La Salle’s Herron returning to Duke
La Salle grad selected in MLB Draft but returning to Duke
So far this summer, La Salle College High School graduate and soon-to-be Duke center fielder Jimmy Herron has had two unbelievable opportunities.
One, he said he is going to pass on and the other, he is taking full advantage of.
Herron, who was drafted in the 31st round of the 2017 MLB Draft by the Yankees, will bypass signing a deal and will return to Duke for his junior year.
“It was really cool,” Herron said. “I’m going to go back to school, but it’s a pretty cool honor to get drafted by them. It’s a really great organization and I’ve had some good experiences with them, so they were awesome.”
In the meantime, he can continue to tear up the famed Cape Cod League, where he is hitting .411 so far with a homer, nine RBIs and 10 runs scored.
He’s been doing the same things he did when he helped
“It’s a newer experience. It’s a different style of baseball. High school, you play a couple of times a week. Here, it’s every day, it’s more of a professional style. It’s been pretty cool to do that.” – La Salle College High School graduate and Duke center fielder Jimmy Herron
lead La Salle to two PIAA titles; hitting leadoff for the Orleans Firebirds and playing a stellar center field.
“It’s been awesome,” Herron said. “It’s a ton of fun, playing every day and living with a great host family. So far it’s been a great experience, the coaches are great.”
The Cape Cod League is
often a precursor to professional baseball.
The league produced 276 players that appeared in the bigs in 2016, including former MVPs Kris Bryant and Ryan Braun.
The teams have minor league size rosters and generally play 5-6 games a week for just over two months — very similar to the Class A ball schedules.
“It’s definitely up there (with other accomplishments),” Herron said. “It’s
a newer experience. It’s a different style of baseball. High school, you play a couple of times a week. Here, it’s every day, it’s more of a professional style. It’s been pretty cool to do that.”
Players come from all over the country to compete, from all sizes and types of school and include pretty much all of the powerhouses.
That creates great competition across the board and balanced rosters.
Orleans has the best record in the East division and the 10-team league at 12-6, but seven teams have between eight and 11 wins.
“I knew how competitive it was,” Herron said. “I’ve heard some things. We’ve had some other players from Duke play (here), so I’ve heard some stories. It’s getting adjusted to wood bats and things like that. It’s definitely met my expectations and been a lot of fun. A lot of big time talent
up here.”
For many players, the league is a chance to play all summer and work on things.
Whether it is tinkering with a swing, changing a delivery or just getting ideas or tips from other players or coaches around the league, it’s something everyone can benefit from.
“There’s always things you can improve on, (like) strength said. “Summer’s a good time to try some
things out. I may mess around with some things, but just compete every day see how I stack up to the competition here.”
He will continue to compete and put up the stellar numbers he has with an eye toward next season at Duke, where he hit .326 with five homers, 39 RBIs and 17 steals last season.
Herron could then find himself taking advantage of the other opportunity the next time around.