Nick Ciuffo leads Lexington to postseason ahead of MLB Draft

In the first game of the season, Nick Ciuffo did something he didn't do for the next 25 games – he went hitless.

In a 10-0 win over Irmo (South Fork, S.C.), Ciuffo went 0-for-1 with three walks. In every game since, Ciuffo (pronounced "TCHYOOF-foh) has reached base with at least one hit – a streak of 25 straight games.

The hit streak ended in Lexington's 7-6 win over Lugoff-Elkin on Thursday, but during the streak, Ciuffo batted .507, led Lexington (S.C.) to a 23-4 record and helped earn the No. 1 ranking in Class 4A in South Carolina coaches poll. His coach, Brian Hucks, attributes Ciuffo's success to a complete set of skills, some not commonly found in catching prospects.

"Nick has the full assortment of tools. He is a plus defender behind the plate with incredible arm strength," said Hucks. "He is a very good baserunner that is always looking for the extra base. He has the ability to hit for a high average and has light-tower power. He also has a very good understanding of who he is as a player."

Hucks also credits Ciuffo's knowledge of the game as a factor in his success.

"His baseball IQ is off the charts and that is what separates him as a catcher," said Hucks. "He can lead our pitchers throughout the game and help them make adjustments. Nick is a team-first player and makes the players around him better."

All of these assets make Ciuffo a potential high draft pick in the Major League Baseball draft in June, and one of the leaders in the MaxPreps National Player of the Year Watch. Ciuffo sees the Major League interest as a great honor but he also treasures the idea of playing college baseball for the University of South Carolina Gamecocks.

"I've worked hard my entire life and now it is starting to pay off, but I haven't really thought much about (being drafted)," said Ciuffo. "I spent 1,074 days committed to USC. I committed to the Gamecocks in the fall of my freshman year and I signed Nov. 14 of 2012."

Ciuffo made his first start as a freshman, although it was with Wando (Mt. Pleasant, S.C.), where he spent his first two years of high school before transferring to Lexington as a junior.

"I was nervous but I played for the state's No. 1-ranked team and was catching one of the top high school pitchers in the country in senior righthander Drew Cisco (sixth-round pick by the Reds in 2010)," said Ciuffo. "The game was played in front of over 30 pro and college scouts at the I.P. Classic in Georgetown."

Prior to signing in the fall of 2012, Ciuffo had an eventful summer. He was the starting catcher in the Under Armour All-American Classic in Chicago and the Perfect Game All-American Classic in San Diego. At the Perfect Game National Showcase in July, he had a 1.83 pop and a 7.0 60-yard run. He improved his pop time to 1.82 at the Diamond Prospects Showcase in January.

Ciuffo also spent the fall season playing baseball for the S.C. Diamond Devils wood bat team, the same team he plays for during the summer. During the fall, he batted .419 with three home runs and 16 RBIs in 18 games.

The honors heading into his senior season were impressive. He was a MaxPreps, Under Armour and Perfect Game preseason All-American. He was also rated the No. 1 player in the state by Diamond Prospects.

The season thus far has been a successful one for Ciuffo and the Wildcats. It's a season they have dedicated to one very special fan.

"We have a young lady in the eighth grade that was diagnosed with brain cancer 14 months ago. Our team has dedicated all we do for this young lady, Kennedy Branham," said Hucks. "Nick has established a very close friendship with Kennedy. In all of his tweets regarding our team he finishes them with #finish4Kennedy or #pray4Kennedy. He truly understands the impact he can have on people."

Lexington begins state tournament play next week. Ranked No. 1 throughout the season, Lexington is one of the favorites to win the Class 4A championship.

"We are a difficult team to beat because we focus on the little things that help win the tight ballgames," said Ciuffo. "I think we have a good shot to contend for the state championship."

Lexington won the District 5 tournament with the win over Lugoff-Elkin. It will play Beaufort in the first round of the Lower State Tournament on Saturday.