Get to know Rangers Day 2 pick Brock Porter
Nick Aguilera
@ByNickAguileraBrock Porter is the highest ranked high school arm coming into the 2022 Draft. The Michigan prep star has been on team radars for years as one of the most talented pitchers in the nation. Here¡¯s what to know about MLB Pipeline¡¯s No. 10 Draft prospect, who was picked in the fourth round by the Rangers:
FAST FACTS
Primary position: RHP
Height/weight: 6-foot-4, 205 lbs.
Bats/throws: Right/right
Birthdate: June 3, 2003 (Age 19 on Draft Day)
High school: Orchard Lake St. Mary¡¯s (Orchard Lake, Mich.)
Born: Milford, Mich.
He¡¯s already dominated on a big league field
While Porter will be a few years away from his MLB debut after he¡¯s drafted, he¡¯s already shown what he can do when pitching in a big league stadium. Earlier this year, Porter twirled a gem while pitching at Comerica Field during the Michigan Catholic League semifinals, striking out 16 in a no-hitter. It¡¯s not often a high school player comes into the Draft after already playing under the bright lights, but Porter showed that they don¡¯t faze him.
He was part of one of the best prep batteries in the country
Porter isn¡¯t the only Draft prospect on the Orchard Lake St Mary¡¯s squad. His teammate, catcher Ike Irish, is also one of the premier prospects in the nation, checking in at No. 120 on Pipeline¡¯s Top 200. The two have fed off each other to create one of the best batteries in the nation. Irish helped guide Porter to a 0.17 ERA with 87 strikeouts through June 3, while Porter¡¯s polished stuff has gained Irish some recognition as a promising receiver behind the plate.
He¡¯s could be Michigan¡¯s highest prep pick since Derek Jeter
Michigan isn¡¯t usually considered a prospect hotbed, but Porter is a diamond in the rough in the Great Lakes State. The last time Michigan had a prep player selected within the first 15 picks was all the way back in 1992, when the Yankees selected a fresh-faced 18-year-old out of Kalamazoo named Derek Jeter with the sixth overall selection. The last time a pitcher out of the Michigan high school ranks was selected that high was in 1988, when the Braves selected former All-Star Steve Avery third overall.
He once tossed an 11-strikeout no-hitter in under 50 pitches
Talk about efficiency. In a six-inning game for Orchard Lake St. Mary¡¯s, Porter cruised to a no-hitter and struck out 11 in just 47 pitches. That¡¯s less than nine pitches per inning! He allowed just one walk in the contest and could have had more in the tank as well, but a 10-0 mercy rule ended his day early.