Justin Bellinger '11 is Drafted By St. Louis Cardinals
6/9/2014
On Thursday, June 5, Justin Bellinger, Fessenden class of ‘11 and St. Sebastian's class of ‘14 was drafted in the 12th round of the Major League Baseball Player Draft by the St. Louis Cardinals. Projected as a higher pick, he was taken in a later round due to his commitment to play college Div 1 baseball for Duke next year and at this time is planning on honoring that commitment.
The 6'6", 230-pound Bellinger—a left-handed hitting first baseman—is one of the best power bats among the high school ranks in Massachusetts. His numbers this spring are reflective of that, hitting .490 with 30 RBI, three home runs and drawing 25 walks in 17 games.
Bellinger’s short and compact yet aggressive swing can change games and generate what one National League scout dubbed “light-tower power.” “He is a specimen in terms of physical size and raw tools,” the scout remarked. This talent was noticed early on as Vanderbilt University offered him a scholarship during his ninth grade season, but he later changed his commitment, signing with Duke this past year.
As a junior at St. Sebastian’s, Bellinger hit .396 with eight home runs and 36 RBI in 53 at-bats. He had a .736 OBP and 1.698 OPS. He was the lone player in the ISL to use a wood bat. Bellinger wears custom-made XXXL batting gloves, and he also can throw 90 m.p.h. from the left side off the mound. At a Power Showcase Home Run Derby in 2012 at Chase Field, Bellinger hit a ball farther than any other competitor from around the globe—477 feet. This winter, he was named to the Perfect Game Dream Team as well as the Best Hitter for Power in the Northeast Region. | | |