Still only 17 years old, Jared Southard is already six feet, two inches tall and 205 pounds.
The big league body is already there.
The big league pitches?
Those are coming along just fine, and the Texas commit is looking forward to showing just how hard he’s worked this summer — one that’s been abbreviated, this’ll be just his second event — at the Program 15/New Balance Baseball Future Stars Series International Week series in Glendale, AZ at Camelback Ranch.
“I’m really excited,” Southard told FutureStarsSeries.com. “Just being able to be selected for this is a really cool opportunity, I think. What (CEO) Jeremy (Booth) and all you guys are doing over there is really cool, and I’m happy to be a part of it.”
Southard is fresh off of the States Play Tournament, which is co-hosted by the Texas Rangers and USA Baseball, and features top talent from California and Texas facing off. He’ll go from one big league field to another, and while he’s got some experience at the famed Arizona venue before, he’s anxious to get his first action on the actual spring training field the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago White Sox use.
“I’ve played at Camelback Ranch before, but I’ve never been on the big field,” he said. “I got my first taste of something like that playing at (Globe Life Park) this past week, and it was a little nerve-wracking, so to be able to do it again is going to be a real fun opportunity. I can’t wait to be out there, I want to be out there already.”
The right-handed pitcher is also looking forward to getting seen by the bevy of national scouts set to be in attendance, and anticipates a strong showing.
“Having missed most of the summer, getting back out there is going to be a really good feeling,” Southard said.
“I’m going to try to go out there and pitch the best I can. I want to show everybody what I’ve got. I’m real hungry to get back out there and perform…I’ve been working on getting a lot stronger and working relentlessly every day on my craft and trying to be the best I can, whether that be weight training or pitching. I feel like it’s really paid off, and I feel ready to perform at this event, this fall and then going into the spring.”
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