UK head coach Gary Henderson didn’t have to work hard to realize that his first recruiting class is something special.
He didn’t need Baseball America calling his class the fourth best in the country — although the publication did — and he didn’t need to know freshman right-handed pitcher Alex Meyer was unsuccessfully offered millions to sign with the Boston Red Sox organization — even though he was.
Henderson didn’t need any of that. He was already sold.
“It’s hard to tell early on, but they’re certainly going to get opportunities to play because they’re excellent players,†Henderson said. “We just don’t know until the games start what they’ll do, but they’ll have a solid impact right away.â€
Baseball America, a widely circulated amateur baseball publication, ranked UK’s newcomers as the No. 4 group in the country. According to Baseball America, UK’s big signing was Meyer, a 6-foot-8, hard-throwing 19-year-old who Henderson said will immediately compete for a high spot in the Cats’ rotation.
The Boston Red Sox drafted Meyer in the 20th round of the 2008 MLB First-Year Player Draft. Meyer was the No. 5 high school prospect in the 2008 draft field, but his stock fell when Baseball America reported that all UK signees — Meyer included — had an informal pact with each other to not sign Major League contracts and opt to play at UK.
It didn’t take much for Henderson to tell that Meyer would be a good fit in Lexington.
“It’s a really easy read with Alex,†Henderson said. “He’s big, really long limbs. He’s learning the ability to make his fastball move. He throws a slider very well, especially for a 19-year-old. His outstanding second pitch puts him in a small pool of guys.â€
Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein flew to Meyer’s home in Greensburg, Ind., trying to persuade Meyer to choose the Sox over the Cats.
Epstein offered Meyer two slightly different options, both of which were over $2 million. (The two options differed in length, and the value adjusted accordingly.) No pick past the third round had ever been offered that kind of money, according to Baseball America — and Meyer went in the 20th.
“I told him up front, I wanted to come to Kentucky,†Meyer said. “I knew who he was, you see him on TV all the time. Him flying in and sitting on my couch, it was very cool. I wasn’t going to let Theo Epstein sitting on my couch make me change my mind.â€
Just five rounds after Meyer was selected, incoming middle infielder Andy Burns was picked in the 25th round. A Fort Collins, Colo., native, Burns’ hometown team, the Colorado Rockies, offered him a six-figure contract.
Keeping with the newcomers’ agreement, Burns declined.
“Getting drafted is special, 25th round or first,†Burns said. “Being drafted by the hometown team is a cool experience, but I knew I wanted to come to Kentucky.â€
Henderson has lauded Burns as a hard worker above any other trait. Burns spent four years of his youth in Lexington while his father, Pat, completed his post-graduate studies at UK. Pat’s work ethic in the classroom was passed on to Andy, Henderson said.
“Andy’s able to concentrate on a daily basis, no matter what you put in front of him,†Henderson said. “Not every freshman is able to do that. He’s worked hard to improve everything about his game since he arrived in August.â€
Henderson said Burns is expected to compete for the starting job at second base, which Ryan Wilkes vacated. A senior last season, Wilkes carried the load for the Cats last year, starting 57 of the Cats’ 63 games and committing no errors in the process.
Starting or not, Henderson expects the newcomers — especially Meyer and Burns — to immediately and consistently contribute over the next three years.
When asked why he said the next three years and not four, Henderson laughed and indicated he’s already sold on their potential beyond the collegiate ranks.
“I think it’s pretty obvious.â€
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