Chatham Glenwood product Cam Appenzeller is one of the top prep pitching prospects at this year's MLB draft. Here's what to know.
Recent Chatham Glenwood graduate Cam Appenzeller attended the MLB draft combine at the end of June, where he met with potential big-league suitors.
Appenzeller said he talked about how his pitching compares to last year and how the whirlwind basketball season affected him at the start of spring.
The 6-foot-6 lefty didn’t take the mound until April 23 against Lanphier after leading the boys basketball team to its first state berth in 50 years.
He ushered a 1.37 ERA with 54 strikeouts and just four walks over 30 2/3 innings. He didn’t allow any runs until the Class 3A sectional semifinal against Mahomet-Seymour.
The University of Tennessee commit was announced as The State Journal-Register's repeat Male Athlete of the Year on Tuesday, July 8 just days ahead of the MLB draft, Sunday, July 13 through Monday, July 14.
Here’s what else to know about the draft:
What is the draft schedule?
The MLB draft begins at 5 p.m. on Sunday, July 13. ESPN and the MLB Network will air the first 43 selections, with the latter continuing the broadcast for the remaining 62 picks that day.
Sunday’s picks include the top three rounds as well as the compensatory rounds, competitive balance rounds and prospect promotion incentive selections prior to the fourth round.
Monday features rounds 4 through 20 beginning at 10:30 a.m. on MLB.com.
Where does Appenzeller rank?
MLB.com ranks Appenzeller No. 58 in its draft prospect rankings.
His scouting report says he has a higher celling at the same stage than fellow left-handed pitcher and 2017 Glenwood graduate Reid Detmers.
Detmers was initially picked in the 32nd round of the 2017 draft. He played at University of Louisville instead before going to the Los Angeles Angels in the first round and 10th overall in 2020.
Appenzeller exploded nationally as a junior and topped out his fastball at 94 miles per hour over the 2024 summer, the report noted. He reached the low 90s as his final high school season progressed. He also possesses a slider and changeup.
Appenzeller’s chief aims are to get stronger, add weight and build velocity.
What path will Appenzeller choose?
He can always fall back on NCAA behemoth Tennessee.
The Volunteers won their first national title in 2024 under coach Tony Vitello and feature several pitching prospects in this year’s draft, including left-hander Liam Doyle at No. 8 overall.
It's all up in the air.
Who are past players in the draft?
Sacred Heart-Griffin graduate Sam Antonacci went to the Chicago White Sox in the fifth round of last year’s draft, while Springfield High grad Ben Hartl was selected by the Texas Rangers in the 14th round.
Detmers, still with the Angels, was the first player from the Springfield area to go in the first round since Glenwood alum Jayson Werth in 1997.
Appenzeller’s coach, Casey Erickson, was twice picked in the draft and went as high as the 10th round in 2006.
Glenwood grad Phil Maton, currently with the St. Louis Cardinals, was drafted by the San Diego Padres in the 20th round in 2015, while younger brothers Nick went in the seventh round in 2017 and Jacob in the 39th in 2018.
Rochester grad Tyler Fitzgerald, currently with the San Francisco Giants, appeared in the fourth round in 2019.
This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Chatham Glenwood pitcher Cam Appenzeller awaits 2025 MLB draft
Category: General Sports
