SAMOHI — A prestigious Major League Baseball scouting showcase will feature a pair of Santa Monica's finest.
Samohi seniors Alex Turner and Connor Greene have been invited to the MLB Scouting Bureau Southern California Invitational Showcase on Saturday in Compton, Calif.
Samohi head coach Kurt Schwengel sees it as an honor for the team to have players considered by big league scouts.
"These two guys have been attracting between five to 15 scouts to all of our scrimmage games," Schwengel said. "It gives other guys the opportunity to receive exposure that they may have not otherwise."
Turner, a speedy outfielder, has impressed thus far. He's slammed three home runs in scrimmage games in just seven at bats.
Connor, Samohi's ace pitcher, has drawn at least 10 visits with representatives from big league clubs and the regular season hasn't even started yet.
This is the first time since former Samohi standout Tyler Skaggs drew scouts in droves to Samohi games in 2009, when the pitcher was drafted by the Los Angeles Angels in the first round.
The MLB showcase is a gathering of some of the region's top prospects that gives scouts from every team the chance to see high school ball players in action. Players will take batting practice, run timed sprints and face live pitching during the one-day affair.
Much of the early attention has been on Greene, but Turner has been able to wow scouts with his combination of speed and power. He's had just a few visits with teams, but Schwengel said that his standing as one of the fastest players in the country and his new-found power will surely endear him to scouts.
"I'm sure interest in him will grow exponentially as the season progresses," Schwengel said.
Samohi opens the season on Feb. 23 at home against Ventura.
