Chase Harlan might have some serious thinking to do in the coming days.
Having already enrolled in summer classes at Clemson University, Harlan is projected to go as high as the second round of the July 14-16 Major League Baseball Draft.
ESPN ranks Harlan, a recent Central Bucks East graduate, as the No. 49 draft prospect, which would make him the 10th pick in the second round. He’s rated No. 112 by mlb.com (fourth round).
Harlan plans to decide whether to sign with the team that drafts him or remain at Clemson, to whom he committed 13 months ago, based on the bottom line.
CB East grad Chase Harlan could have big MLB Draft decision to make
“It’ll come down to the amount of money that’s right for me, financially,” said Harlan on Tuesday, which was his 18th birthday. “I’ve already settled here at Clemson. I love it here. It’s a special place. I’ve got a big decision to make. It’s definitely one of the more stressful processes. It’s a decision you make for your career and what you’ll do for a living.
“I’m excited for whatever path I decide to take. I’m ready to take on both.”
If Harlan doesn’t sign this summer, he wouldn’t be eligible for the MLB Draft again until after his junior collegiate season.
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The first and second rounds of the draft are set for Sunday, with rounds 3-10 on Monday and 11-20 on Tuesday.
Projected as a third baseman, which has been his primary position — though he can also play the outfield — Harlan excelled at the mid-June MLB Draft Combine in Phoenix. He hit the longest home run (453.4 feet) among all of the prospects and tied for the second-highest exit velocity (112.4 MPH).
“My (combine) performance definitely helped me,” Harlan said. “Teams also gave me a lot of good feedback with my interviews.”
Chase Harlan has plenty of baseball strengths
Scouts tend to like Harlan’s offensive power, versatility and frame (6-foot-3, 215 pounds) that should be able to fill out even more over the years.
“I’m excited to see what the future has in store for me,” Harlan said. “They told me I’m not even close to my ceiling yet. I have all the tools now. I want to expand on them and make myself the best player possible.”
According to mlb.com, “Harlan is a big, strong, physically mature corner infielder with some serious pop.” Mlb.com calls him “the best position player in Pennsylvania for the 2024 Draft.”
Harlan excels at Central Bucks East before going to Clemson
Harlan, a Doylestown resident who throws and bats right-handed, was a second-team All-American selection by Baseball America following his senior year at CB East. He earned first-team All-Suburban One League Colonial Division honors three times.
Harlan batted .414 over his final three seasons, helping the Patriots to the school’s first baseball berth in the 2024 PIAA state playoffs. He had a total of 13 home runs and 63 RBIs, along with 18 doubles and 58 runs scored, and an OPS of 1.220 during that span.
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“This is what I worked my whole life for — to play professional baseball,” Harlan said. “For all of it to (begin) on Sunday, it’s a crazy thing to think about. I can’t really describe how excited I am. There’s a lot to take in at once. … All it takes is one team liking you enough to draft you.”
Nick Bitsko was the most recent CB East grad to go early in the MLB Draft. The Tampa Bay Rays made him a first-round pick out of high school (No. 24) in 2020. Injuries have limited Bitsko’s minor league pitching opportunities.
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Tom Moore: tmoore@couriertimes.com; @TomMoorePhilly is a sports columnist for PhillyBurbs.com. Support our journalism with a subscription.