By Chris Fuller
Kentucky Scouting Director

Jake Whitford’s start to the 2014 season may lead you to ask the question, “Who needs pre-season workouts?”

Whitford missed the entire pre-season with a broken collarbone, meaning he was way behind when he was medically cleared to begin swinging a bat on March 28, or at least you would have thought that to be the case.

The junior shortstop was inserted into the Highlands lineup on March 31, the first game of the Bluebirds spring break trip to the Ripken Experience in Myrtle Beach, SC.  In five games, the 6-foot-3, 175-pound, left-handed hitter went 8-for-13 with two doubles, two triples, and reached base in six more plate appearances with two walks and four hit-by-pitches.  His performance that week landed him as a finalist for PBR Kentucky Player of the Week, an honor he narrowly missed as a result of twitter voting.

“It’s pretty amazing the start he has had when you consider he didn’t get a single pre-season swing or ground ball,” Highlands Head Coach Jeremy Baioni said.  “He just jumped into facing live pitching and started hitting line drives all over the field.  It was impressive to watch.  I figured he would take the week in Myrtle Beach to get some timing down and get adjusted to seeing live pitching, but he came out of the gate like he hadn’t missed a beat.”

After a five day layoff when the Bluebirds returned home, Whitford picked up right where he left off.  In fact, with 26 hits in 42 at bats, Whitford is hitting at a lofty .619 clip.  He has two doubles, three triples, one home run, and 17 RBI. 

Baioni says it’s more than just his bat he brings to the table offensively.

“Jake’s as smart a base runner as we have,” Baioni stated.  “He’s stolen 7 bags and has yet to be thrown out, partly due to his speed, but the other part of the equation is he is simply very good on the base paths.”

Defensively, Baioni says Whitford can make all the plays a shortstop needs to make.

“Jake is a smooth-fielding shortstop with good range and arm strength,” Baioni said.  He goes both directions well and has the arm to make the throw from deep in the hole.  I don’t think there is any question about his ability to play the shortstop position at the next level, and at 6-foot-3, he has the frame a lot of coaches are looking for.”

Baioni continued, “Jake has really just begun to show some power at the plate.”  “When you look at his frame and how much room he has to get stronger, I think there is a lot more power yet to come for him.”

We’ll get a good look at Whitford on June 17-18 at the Top Prospect Games Event at Western Kentucky University.  In the meantime, he will look to continue his torrid first month of the season for Highlands.