The state of Georgia has always been a hotbed for football and baseball recruiting. Annually, premier college programs, as well as Major League Baseball teams, pluck phenomenal talent from the state of Georgia to better their teams. Grayson defensive end Robert Nkemdiche is known by many to be the top football prospect in the state, but he is not the only No. 1 prospect in the state of Georgia. The other top prospect in the state is Appling County outfielder Byron Buxton, who has led his team to a nearly flawless record.
Buxton, a 6-foot-2, 180-pound outfielder, has had an excellent season for the Pirates and scouts have taken notice. Both Baseball America and ESPN have him predicted to go No. 1 overall to the Houston Astros in the 2012 MLB First-Year Player Draft. Both outlets also have Buxton ranked as the best high school prospect in the country.
As of April 26, Byron has led his team to a 23-1 overall record and 15-0 region record. He is batting around .550 for the year with one home run, 28 stolen bases, 13 extra base hits, 20 walks and two strikeouts. His second strikeout came in the team’s loss to Ware County, a sign that as Buxton goes, so do the Pirates.
Byron’s speed, as can be seen by his stolen base numbers, is what has scouts gushing over the outfielder. He is seen by many as a five-tool outfielder, but his speed and defense are probably his best qualities. To show how elite his speed is, major league scouts rank it as anywhere from 70 to 80 on a scale of 80. His speed can also be seen in the outfield and is a reason that he is such a superb defender.
Buxton plays centerfield, a position that requires a lot of ground to be covered and his speed allows for that. He also possesses a strong arm, an 80 on the scouting scale according to ESPN’s Keith Law, which has many forecasting the young outfielder as a future gold glover. Major League teams are slowly transitioning their teams from those built to smack home runs to those built on speed with well-rounded players, a blueprint that Byron’s talents fit perfectly.
“He really can do it all, but I really like to see him run” says Appling Co. baseball coach, Jeremy Smith. “There was a game earlier in the year, where Byron went first to third on a single, and I was just impressed with his speed.”
While his speed and defense are Buxton’s best tools, his bat is what has scouts concerned. This comes from the belief that he has not faced superior talent, but only time will tell whether he will hit at the major league level. However, even with concerns about whether or not he will hit at the next level, Buxton is being compared to players such as Eric Davis and the Upton brothers, B.J. and Justin.
The Appling County outfielder wows fans and scouts with his exceptional physical tools, but what is truly impressive about Buxton is his work ethic off the field. He is a constant occupant of the team’s indoor hitting facility and has been seen there into the earlier hours of the morning. “He’s a hard worker” says his coach. “There have been times where I’d find him in the cage at one or two in the morning working on things.”
As an 18-year old attracting attention as the possible first pick of the draft, Smith believes his outfielder has done an excellent job of dealing with the hype. “He doesn’t say much and just tries to be himself,” said Smith.
The hype has brought droves of scouts to Appling County’s games and the attention has benefited more than just Byron Buxton. Smith has three players that are signing with collegiate programs and scouts say it’s because they have come to Buxton. “I’ve had scouts come up to me and tell me that they are glad they came to see Byron because they have found players they would not have found otherwise,” said the Appling County coach.
Appling County would have four players signing scholarships if it were not for Buxton going in the top 5 of the MLB draft. Byron, who grew up a Georgia fan, committed to Georgia a while back but is expected to turn pro rather than become a Bulldog. Smith was used to seeing coaches from Georgia at the school but has not talked to Bulldogs coach David Perno in quite some time, a sign that the Dawgs do not expect Buxton to suit up for the team.
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