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By Jim Steele
steele@mckenziebanner.com |
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Brett Carroll, son of former McKenzian Mike Carroll,
was selected in the 10th round by the Florida Marlins in
the Major League Baseball draft.Carroll, who led or was
near the top in most offensive categories for Middle
Tennessee State, played third base for the Blue Raiders.
Carroll, a junior, batted .303 last year and led the Blue
Raiders in home runs with 14, doubles with 20 and RBI with
52. As a sophomore, he led MTSU in 12 offensive
categories. Carroll was courted by the Marlins and the
Yankees and prepped at Knoxville-Bearden High School.
Carroll was tops in total bases with 140 and at-bats with
252.
The Knoxville native has 39 career home runs, 50 doubles
and 133 RBIs, all ranking in the top eight in Blue Raider
history. The Bearden High School product has the option of
signing a professional contract or returning for his
senior year. "I've given this a lot of thought, and my
family is involved," Carroll said. "I definitely want a
degree. But I've talked to [MTSU coach Steve Peterson],
and he feels professional baseball is my next step. I'm
ready to move on if that's what's going to happen. It will
be a tough decision," Carroll said forgoing his senior
year is a bittersweet choice. "I felt like we should
have accomplished more this season," he said, "and a part
of me wants to come back and make history." Carroll will
likely report to one of four Marlins' affiliates:
Jamestown (N.Y.) Jammers and the Gulf Coast Marlins
(Jupiter, Fla.), both rookie league teams; Jupiter (Fla.)
Hammerheads and Greensboro (N.C.) Bats, both Class A
affiliates. If Carroll progresses, there is a chance that
he might play with the Carolina Mudcats of the Southern
League and make an appearance at Pringles Park vs. the
West Tennessee Diamond Jaxx in Jackson. Carroll's
father, Mike, was a multi-sport athlete at McKenzie High
School, earning many accolades. He graduated from MHS in
1962 and played baseball for Bethel. He is currently
assistant principal at Farragut High School in Knox
County. The baseball prospect is the newphew of
McKenzie's Jimmy Carroll. |
