Scouts from several Major League Baseball organizations are expected to line the fence and fill the bleachers at Marlboro High School on Thursday to watch a hard-throwing right-hander with a seemingly effortless delivery.<\/p>\n
Saugerties senior ace Ty Van Valkenburg is getting used to the attention, and the buzz could reach a fever pitch by the time the MLB draft is held in July. For now, Van Valkenburg plans to pitch at the University of Miami in the fall. He verbally committed to play at \u201cThe U\u201d as a 14-year-old freshman.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s awesome for the scouts to come watch me,\u201d Van Valkenburg said. \u201cThere are, obviously, some nerves, but it pumps me up to do what I do best: compete. It is exciting, and you just want to go out there and get the job done.\u201d<\/p>\n
Van Valkenburg, who is 6-foot-4 and 220 pounds, is a power pitcher. His fastball consistently hits 92 mph and has reached 95. He also throws a slider, curveball, and changeup. Van Valkenburg\u2019s stock continues to rise, and scouts now routinely attend his games.<\/p>\n
Coming off a season in which he pitched to a 1.09 ERA with 71 strikeouts in 38.1 innings, Van Valkenburg is 1-0 with a 2.15 ERA this spring. He is also batting .476 in the leadoff spot.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith Ty\u2019s physical size and makeup, the sky\u2019s the limit for him,\u201d Saugerties baseball coach Michael Pugliese said. \u201cHe is really committed, and with all the hype, he has not lost any of his work ethic. Ty is only going to get better, and he is one of the best players that I have seen around here in a long time.\u201d<\/p>\n
Van Valkenburg is ranked as the No. 2 player in New York\u2019s 2026 class by Prep Baseball Report and 90th nationally. Based on where high school pitchers with similar rankings and profiles typically go, Van Valkenburg currently projects somewhere in the top five to 10 rounds if he continues to develop and show consistent low-to-mid-90s velocity. Fifth-round draft picks can command signing bonuses of more than $500,000. Baseball America has called Van Valkenburg an under-the-radar arm with significant potential.<\/p>\n
Van Valkenburg chose to commit to Miami without entertaining many other Division I offers as a freshman because of the weather in beautiful Coral Gables, the history of the school and the fact that he connected with pitching coach Laz Gutierrez. If Van Valkenburg didn\u2019t commit early, he would have likely had several Division I schools recruiting him.<\/p>\n
However, if Van Valkenburg is drafted, he could face a decision: take his talents to South Beach or begin a pro career straight out of Saugerties High.<\/p>\n
\u201cI might have to have those discussions with my family,\u201d Van Valkenburg said. \u201cThe thought of being drafted is always at the back of my head. We will see what happens, but I think I will have a good plan either way.\u201d<\/p>\n
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