Astros select Juanita’s Schroeder in MLB Draft

The Houston Astros nabbed Juanita fireballer Jayson Schroeder as the 66th overall pick in the 2018 Major League Baseball first-year player draft on Monday night.

Schroeder’s selection spot has a slot value of $965,300, according to the Houston Chronicle. The 6-foot-2 righty has committed to play for the University of Washington next season.

When he unleashed his first pitches in competition during a March game at Eastlake High, Schroeder drew a large crowd behind the plate of scouts and coaches wielding radar guns. They were packed in tight like fans at the front of the stage at a rock show.

In a Reporter interview in May, Schroeder said he was feeling comfortable on the mound during the 3A KingCo tournament.

“I feel like every time I practice, I go out there and I warm up like there’s 30 scouts watching, so I feel like I just carry that over to the game,” he said. “Just work hard, I enjoy what I do.”

On the scouts that show up whenever Schroeder pitches, he noted: “It was little nervous at first, but it kind of built up to it. You just gotta tune ‘em out, just do the thing you love.”

Juanita coach Brian Shannon believes that Schroeder has one of the most overpowering fastballs in the state, in the low- to mid-90s, to go along with a good curve, slider and a changeup in the works.

“He’s a big strikeout guy and someone we’re counting on this year,” the coach said at the start of the season.

Schroeder fired a perfect game with an 8-0 blanking of Redmond in 3A KingCo baseball action on April 13. He fanned 17 Mustang batters along the way.