Unroe ready to hit at the next level
It’s the one question every pro baseball scout wants Mesa Desert Ridge senior shortstop Riley Unroe to answer: How much will it take to sign you?
It’s also the one question Unroe, azcentral sports’ Big Schools Baseball Player of the Year for 2013, insists he has no concrete answer to.
“Whenever they ask what will it take to sign, I say I don’t know exactly,” Unroe said. “I’m 17 years old. I don’t know what money brings in. I know that a $20 bill can get me a movie ticket.
“I just know that my dream is to play at the major-league level. It would be awesome if they would be serious and be confident in me making it there. That’s kind of what I’m looking for.”
Unroe has committed to play at USC next year if he eschews the pros, but the Trojans probably shouldn’t keep the light on for him. Unroe’s had around 20 pro scouts at each of his games this season, and he said he thinks every team has sent a representative to visit with him at his house.
“My ultimate goal in life is to reach the majorleague level,” Unroe said. “I’m comfortable leaving home or going to play pro ball or going to USC. No matter what, my dream is to reach the major-league level and excel.”
If his high school numbers are any indication, Unroe will makes swiss cheese of whatever the next level he chooses. In 2013, no one was a more dangerous hitter than the 6-foot, 175-pound infielder.
His .553 batting average, .636 on-base percentage and 59 RBIs led all Division I players. His 10 home runs and 1.128 slugging percentage were second.