Fort Worth area high school baseball stars see dreams come true at 2021 MLB Draft
Dreams became reality this week for a few Fort Worth-area high school baseball stars who were selected during the 2021 MLB Draft.
Now, they need to make the biggest decision of their lives — deciding whether they should forgo their college eligibility and turn pro.
Aledo catcher/relief pitcher Creed Willems was selected in the eighth round (227th overall) by the Baltimore Orioles on Monday. On Wednesday, Willems, who graduated from Aledo this year, announced that he will sign with the pro club and forgo his college career at TCU.
Willems was a key contributor behind the plate as well as from the bullpen this season for the Bearcats, helping them reach the Class 5A Region 1 final. Willems also had a big bat as he produced timely hits, blasted homers and drove in runs.
Ten picks earlier, the Atlanta Braves selected Colleyville Heritage pitcher AJ Smith-Shawver (seventh round, 217th overall).
Smith-Shawver was voted District 6-5A Offensive MVP and went through his first full year as the Panthers’ starting pitcher. The 6-foot-3 righty could reach 96 mph on his fastball.
In one of his final high school outings, Smith-Shawver allowed two hits and no runs and racked up 15 strikeouts in a 1-0 win over Denton Ryan.
Smith-Shawver is signed to Texas Tech as a baseball player, but also has the potential to play on the football team. He was the starting quarterback at Colleyville Heritage, helping the Panthers win the district title last season. In nine games, Smith-Shawver threw for 2,616 yards and 25 touchdowns. He averaged 290.7 yards passing per game, third highest in the Fort Worth area.
The Panthers won the Class 5A baseball state title in 2019 when Smith-Shawver was a sophomore.
Keller pitcher Eric Hammond was selected by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 19th round (558th overall). The USC signee helped the Indians to their best season in program history with their first trip to the state tournament in 30 years.
During the state semifinal against Houston Strake Jesuit, Hammond struck out nine batters and allowed one run in six innings to help punch Keller’s ticket to the state championship game for the first time.
Hammond went 12-2 this season and punched out 102 batters in 72 innings. He allowed just 14 earned runs.
Eaton pitcher Xavier Casserilla was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 20th round (601st overall). The Wichita State signee helped the Eagles to the third round where they lost a three-game series with Keller.
With the season on the line in Game 2 against Keller, Casserilla homered and also got the win by allowing one run on four hits with five strikeouts in five innings in a 2-1 decision.
Casserilla hit .408 and set school records with 51 hits, 14 doubles and 43 RBI. He also hit six home runs.
All four players recently graduated from their respected high schools. East of Tarrant County, Dallas Jesuit shortstop Jordan Lawlar was drafted No. 6 overall by the Arizona Diamondbacks. Lawlar was awarded Gatorade Texas player of the year this season.
Former area high school standouts were also drafted, including Argyle’s Brendan Dixon in the 20th round by the Pittsburgh Pirates (583rd overall). The Weatherford College infielder announced on Wednesday that he will forgo his time at Arkansas and sign with the Pirates.
Dixon helped Argyle win back-to-back Class 4A titles in 2018 and 2019. He hit .335 with 10 homers and 39 RBI this season with Weatherford.
Other local members of the high school Class of 2021 who were drafted included Frisco Reedy outfielder Jordan Viars (Philadelphia Phillies, 84th overall) and McKinney Boyd outfielder Tyler Collins (Atlanta Braves, 247th overall).
Former Keller Fossil Ridge and current UT-Arlington pitcher Carlos Tavera was drafted by the Orioles in the fifth round (137th overall). Tavera was a two-time all-state member at Fossil Ridge.
He posted a 3.04 ERA and 3-4 record with 117 strikeouts in 15 appearances with the Mavericks this season, and was named two-time Sun Belt pitcher of the week as well as Sun Belt championship all-tournament. He owns a career 3.42 ERA in 28 appearances at UTA.
Tavera was 3-1 with a 1.71 ERA in 2020 before the season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Former Midlothian Panther and current TCU Horned Frog Russell Smith was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in the second round (51st overall).
Former Waxahachie Indian Levi David (Northwestern State) was drafted by the New York Mets in the ninth round (262nd overall).
This story was originally published July 14, 2021 at 3:28 PM.
