Photos by Barry Stephenson
Vestavia Hills Baseball
Game 2 Action in Vestavia Hills v Oak Mountain in 7A State Baseball Playoffs on Saturday, May 7, 2017
VESTAVIA HILLS -- Life just got a whole lot sweeter for Vestavia Hills High School pitcher Caden Lemons.
The 6-foot-6 right-hander, who has signed with Ole Miss, was selected by the Milwaukee Brewers with the 46th overall pick in the second round of the Major League Baseball Draft.
“It was the best feeling being around all my friends and family being there,” Lemons said of the moment he was drafted.
The Lemons household hosted several teammates and other family and friends on that Monday night, June 12. He had gotten the call minutes beforehand, but everyone in the house was gathered around the television in eager anticipation of hearing his name announced on stage.
When his name was spoken, the room erupted.
“It was crazy,” Lemons said. “I can’t really describe it. It was an honor.”
In the immediate aftermath, the question became whether or not Lemons would sign with the Brewers or attend Ole Miss. He said he will reach that decision in the “next few days.”
“It’s been a little hectic, more so than you’d think. It was crazy. Words can’t really describe it. I was trying to answer all the calls and texts and trying to be polite,” Lemons said.
MLB.com ranked Lemons as its 77th overall prospect, but his selection at No. 46 may seem surprising, but Lemons thought he had a chance to go in the top 50. But being drafted gets Lemons another step closer to the goal that he’s had since he was a little kid.
“It’s just another step in the process and that’s what I’ve been working towards to make my dreams and goals a reality,” he said.
According to MLB.com, the right-hander “was a known quantity entering his senior season at Vestavia Hills (Ala.) High, but the difference between his present stuff and his projection was wide enough that he figured to continue his career in college at Mississippi. He has narrowed that gap considerably this spring, however, as his velocity soared and caused his Draft stock to do the same."
For his senior season, Lemons was nothing shy of dominant on the mound for the Rebels of Vestavia. In 62 1/3 innings, he compiled a 6-1 record and 1.35 ERA. He hurled five complete games and surrendered just 35 hits overall, while striking out 69 strikeouts.
He helped Vestavia to the Class 7A semifinals this past season, before the Rebels fell to eventual state champion Hoover.
“Our goal this year and the year before was to leave a legacy just like the other guys did (at Vestavia),” Lemons said. “We set a good path down for the other guys to see how it was done. It was the best four years of my life and I’ll never forget it.”
For those who saw him pitch at the high school level, Lemons is already a more-than-capable pitcher, and scouts project his tools to only improve as he continues to progress.
“As a regular on the showcase circuit, Lemons topped out at 91 mph with his fastball. This spring, his heater has sat at 90-93 mph and climbed as high as 97. His 6-foot-6 frame and low three-quarters delivery create difficult angle and sink, increasing his fastball's effectiveness,” MLB.com stated.
