Tribe called best
Top city prospect selected by Indians
Quentin Holmes didn’t snap New York City’s first-round drought. He did, however, become the highest high school prospect to be drafted from the city in 21 years.
The McClancy High School speedster from Queens was taken in the second round (64th overall) by the Indians — the highest choice since Jason Marquis out of Tottenville was picked in the first round (35th) by the Braves.
“There were a lot of hugs and a lot of smiles and some tears,” said Nick Melito, his high school coach, describing the scene at the draft party at the LaGuardia Plaza Hotel. “The whole place went crazy when he finally came up on TV.”
Holmes, a center fielder ranked No. 33 by MLBPipeline.com and No. 50 by Baseball America, was projected by some to be a firstround pick. Instead, he lasted late into the second round. The Indians weren’t one of the more active teams when it came to Holmes, according to Melito, but they pulled the trigger on the talented 17-yearold with their first pick of the three-day MLB draft. The slot value for where Holmes was chosen is $969,000
“He works hard; he earned it,” his mother, Delia, said. “Just being in the draft and being selected, especially early, it’s a good feeling for him.”
The 6-foot-2 Holmes, who has signed with Mississippi State, hit .420 this year with 18 extra-base hits, seven of them home runs, 33 runs scored, and 22 stolen bases in 23 opportunities. A high-character honor roll student, he is the first McClancy player to get drafted out of high school since Khari Council in 2000, a first baseman taken in the 33rd round. The highest pick from the Queens Catholic school was outfielder Sean Twitty, who went in the eighth round in 1989 to the Mariners.
“It just validates our program,” Melito said. “Of course, he has God-given ability and he’s a great player, but he came through our program. It means we have a great kid who is now going to play professional baseball.”
For the first time since 1990, the first three picks of the draft were all high school players. California shortstop Royce Lewis went to the Twins with the first overall pick, California righthander Hunter Greene was taken second by the Reds second and North Carolina southpaw MacKenzie Gore went third to the Padres. The first three picks in the 1990 draft were Chipper Jones, Tony Clark and Mike Lieberthal, all of whom went on to have long major league careers. ... Arizona high school third baseman Jacob Gonzalez was selected in the second round (58th overall) by the Giants. His father is former Diamondbacks star Luis Gonzalez.