Modglin says he likely will choose college

Scott City pitcher Ryan Modglin, who was drafted by the Kansas City Royals last Friday, said he likely will opt to play college baseball instead.

Modglin, who signed a letter of intent last fall to play baseball at Missouri State, informed teams before the draft he likely would keep his commitment to the college in Springfield, Mo., if he was not selected in the top 10 rounds with a fourth- or fifth-round signing bonus.

Modglin ended up being selected in the 39th round of the Major League Baseball first-year player draft. He was the 1,165th pick overall.

"It's an honor to get drafted no matter if you're the first round or the very last round," Modglin said. "There are thousands of kids who don't get drafted, and it's just an honor to be one of the kids who did. ... I wasn't disappointed at all [with the 39th round]. ... I had to make a commitment to the top 10 rounds and they knew ahead of time I was wanting fourth- or fifth-round money. But since I didn't make that a commitment to go in the 10th round with 10th-round money, then they bumped me down the ladder a little bit, which was fine."

Modglin said that the Royals will continue to watch his progress while he plays with Talley Haines' select team this summer then make him an offer.

"I probably am going to Missouri State," Modglin said. "But that depends because they [Kansas City] are going to watch me this summer. ... It's up to Kansas City on the offer.

"They told me it was probably not likely I'm going to get the money that we were asking for."

Modglin helped the Rams capture their first ever state title May 29 in Springfield.

Modglin posted an 8-1 record with a 0.48 ERA and 109 strikeouts in 58 innings this spring. He batted .622 with 10 home runs and 47 RBIs.

Rams all-state honors

Modglin was one of three Scott City players to be selected to the Missouri High School Baseball Coaches Association's Class 2 first team. Modglin was picked as a pitcher.

Junior Shae Simmons also was selected as a first-team pitcher. He went 7-0 with a 1.57 ERA and 83 strikeouts in 44 2/3 innings.

Simmons tossed three complete-game victories in his three postseason starts, including an eight-inning win in the quarterfinals. The junior also was the winning pitcher in the Class 2 championship game. He batted leadoff for the Rams and sported a .520 batting average with three home runs and 20 stolen bases this season.

Senior catcher Cody Carlyle also earned first-team honors.

Carlyle batted .582 with seven home runs and a .707 on-base precentage this season.

Junior Josh Henson made the Class 2 all-state team as a second-team infielder, while sophomore Skylar Cobb was selected as an honorable mention outfielder.

The Oran Five

Five players from the Oran baseball team, which finished third in Class 1, were selected to the MHSBCA Class 1 all-state team.

Senior Kody Campbell made the first team as an infielder.

Campbell, who will play next season at Southeast Missouri State, entered the state final four with a .535 batting average, seven homers and 34 RBIs.

Junior Jayden Pobst made the Class 1 all-state team as a first-team outfielder. Pobst led the Eagles with nine home runs this season.

Senior Caleb Seyer was selected as a second-team catcher, senior Steven Dooley made it as a second-team pitcher and senior Alex Chasteen made it as an honorable mention infielder.

Other local all-staters

Two players made the MHSBCA Class 3 all-state team from Notre Dame, which tied for third place at the state final four.

Junior Dylan Drury was selected as a second-team infielder, while senior Mark Himmelberg was picked as an honorable mention pitcher.

Saxony Lutheran junior Chris Roth was selected to the MHSBCA Class 1 all-state team as an honorable mention pitcher.

Saxony junior Garrett Fritsche was selected as an honorable mention infielder.