Michael Gupton brings more than elite speed to NC State
ROLESVILLE, N.C. (BVM) 鈥� Rolesville High School senior outfielder Michael Gupton just might be the fastest baseball player you鈥檒l see, especially at the high school level. He broke the Perfect Game 60-yard dash record with a 5.96 back in 2021. He also once legged out a triple in 11.4 seconds during his junior season.
Michael Gupton () made it from home to third in 11.4 seconds on this triple 馃槼
The NC State commit is one of 30+ 2022 draft standouts you need to know this fall.
Here's why:
— Baseball America (@BaseballAmerica)
Even in 2020, Gupton was making waves with his speed. In the North Carolina High School Athletics Association 4A Indoor State Championships, Gupton ran the 55-meter dash in 6.22 seconds. It was the fastest time recorded for the 2020 indoor track season in the US. As a freshman, he ran the same race in 6.31 seconds.
鈥淚t鈥檚 just how I got a big piece of my foot in the door,鈥� Gupton said. 鈥淥bviously it鈥檚 my gift of speed. A lot of people know, I would say more locally, how complete of a player I am. I would say people in a little bit more of a broad area don鈥檛 know, so that鈥檚 why I鈥檓 really looking forward to this summer.鈥�
Do not mistake Gupton as someone with only elite speed. Yes, that speed helps him stick out among his peers, but speed alone does not make a great baseball player. His focus on improving his skills at the plate and on the field helped him become a better player with more playing time. He finished his high school career with a .335 batting average with 67 hits, 72 runs scored, 30 RBIs, 15 doubles, seven triples, and seven home runs.聽
鈥淭he biggest improvement I鈥檝e made is just realizing what needs to be done and what I can do without trying to force any action from the mental side,鈥� Gupton said. 鈥淔rom the physical side, staying with the ball more, staying back, and really reading that spin a lot better.鈥�
Gupton also had his best season in the field his senior season with 43 putouts, four assists, and one double play.聽
鈥淛ust keeping the footwork sharp,鈥� Gupton said about what he鈥檚 been working on in the field. 鈥淎rm strength鈥� you can never have too much arm strength, so I鈥檝e been working on that. Agility, getting the footwork right, all the things to be a complete outfielder.鈥�
While Gupton鈥檚 senior season may have ended earlier than he desired, he has always had an eye on the future when it comes to his baseball career. He verbally committed to play his college ball at NC State during his freshman year of high school. Now that his high school career is over, he can鈥檛 wait to get on the field again, this time for the Wolfpack.
鈥淚鈥檝e been looking forward to that since my freshman year when I committed,鈥� Gupton said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 finally approaching us, it鈥檚 finally coming up. We鈥檙e excited. We talk every week, giving each other a call, sending text messages in between games鈥� They鈥檝e been out to a numerous amount of my games, my staff. Everything鈥檚 going well, communication is going well. Hopefully, I鈥檓 living up to their standards.鈥�
While NC State has been the plan for Gupton since he committed to Wolfpack as a freshman, the scouting community has kept a close eye on him as well for the approaching MLB Draft.
鈥淟ot of buzz around the draft,鈥� Gupton said about what he鈥檚 experiencing. 鈥淎 lot of guys at the games, a lot of guys at my house. Communication with me as well as my agent.鈥�
Whether Gupton finds himself playing ball at NC State or in an MLB team鈥檚 system next year, there鈥檚 no doubt he will continue to improve as a player while burning up basepaths regardless of where he lands.
