PORTLAND, Ore. --- Incoming recruits Kody Watts, Caleb Whalen, and Travis Radke, each selected in the 2011 Major League Baseball’s 2011 First-Year Player Draft will officially join the Portland Pilots after the signing deadline passed at 9 PM (PST) on Monday. Watts (Pittsburgh Pirates, 15th round), Whalen (Milwaukee Brewers, 42nd round), and Radke (Cincinnati Reds, 45th round) did not sign contracts with their respective teams. Tyler Glasnow, a fifth round selection by the Pirates, signed a professional contract on Aug. 3.
Watts, who stands 6-foot-3, attended Skyview High School, which is just across the Columbia River from UP in Vancouver, Wash. A four-year letterwinner for the Storm, Watts was named to the Washington All-State Second Team as a junior after posting a 6-1 record, while shattering the school’s single-season strikeout record with 74 K’s.
Whalen was a four-year letterwinner at shortstop for the Union High School Titans in Camas, Wash. A two-time All-GSHL First Team selection, Whalen was named first team all-state as a junior after leading the team in home runs and extra base hits.
“The selection of Caleb and Travis highlights a recruiting class that we’re very excited about,” said Sperry. “Caleb is one of the better athletes we will have in the program and he brings the kind of attitude that we want on and off the field. He’s been around the game his whole life and we expect him to contribute right away.”
Radke hails from Thousand Oaks, Calif., where he attended Oaks Christian High School. This spring, the left-handed pitcher struck out 16 batters during a seven inning, complete-game performance. As a junior, Radke tossed two no-hitters in two weeks, earned First Team All-CIF and landed on the All-State Second Team.
“Travis is a player who I think will be a key guy for us, especially since he’ll be one of only two left-handers on the roster,” noted Sperry. “He is very projectable and he attacks the strike zone. Coach (Larry) Casian will enjoy helping this young man develop.”
