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Mainland Regional's flamethrower was drafted by the Minnesota Twins just one spot behind another South Jersey baseball star.
Chase Petty, 18, is the first right-handed pitcher drafted out of a state high school since Morristown's Rick Porcello in 2007.
But his more interesting connection is to Millville's Mike Trout, who went 25th in 2009, and has gone on to be a star in the majors.
Petty was just one spot behind at 26, where a right-handed pitcher went in Trout's year as well.
This year Petty also threw a no-hitter against Trout's alma mater.
"He talks to me quite a bit," Petty told MLB Network's Lauren Gardner on Sunday. "He wished me luck today before this. He's been a great person to lean on."
The Linwood teen has a fastball that tops out in the high 90s and he has even hit 100 mph a few times.
Petty had a 1.48 era in 48⅔ innings with a whopping 99 strikeouts this year with mainland.
He was ranked 27th on MLB.com’s top draft prospects list, and was also the 2021 Gatorade New Jersey High School Player of the Year.
Another South Jersey pitcher went in the second round of the draft.
Anthony Solometo, a left-handed pitcher from Bishop Eustace, was the first pick of the second round, going 37th overall to the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Solometo is 6-foot-5 and weighs 220 pounds.
His height and unusual delivery has gotten him compared to three time World Series champion Madison Bumgarner and sixth-ranked minor league prospect, Mackenzie Gore.
Even though his fastball isn’t as fast as most, topping out at 90 to 94 mph, he has been scouted to have “outstanding command of the pitch.”
Solometo was fantastic for Bishop Eustace this year allowing only one run and five hits in 32⅔ innings with 64 strikeouts. he was ranked number 17 in MLB.com’s top draft prospects list, so the Pirates may have gotten themselves a steal.
