Alex Verdugo probably had the best freshman season, any sport, by a ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ prep athlete in the last 25 years.
At Sahuaro High School in 2011, Verdugo, a lefty, hit .456 with 26 extra-base hits. As a pitcher, he struck out 101 in 66 innings. It was a sharp and true indicator of his baseball future.
On Friday, the 21-year-old Verdugo started in centerfield for the best team in baseball, the Los Angeles Dodgers. Former Sahuaro coach Mark Chandler, now the head coach at Sabino, saw it coming.
“He definitely had the ‘stuff’ for that age that I hadn’t previously seen,’’ Chandler said last week. “We knew, if he progressed and mentally matured, absolutely, he would have a shot at the big leagues.’’
By Verdugo’s senior season at Sahuaro, he hit .536. The Dodgers used the 62nd overall draft pick to select him. He became the 43rd player from a ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ high school to become a big-leaguer.
On Friday, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told reporters “Alex can defend all three outfield positions. He’s a tough out. He can run the bases. We want to see what he looks like right now.’’
Verdugo, who will be paid a pro-rated MLB minimum salary $89,000 for September, required 1,612 minor-league at-bats before his Dodgers debut. That compares favorably with the highest-drafted ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ans high school players.
°ä¶Ù°¿â€™s Shelley Duncan had 2,314 minor league at-bats before debuting with the Yankees. Salpointe Catholic’s Mark Carreon had 2,106 pre-MLB at-bats, Sabino’s J.J. Hardy had 1,142 at-bats in the minors. The most MLB-ready players from ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥: shortstop Sammy Khalifa of Sahuaro had 971 at-bats in the minors and ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ High’s Eddie Leon just 692 at-bats before playing for Cleveland.
The Dodgers issued Verdugo jersey No. 61. It’s not a common number for big leaguers, but it no longer means you don’t belong.