A pair of La Jolla High grads was very excited to hear their names called recently by a pair of Major League teams.
Kyle Martin (29th round) and Jack Peterson (42nd round) were tabbed by the Kansas City Royals and Seattle Mariners, respectively, in the recent baseball draft.
For Martin, the excitement level hit a fever pitch.
“Getting drafted by the Royals was very exciting,” Martin said. “I was very confident that I would be drafted; I just didn’t know what organization would pick me on draft day.”
As of right now, Martin is playing for the Burlington Royals in North Carolina.
“They mostly have me at shortstop ” my main position ” but I think they may give me a shot at second base as well,” Martin noted.
After playing at La Jolla High, the 2003 grad went on to play at Texas Tech University.
“Playing for Texas Tech was a great experience that made me a better player, and more mature as a person on and off the field,” Martin commented. “Playing in the Big 12 Conference is exciting, and the talent level is very high. I think that playing college baseball at that level has really prepared me for professional baseball.”
When asked if he emulates any particular Major League players, Martin noted, “I don’t necessarily try to follow any one big-leaguer in particular, but I enjoy watching all midddle infielders at that level. I think that watching mechanics of middle infielders has showed me a lot, along with my coaches during my years in high school and college.”
Martin said it hasn’t been a childhood dream to play in the big leagues, but it would be one amazing accomplishment.
“I am mainly focused on reaching my fullest potential as a baseball player and then seeing how far that takes me,” Martin added.
For Peterson, the draft news comes despite the fact that he will go on to college this fall and attend Notre Dame.
“I was surprised to be drafted by them [Seattle] because I had not had any contact from their team before the draft,” Peterson remarked.
Peterson said that he was not offered a lot of money to go the big league route.
“I felt that college was a better option, especially looking ahead in life,” Peterson said. “I am currently looking to walk on the Notre Dame baseball team, so I do not have a set spot. I am looking to major in economics at Notre Dame.”
The recent La Jolla High grad said he models his game after David Eckstein (St. Louis Cardinals) and Marcus Giles (Padres) and “as much as I hate the Yankees, I really respect Derek Jeter’s game. All of these guys give it everything they have all of the time.”
Peterson ended his La Jolla career this past spring on a high note as the Vikings went 21-10 and were co-Western League champions.
“This year was the most fun season of baseball I have ever been a part of,” Peterson said. “The team chemistry was great.”
Peterson said he will work hard to make the team at Notre Dame and then go from there.
“But if I do not play professional baseball, I want to be an economist for a company,” he added.
La Jolla High head baseball coach Gary Frank has nothing but fond thoughts of both the former Vikings.
“Jack is one of the hardest workers that I’ve been around,” Frank said. “He was the last one to leave the field every day. He’s a great competitor and a great kid. He was one of the leaders on our team this year. He’s the kind of kid that you want to build a program around. Jack wasn’t the most physically talented player on our team, but he is a very smart baseball player, and he gets the most out of his ability. He was the table-setter on our team; he always found a way to get on base.”
When his high school career ended, Peterson ranked in the Top 10 all-time in walks and on-base average.
Frank, who has been around the La Jolla baseball program for 20 years, said Martin “is the smoothest shortstop that I’ve seen at La Jolla High School. He has great hands and exceptional footwork. Offensively, Kyle has great power.”
Martin holds the La Jolla High School record for doubles in a season (16) and is also in the Top 10 for career ERA.
This past collegiate season, Martin led the Texas Tech team in home runs and RBIs.
“Kyle is a fantastic kid with a lot of ability,” Frank added. “I think he will do very well in professional baseball.”