CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — Tyler Skaggs has gone from the baseball diamond at Santa Monica High School to being a minor league all-star.
In his second season of professional ball, Skaggs, a starting pitcher, has been named to the Midwest League All Star team, it was announced last week. Skaggs, playing for the Los Angeles Angels’ double A affiliate the Cedar Rapids Kernels, is one of seven teammates who will appear in the game on June 22 in Fort Wayne, Ind.
“Everything is good,” Skaggs said of his season. “This is what I expected, but I didn’t’ think I’d do this well, this fast.”
Skaggs, who graduated from Samohi in 2009, has started the season strong, going 5-2 with a 2.55 earned run average. He attributes the strong showing to the development of a change up, adding to his arsenal of pitches.
He also gave credit to his team, which has a 41-21 record as of Sunday, good for first place.
Since being drafted with the 40th pick in the 2009 Major League Baseball Draft, Skaggs has made a good impression on the Angels’ front office. Some already have him among the organization’s top 10 prospects.
“I’m working my way up there,” Skaggs said of his progress.
While being tagged a top prospect acknowledges his progress, Skaggs said he doesn’t want that to get to his head. Rather, he just wants to continue to make his way toward the big leagues.
“I just have to go out there and win,” he said.
daniela@www.smdp.com
