Cardinals in a six-game World Series.  

“I watched every single contest,” he said.  “We were going to go to Game Seven, if they had it.  It was a fun time.” 

Boston’s front office is counting on Ball’s help to reach future Fall Classics.  He’s already the organization’s No. 10 prospect, according toBaseball America, which cites his “serious wow factor.” 

The Red Sox, however, are exercising caution – extreme caution – with the 19-year-old, limiting his appearances last year in the GCL.  “They took me really slow, to protect my arm,” Ball said.  “I got into five games.  I can’t tell you how many innings I threw.” 

The Red Sox limited him to seven innings.  Although Trey was an outstanding batter in high school – he played center field when he wasn’t pitching – he concentrated solely on mound duty.   

That wasn’t easy for someone who grew up idolizing hitters.  “Hitting is something I really do miss,” Ball said.  “I miss it a lot.  Growing up, I was a Giants fan.  I loved watching Barry Bonds play.  He was my favorite.  I loved watching the home runs.”  

It wasn’t the first time Ball’s athletic career took a different turn.  Like so many Hoosier youngsters, he started out playing basketball.  “Growing up, that’s what I loved playing.  I stopped after sophomore year to focus on baseball.  I wish I would have stayed with it and played those two years that I didn’t.  But I had to make that sacrifice to work on baseball.”    

The decision paid off.  As a junior, Ball went 7-2 for New Castle with a 1.40 ERA and 85 strikeouts in 60 innings, along with a .438 batting average.  After appearances in summer events at Syracuse, N.Y. (East Coast Pro Showcase), and Long Beach, Calif. (Area Code Games), he began thinking about baseball as a profession.  By now it was obvious Trey was the Class of 2013’s top two-way player, as well as a likely top-ten draft pick. 

During his junior year, Ball supplemented a 93-mph fastball with a changeup that reached 83 mph and a promising curve – a pitch his father, Ron Ball, wouldn’t let him throw as a youngster.  “My dad never allowed me to throw a curve ball until we found someone who could teach me,” Ball said. “I went to Mike Shirley (a White Sox scout based in Pendleton, Ind.) for hitting and pitching instruction.  He showed me going into my junior season.”       

Tailed by scouts from pro and college teams since he was a sophomore, Ball committed to the University of Texas prior to his senior year. Scouts were still divided about his future.  Tall (6-foot-6), lean (177 pounds), fast and athletic, he projected as a power pitcher … or a power-hitting outfielder.  If he was still available by the thirteenth pick, the San Diego Padres were said to be ready to take him as a position player.         

Speculation ended when Boston drafted him as a pitcher.  “They invested in pitching, and that’s my strong suit,” Trey said.  “That’s what I am now, and I love it.” 

Being a first-round draft pick also ended any discussion about college ball or a pro career.  “I always wanted to play professional baseball, and I got that opportunity when I was drafted,” he said.  

In Boston on June 19 to sign a contract, Ball went to Fenway Park.  The lanky Hoosier donned a Red Sox uniform for batting practice and tossed a ball around with right-hander Clay Buchholz, a seven-year veteran.  “It was a great time, meeting all of them, and getting to know what things are like up there,” Ball said.  “I had a lot of fun meeting everyone. They congratulated me.  They were cracking jokes, just having a good time.” 

The following day, he flew to Fort Myers, Fla., to begin life as a minor league baseball player.  “Everyone who’s there, they can play,” Ball said of competition in the Gulf Coast League.  As a senior at New Castle, Ball went 6-0, 0.76 with 93 strikeouts in 46 innings.  He was 0-1 in the GCL with a 6.43 ERA and fanned five in his seven innings.  “They’re all professionals,” he said, “so it’s a challenge.”

Ball was one of 22 Boston pitching prospects tabbed for instructional league play in Fort Myers during September and October.  "I was able to get in a few more innings and get some more experience,” he said. 

After that he was back home in Indiana, “working out four days a week with my trainer, spending time in the weight room and eating good food,” said Trey.  He also took in New Castle High School basketball home games and hung out with family and friends – including Chelsea Walker, his girlfriend, and his dog Milo, a five-month-old pit bull/golden retriever mix. 

On February 18 Ball reported to the Red Sox spring training camp in Fort Myers.  After packing on nine pounds this winter, his weight is up to 186.  He figures the extra muscle will add a few miles to his fastball, which touched 95 mph last fall in the instructional league.  “This offseason I’ve gotten a lot stronger, so hopefully it’ll be a lot higher,” he said. 

If all goes well, Ball expects to start the year in the South Atlantic League.  “My goal for spring training is to do the best I can,” he said, “and start the year in Greenville, S.C. – the Greenville Drive.”

Greenville has been Boston’s Class low-A affiliate since 2005.  The Drive’s home park, Fluor Field, copies Fenway Park’s dimensions – including its own ‘Green Monster’ in left field and a manual scoreboard. 

All the Red Sox trappings have led to some good-natured ribbing between Trey and Ron Ball.  ‘Dad’s a big Yankee fan,” explained Trey. “I was giving him all the heck in the world last fall, when the Yanks didn’t make the playoffs and the Red Sox won. 

“He didn’t celebrate with me, but he was excited when I was drafted.  He loves baseball, so he was thrilled.”