TFA alum Haseley leads local picks
Adam Haseley was anxious entering Monday’s Major League Baseball draft.
He was finished with the pre-draft process, and he no longer controlled what was going to happen. The former Orlando high school standout and University of Virginia product now had to wait for a team to select him so he could fulfill his dream of becoming a pro baseball player.
Surrounded by about 20 friends and family members in his Windermere home, Haseley’s unease turned into jubilation when the Philadelphia Phillies selected him with the eighth overall pick.
“I pretty much put my head down. I was with all my family and friends, and my mom came over and hugged me, and it all just went pretty fast,” Haseley said. “I think everyone was, I guess, videotaping on their phones and I think I closed my eyes or something and just started screaming.”
Haseley’s approximate slot value for the selection is $4.8 million.
University of Florida pitcher Alex Faedo was selected with the 18th overall pick by the Detroit Tigers. North Carolina shortstop and Orlando native Logan Warmoth was selected with the 22nd overall pick by the Toronto Blue Jays.
West Orange High standout and UCF signee Christopher Seise was taken No. 29 overall by the Texas Rangers, with a slot value of $2.2 million. As a result, it’s unlikely Seise will join the Knights.
The players with state of Florida ties were selected after the Minnesota Twins selected California prep shortstop Royce Lewis with the No. 1 overall pick.
Haseley’s selection seven picks later completed a whirlwind process for the 21-year-old. After three seasons at Virginia, Haseley met with multiple organizations during the process. However, he only met with Philadelphia once.
The one face-to-face interaction, along with his production for the Cavaliers, might have swayed the Phillies.
Haseley, who went to high school at The First Academy, put together a stellar career at Virginia. He was a member of the Cavaliers’ national-title squad in 2015 and put a stamp on his Charlottesville tenure in 2017. Haseley led the Atlantic Coast Conference with a .390 batting average and paced Virginia in almost every offensive statistical category.
He was named a firstteam All-American by Baseball America and was a firstteam All-ACC performer.
Haseley played center field for Virginia but he also has the ability to play as a corner outfielder. He was a two-way player for UVA, going 7-1 on the mound with a 3.58 ERA.
“I’ll do anything that they want me to do,” he said of the Phillies. “They are a great organization.”
With his draft process now complete, Haseley will turn his focus to getting back onto the field. He waited three years to get to this point, never thinking he would be a top-10 pick. But Monday’s moment will stick with him forever.
“Today was really special and having the people over with me and everything leading up and spending time with people that I haven’t seen in awhile, it’s a mix of emotions,” Haseley said. “I’m going to look back on this day and such a happy memory. There’s also a sense where it’s been awhile until this point and I’m looking forward to moving on.”