In the 37th round of the 2014 MLB amateur draft the Detroit Tigers select…Patrick Mahomes.
The 19 year old Patrick was a right handed pitcher out of Whitehouse High School who had already committed to Texas Tech when the Tigers selected him with their pick.
Patrick was a three sport athlete in high school playing basketball, football and baseball. He was being scouted and recruited for his baseball prowess due to his rare skill set of throwing so hard at such a young age, he also had developed a curve to couple with it. Local scouts in Texas believed had he focused on baseball that he would someday project to throw 94–95 MPH consistently, with the abilities to carve out a lengthy major league career as a pitcher, he was also a very good outfielder. Mahomes was ranked the 419th best prospect in the 2014 draft and would have been ranked and drafted much higher had he not been very upfront about his desire to play football and his prior commitment to Texas Tech. The Tigers used the pick in case Patrick changed his mind, despite knowing it to be a long shot. The Tigers still had some hope that he may someday change sports, and be successful doing it.
His father, Patrick Sr. was drafted by MIN twins in the 6th round of the 1988 amateur draft and managed a lengthy MLB eleven year career, mainly as a reliever. It wasn’t unusual to see the younger Patrick in the dugout or in the field catching balls off of the bats of his father’s MLB teammates. Watching and witnessing the stadiums and crowds would give him a sample of the fame and future he would have for himself less than 20 years later.
Though he would not follow in father’s footstep, he was still able to capture a moment that lives in baseball lore and left scouts salivating for a chance to draft him. In March 2014 during the Texas state playoffs, Patrick was preparing for a playoff double header. In game one his team’s opponent, Mount Pleasant, was giving the ball to an ace of their own. A highly touted baseball prospect and future professional and current MLB Chicago White Sox pitcher, Michael Kopech. Kopech was known for having a fastball a few ticks higher than Patrick, and had been able hit 98–100 on the radar gun on more than one occasion, and he did this day as well. Kopech would also be selected in the 2014 MLB amateur draft, in round one.
The stage was set for a classic pitchers duel rarely seen at the high school level.
Patrick would go on to pitch a 16 strikeout no hitter in a 2–1 victory. The only run Mount Pleasant scored came off a wild pitch, after Patrick walked 2 batters and allowed a sacrifice bunt. It was a fantastic display of what could have been for him as a baseball player.
After the game Mahomes told the East Texas Sports Network “I’ve pitched against Kopech since we were freshmen,” and “As we’ve gotten older both of us have gotten better. I played with him a little bit this summer and he’s a great pitcher. He struck me out twice at the plate and I’ve only been struck out once the rest of the season.” Unfortunately for Kopech, his day would end prematurely after being ejected in the seventh innings for mediating a dispute between a teammate and an opponent at second base. Despite losing the blockbuster matchup, and the game, Kopech was still quoted “That’s a Top 5 [game] for me. I know that’s kind of silly to say. It’s a high school game and I’ve pitched in so many. I will never forget that game. It was a lot of fun.”
As previously mentioned, this was only the first of a playoff double header and Mahomes wasn’t done showing scouts what could have been quite yet. He returned for the night cap against Princeton High School. While playing the field, he showed off his bat with a 3–4–3 line. 3 hits in 4 at bats with 3 rbi, falling a triple short of the cycle. Whitehouse also won that game, 10–3 over Princeton. His team won both of those games that night, but would fall short of winning the Texas State Championship.
As we all now know, with the 6th pick in the 2017 NFL draft, the Kansas City Chiefs selected Patrick Mahomes. He has been as remarkable on the football field week in and week out as he was that special night in March 2014.
David
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