Posted October 21, 200519 yr There's a lot that goes into being one of the best youth baseball players in the country, and Robert Stock has the market cornered on practically every criterion. The 6-foot, 180-pound 15-year-old was tossing 90 mph fastballs by the time he was 14 and has been known to connect on 400-foot home runs, using a wood bat. He also has the intangibles, the moxie, the mental edge, as well. Just ask his teammates, who have seen Stock's competitiveness on the field and off it. "We're pretty serious when it comes to poker," said Stock, who began participating in games as a freshman when some of his Agoura (Calif.) High senior teammates invited him to join in. "I wear glasses and a hat and try and stay as stone-faced as I can." Whether he's leaning on pocket kings or his lightning-quick arm, Stock has spent much of his amateur career winning. He was named Baseball America's best 13-year-old in 2003, best 14-year-old in 2004 and this year's best 15-year-old in our annual Baseball For the Ages feature. He also is being recognized as BA?s 2005 Youth Player of the Year, the first time a high school underclassman has won the honor. Impressive Resume The precocious Stock possesses outstanding skills as a catcher and pitcher. His arm strength is his most outstanding tool, as he hit 94 mph this summer and one scout clocked him at 95 on a couple of pitches this fall in a scout league game. He racked up 29 strikeouts in 20 innings as Agoura's closer as a sophomore last spring, and later turned heads at the Area Code Games in Long Beach, touching 92 mph while dealing against some of the top players in the High School Class of 2006, despite being more than a year younger than most of them. Stock, who turns 16 on Nov. 21, also shows impressive raw power from the left side of the plate, and his arm strength plays well behind the plate, where he has the potential to be a sound defensive catcher. He hit .404-8-29 in the heart of Agoura's lineup and scouts have long loved his potential and proven track record of performance. "It might be a 50-50 split with scouts in Southern California which way we like him," one area scout said. "I asked him what he liked most about hitting or pitching and he just sad, 'I just love to dominate, whether it be hitting or pitching.' And that's what he does, he just dominates games." Stock solidified his spot as BA's top youth player with another sensational summer, spent playing against older and more experienced competition. At the age of 14 last summer, Stock became the youngest player ever to make Team USA's youth national team, which finished second in a qualifying tournament in Mexico. He was the second-youngest player of the roster?yet the team?s No. 1 pitcher. He was on the team again for the World Youth Championship this summer, and again the Americans drew Cuba in the championship game. Stock, who struck out 15 against the Netherlands earlier in the tournament, eagerly awaited the opportunity. "The whole year I was looking forward to and practicing for that game," Stock said. "To bring back the gold medal and have a chance to pitch in that game was all I could think about." Stock was sharp early on, racking up eight strikeouts in four innings before a three-hour rain delay prevented him from completing the game, which Cuba eventually won 5-0. "Stock was incredible," USA Baseball's Jeff Singer said. "I really would have liked to see him try and close it out, because before it started raining he had dominant stuff." Ace in the Hole Stock follows in the footsteps of Delmon Young, Nick Adenhart and Cameron Maybin as BA's Youth Player of the Year, but he wins the award as a 15-year-old, after the others all picked up the award based on their performance and prospect status as rising seniors. All three of BA's previous winners are off to promising starts as professionals, and while we'll have to wait a little longer to see how Stock fares in professional baseball, he has grown accustomed to looking ahead. "At this point, I feel I'm more talented at pitching, but I have a better body and stature for catching," he said. "So down the road, who knows, but I'm ready for whatever's next." As Stock continues to refine his skills, his attitude and perseverance figure to serve him well. And when it's not batting practice or pitching lessons, there's always poker to help him hone his game face. "Sixty dollars, that's the biggest pot I've won so far," he said with a smile. The ante figures to be upped in due time. http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/featu...12youthpoy.html I am speechless. Keep your eye on this kid.
October 21, 200519 yr His arm will be dead by age 20, that's just not normal. Well probably not but damn thats ridiculous
October 21, 200519 yr Lets hope he stays in the draft pool long enough so the fish can snatch him up in 3 years lol. More intrigued by the bat than by that arm.
October 21, 200519 yr I might be just be reading this wrong, but can someone explain to me how he could be the youngest player ever to make the TEAM USA youth national team, yet be the second youngest player of the roster ??? "At the age of 14 last summer, Stock became the youngest player ever to make Team USA's youth national team, which finished second in a qualifying tournament in Mexico. He was the second-youngest player of the roster—yet the team’s No. 1 pitcher."
October 21, 200519 yr With that velocity at that age, you would think TJ is in his future, but he looks like a Steve Nebraska-esque talent and I hope he gets to realize that talent.
October 21, 200519 yr Author I might be just be reading this wrong, but can someone explain to me how he could be the youngest player ever to make the TEAM USA youth national team, yet be the second youngest player of the roster ??? "At the age of 14 last summer, Stock became the youngest player ever to make Team USA's youth national team, which finished second in a qualifying tournament in Mexico. He was the second-youngest player of the roster?yet the team?s No. 1 pitcher." Because that was last year, this year (at age 15) he is the second youngest.
October 22, 200519 yr Thats a scary thought if his arm is this powerful now. Imagine in a couple years.. 100 MPH? Maybe..
October 22, 200519 yr ive seen this kid play...i swear... he is sick ....just sick.i have a friend who was on his team
October 23, 200519 yr ive seen this kid play...i swear... he is sick ....just sick.i have a friend who was on his team You sure it was him? You sure it wasn't..nothing?
October 24, 200519 yr Thats a scary thought if his arm is this powerful now. Imagine in a couple years.. 100 MPH? Maybe.. Not necessarily. He could just be overly developed for his age and won't develop much further.
October 24, 200519 yr ive seen this kid play...i swear... he is sick ....just sick.i have a friend who was on his team You sure it was him? You sure it wasn't..nothing?
October 30, 200519 yr Thats a scary thought if his arm is this powerful now. Imagine in a couple years.. 100 MPH? Maybe.. Not necessarily. He could just be overly developed for his age and won't develop much further. Thats true.. (Sorry for late response on this)
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