Farragut grad sticks with UT
By Jesse Smithey
A.J. Simcox appreciated the gesture so much, he bought a Colorado Rockies hat to reciprocate.
Just don't read too much into the purchase.
The Rockies selected Simcox, a senior shortstop at Farragut High School, with the 978th overall pick in the 32nd round of the Major League Baseball draft on Wednesday. But Simcox, a University of Tennessee signee and son of former Tennessee baseball assistant coach Larry Simcox, will "most likely" honor his pledge to the Vols and coach Dave Serrano.
"Most likely, I'm going to be a Vol," said the 6-foot-3, 180-pound Simcox. "I'm excited. I think we have great things ahead of us."
Simcox was on his way to Pigeon Forge when he got the draft news. Though he thought he had a chance
to be drafted much earlier, he knew his signability likely would push teams away. That proved to be the case, but Simcox still showed his appreciation for the Rockies taking him.
"Me and my dad set a pretty high price to begin with, so I kind of knew I wouldn't get drafted where we would have liked," said Simcox. "Once the draft kept going on, we didn't even know if I was going to get drafted because of that. The Rockies drafted me, and I was pretty excited.
"Actually, I just walked out of a Lids store in Pigeon Forge and just bought a Rockies hat."
Larry Simcox said his son could benefit from three years of playing college baseball.
"He's still 17 years old. He won't be 18 for another couple of weeks. He can go play three years of college baseball and be 20 years old on draft day. He'll be much more ready for pro ball. I expect him to go to college."
A.J. Simcox's abilities earned him the District 4-AAA MVP award this past season.
He has great range and closing ability at his shortstop position, and he wielded those abilities many times during the Class AAA state tournament in May. He's an effective hitter, too, batting .460 with nine home runs, 13 doubles, four triples and 45 RBIs this past season.
Simcox hit a team-best .470 as a junior in 2011, when Farragut won its fourth consecutive Class AAA state title. He had a 28-game hit streak as a junior and followed up with a 19-game streak as a senior.
"Every year he's gotten bigger and stronger," said Larry Simcox. "I think he'll continue to do that once he gets over there (at Tennessee) and gets on a weight program and everything. That'll help him.
"As a dad, you want your son to be ready to have success when he steps into pro ball — not just sign. There are a lot of people who sign. I want him to have success."
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Comments » 7
AlexAndersonAAradio writes:
Come play for the Big Orange!!!!!!!
AlcoVOLic writes:
32nd round?...seriously?!?
Rich_Is_Re-born writes:
Great on defense as well. He will look good in orange.
rtrchatt writes:
Another Farragut Admiral on the rise. Where would UT bb be w/o the Admiral program?
Alabama softball FINISHED IT. Roll Tide
TrouserCough writes:
He would have been selected in the 3rd to 5th round if his family had not priced him out of the market knowing they wanted him to attend college. Go Vols!
jowemedo writes:
You say you've been an Alabama fan for 45 years? That would make you what at least 55+ years old? I have to say I find that very difficult to believe the way you childishly banter with the mostly young Vol fans on this site. If you are truly that old you need to find something to do. This will eventually get old to you and then what? You'll just dry up and blow away.
voloffaith writes:
The greater question is where would you be if the lil boy sandbox(you make it that) wasn't here everyday for you to play in? I mean ewe can't be taken seriously as an adult when all your drivel is confrontational and usually childish....So on your third or is it fourth poster name since I came on in 2007? Wow you wear'em out and get tossed and keep coming back like that stray cat who knows where the bowl is in the garage.....hope one day you grasp the big picture and can have joy without being a pest-type individual whose only apparent joy is to drag down others who don't wear crimson....well back to other more important matters so hasta la vista Farragut...
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