CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (KFVS) – After a star-studded high school and college career, Caden Bogenpohl got a phone call that changed his life.
“Are you serious?” a nervously excited Caden Bogenpohl said on his phone. Moments later, another phone call, and just seconds after Bogenpohl put the phone down, pandemonium as his name flashed up on the television.
Bogenpohl was selected No. 64 overall in the MLB Draft by the Philadelphia Phillies, becoming the first Jackson High School player this century to be drafted.
He was joined by friends, family, teammates from high school and college at Wings Etc. in Jackson for a draft day watch party. Prior to the draft’s start, Bogenpohl spoke on his recent journey, from finishing his junior season with Missouri State until draft day.
“It’s been a grind these last couple weeks, traveling all across the country,” Bogenpohl said. “But this is what you do it for. Obviously I had that goal to get drafted from a very young age, and this was just another step in the process.”
Bogenpohl’s three seasons in Springfield helped him vault up MLB draft charts. His father, Darin, along with current Jackson High School head coach Josh Roach, spoke glowingly on Caden’s continued collegiate development.
“It’s been fun to watch,” Darin Bogenpohl said. “He’s always loved the game, and he went somewhere where he could play right off the bat, and did and did well. So it worked out.”
“Oh, it’s phenomenal,” Roach, who coached Caden for his senior year of high school baseball, said. “As a coach, just getting the opportunity to, first of all, coach somebody like that, and then see him as he progresses into the college world and continues to grow into a phenomenal athlete, as a coach it’s a pretty special moment, and it’s been a lot of fun to watch.”
Bogenpohl will head to Philadelphia in the coming days to work out contracts, get his jersey number, and ultimately start his professional career.
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