Worth County ace still waiting for his college chance
SYLVESTER, Ga. (BVM) — An 84-86 mph fastball that can top out at 88, a 12-1 record over the last two seasons, plus 120 punchouts and a 0.60 ERA. That鈥檚 the resume of a no doubt future college baseball player. But for Jeremiah Reddell, the Worth County High School hurler, that鈥檚 not yet the case.聽
With COVID-19 prematurely ending his pivotal senior season, Reddell had yet to get any college offers at any level. Maybe it鈥檚 due to his size. The standout thrower is just 5鈥�10鈥� and 175 pounds. Or maybe it鈥檚 due to coming from rural Georgia, Sylvester to be exact, where the population is just over 5,000 people. Whatever the reason, it鈥檚 nothing to do with his baseball ability.
He鈥檚 been a varsity starter for the Rams since his freshman year, and he plays travel ball with the Line Drive club out of his hometown of Sylvester. Although he may be a well-kept secret to scouts, people in Worth County know about Reddell. All he needs is the opportunity to play at the next level, and he鈥檚 not picky about how he wants it to come either.
鈥淚 just want to play college baseball,鈥� Reddell said. 鈥淎nywhere would be good with me. I just want to play.鈥�
Not only does he have the pitching tools and stats of someone capable of playing at the next level, but he also has the IQ. Reddell says each time he attacks a batter that steps in against him, he analyzes how they stand in the box and pitches to their vulnerable spots. For guys with longer swings, Reddell tries to come fast and inside to screw up their hands. For guys that stand away from the plate, he paints the outside corners, mixing in lots of sliders that break away.聽
And in the off chance that someone does get on base against him, Reddell self-described controlling the basepaths as his biggest strength. That may explain his low ERA.聽
鈥淚 know how to keep runners from moving over,鈥� Reddell said. 鈥淚 have a pretty good pickoff move that I can command when I want to.鈥�
But as good as Reddell has become, he understands that getting the chance to play at the next level will require some improvement on his end as well. What he wants to focus on most is heightening the velocity of his pitches, as well as power hitting. He says that the Worth County High School diamond is open to them all the time, so he鈥檚 had no trouble getting out to practice. But for getting that velocity and power up, the recently graduated pitcher knows where he has to go.
鈥淚 need to get in the gym and work out some more,鈥� Reddell said.
So with the summer reaching it鈥檚 midway point, the college baseball hopeful has been considering his options, and if things remain the way they are as of now, he鈥檒l be headed an hour north to Georgia Southwestern State University. His goal would be to walk on to the baseball team, a Division II program, and pursue a special education degree.聽
