Pobst is back on scouts' radars after rebounding from arm injury

~ The former Oran High School pitcher still hopes for a shot at professional baseball

Cape Girardeau Ford & Sons Post 63 pitcher Jayden Pobst is his own biggest critic.

Pobst gave himself a scathing review after a loss in the opening game of the American Legion Zone 4 tournament, a 10-0 loss to Eureka. Taking the blame for his team's loss, Pobst called his performance "crap."

Pobst started the game on three days rest since he will be pitching in a showcase Tuesday in front of several college coaches and a few major league scouts.

This isn't the first time Pobst has been on scouts' radars. Pobst, a 2009 graduate of Oran High School, caught the eyes of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Kansas City Royals with his 93 mph fastball while he was a junior.

Cape Girardeau Ford & Sons Post 63 American Legion pitcher Jayden Pobst throws against Eureka Post 177 during the Zone 4 tournament Friday at Capaha Field. Pobst was stirring interest among major league teams before injuring his arm during his senior season at Oran High School. (Kristin Eberts)

"It was a big deal to me," Pobst said about being scouted. "It's still a big deal as it's still going on."

Pobst said there are a few major league teams still talking to him, but he has to keep things in perspective.

"I don't really pay attention to that," Pobst said. "My dad takes care of it because it can get in my head."

Pobst went into his senior high school season as the ace of Oran's pitching staff. He threw a no-hitter against Oak Ridge, and scouts frequented his starts until an injury forced him to stop throwing for the remainder of the season.

Pobst said he was pitching against Saxony Lutheran about a month before the district tournament when the Crusaders started to hit his fastball.

"They were catching up to my speed, so I tried to throw harder." Pobst said. "I threw one pitch too hard and felt some pain. I went to the doctor and was told I had a partial tear."

The injury to Pobst's shoulder did not require surgery, but it was serious enough to shut down his pitching, though he was allowed to continue hitting.

Pobst's hopes of being drafted were put on hold, and he started to work with private coaches Talley Haines and Todd Pennington, the coach of Post 63, to rehab his arm.

Pobst rehabbed with Haines and Pennington, who both pitched in the minor leagues, after his senior season.

John A. Logan College started to show interest after he threw well in a showcase last summer in Chicago.

Pobst signed with the Volunteers and pitched last season. He went 0-1 with a 4.03 ERA in 13 appearances, which included three starts.

"He's still working on it," Pennington said about Pobst's velocity. "He needs more of a routine and his velocity will be there again. When he goes back to college, he needs to set up a good routine. I don't think his velocity is there yet, but it could be if he works hard on it."

Pobst, who has played on traveling prospect teams in the past, said he joined Post 63 this summer in part because of his close connection with Haines and Pennington, who still serves as his personal pitching coach.

"Todd Pennington asked me to play," Pobst said. "He has me on a program. I also wanted to stay home, visit my family a little bit.

"It's just like another brother, him and Talley. They've done a lot for me. They're here at home so I don't have to travel. They're both great guys."

While Pobst was a solid hitter in high school and said he thinks he could help a collegiate team at the plate, he hasn't been in the batter's box since high school. John A. Logan doesn't allow him to hit, mainly to avoid injury, he said.

"At college, they said, 'You throw in the 90s, you don't need to mess with batting,'" Pobst said. "I was really disappointed. Every time I ask to hit they give me a firm 'No.'"

Pobst said he threw 163 pitches during the American Legion District 14 tournament, the most he's thrown during a week. While he was critical about his performance, he was able to throw a lot of pitches without much pain to his arm.

"I've been taking care of my arm a heck of a lot better," Pobst said. "It's very important to me. I was taking care of my arm at the time, but I wasn't as serious. Now I cherish icing my arm. I'm more prepared now so the injury won't happen again."