Video: Jason Groome high school highlights
See the potential top pick in the MLB Draft in his first action of the season.The much-anticipated debut of
Barnegat (N.J.) left-handed pitcher
Jason Groome proved to be as good as expected, although the 6-foot-5 senior left the game Tuesday after four innings with no decision.
Groome, who is rated by recruiting services as the No. 1 prospect in the Class of 2016 and is also projected to be the No. 1 pick in the Major League Baseball draft in June, went four innings and struck out 10 against Point Pleasant Borough (N.J.). He gave up two hits and a walk in his four scoreless innings. Of the 59 pitches he threw, 41 went for strikes.
Groome hit the leadoff batter in the top of the fifth inning of a scoreless game and was pulled for Jared Kasco, who went the final three innings to get the 2-0 victory. Groome was hitting around 93-94 mph in the first inning, according to tweets by Hudson Belinsky of Baseball America. Several other tweets remarked on Groome's exceptional curveball.
Groome was originally scheduled to pitch last Friday against Pineland, but poor weather cancelled the game and pushed his debut to Tuesday against Point Pleasant Borough.
The Philadelphia Phillies have the No. 1 pick in the 2016 draft and could take Groome first overall. Only five left-handed pitchers have ever been taken No. 1 overall.
Groome pitched at Barnegat as a sophomore, but transferred to IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) for his junior season. He went 5-0 with 77 strikeouts and an 0.98 ERA for the Ascenders last year.
