Round 34, Pick 1018: Matthew Lokken | 3B, St. Helens HS | SIGNED

[markotsay7]

Discuss.

Also, I'm going to be leaving the computer soon, so if someone wants to take over after round 35...

[markotsay7]

YouTube - Matt Lokken

YouTube - Matt Lokken

[markotsay7]

Beautiful swing, awesome power for a kid his age.

[Ralph]

Nice pop. Hopefully he's signable.

[markotsay7]

He signed a LOA to play for the Lower Columbia Red Devils. Not exactly a top tier baseball school. Maybe he could be signable.

Apparently also pitched and played football.

[Marlins#1]

Matt Lokken drafted by Florida Marlins

Signed

Friday was a day Matt Lokken won’t soon forget. It was not only the day he graduated from high school, but also the day he found out he was drafted by the Florida Marlins baseball organization. Lokken was enthusiastic about the news. “I was watching the draft on my computer and names popped up with every selection. I was pretty excited when I saw my name. It’s been my dream ever since I was little.” Lokken led the state in home run hitting each of his three varsity years in St. Helens, hitting nine his sophomore and junior years, and 11 this year. The utility player played shortstop, first, and pitched for the team. “Ever since I was younger I wanted to play pro ball. About September, I got the idea I might have a chance. I was hitting in Portland in December and there were two pro scouts that started talking to me.” Gabe Sandy, the scout for the Marlins in the Northwest, was at Lokken's home during his graduation party and to officially sign him to a contract. Lokken receives a signing bonus and college funding. He leaves Wednesday for Jupiter, Fla., where he’ll spend the summer on the Marlins’ rookie league team–the Gulf Coast Marlins in the Gulf Coast League. “We call it the ‘Gulf Roast’ League because it’s hot and humid, unlike Oregon,” Sandy said. Lokken will be in a hotel room with a roommate for the next two months. He’ll report back to Jupiter, the site for the Marlins’ spring training, next January. Sandy said Lokken will play either third or first base with the Marlins and could start playing on June 17 if he cracks the starting line-up. Lokken credits his father for coaching him when he was younger, until he got into high school. “My dad and all the coaches I had in high school really helped me,” the 6-foot, 2-inch Lokken said. Dad Tim and wife Sonja were also pretty excited about the selection, if maybe a little reluctant to see him leave. “I was thrilled,” Tim says. “We knew there was a chance (he could be drafted). Ever since he was little, it was all he ever talked about. I’d ask him what he was going to do after school and he’d always say ‘Play pro ball.’” The Lokkens may plan a trip to Florida to see Matt play. Matt was a standout athlete in football, basketball, and baseball. He was on the varsity as a sophomore in all three years. The excitement hadn’t quite settled down by Sunday. On Friday, Lokken received word of the selection, and then had to bounce off graduation, followed by a senior party. A few of his baseball teammates, a close-knit group, were with him and “they’re really pumped,” Lokken added. “They’re even planning some trips down there.” Lokken hits the trail to Florida this week, and it will be a full few days of practice before a starting team is selected. Play starts this coming Tuesday. He was pretty happy to see a lifelong dream fulfilled. “Time passes quickly,” his dad added, noting it feels like just yesterday when they were playing Little League ball.

[Juanky]

I don't like this trend of not reporting numbers