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The Northern California kid got picked by the hometown team.
It has been known for some time that Arizona State junior center fielder Hunter Bishop is a special type of talent.
That was certified on Monday during the first round of the 2019 MLB Draft when he was selected 10th overall to the San Francisco Giants
After an up and down first couple of seasons, Bishop pieced everything together for a stellar junior season that culminated into being one of the top prospects in this year’s draft.
“For me, it was just trying to keep it one pitch at a time. That was really all I could do to kind of stay in the moment,” said Bishop last week of awaiting for his name to be called on Monday. “Everybody is human and everybody thinks about the future and what’s to come. It’s definitely been a challenge (this season), but it’s nothing too hard and it’s been a great year. I was happy with everything.”
With the 10th pick of the 2019 #MLBDraft, the @SFGiants select @ASU_Baseball OF Hunter Bishop: https://t.co/OHooNe2EPu pic.twitter.com/55kWzYikVJ
— MLB Draft (@MLBDraft) June 4, 2019
The Northern California native hit .344 with 63 RBI’s and 22 home runs. He was tied for the team, and Pac-12 lead in homers alongside fellow teammate Spencer Torkelson.
Bishop was also in the top-10 for home runs in the entire country, and he was named Perfect Game and D1 Baseball’s Midseason Player of the Year in April. Additionally, Bishop finished as a semifinalist for the Golden Spikes Award, which goes to the best amateur player in the country.
Prior to ASU, Bishop attended Serra High School in San Mateo. There’s another former ASU star who is an alum of both those schools as well - 14-time MLB All-Star Barry Bonds. It’s quite a coincidence, and it now seems that Bishop will get his opportunity to make his mark back at home in the Bay Area.
A day after the Sun Devils’ season ended in gut-wrenching fashion in the Baton Rouge Regional, the Pac-12 First Team Selection can now possibly be looking at a Big League career after donning the maroon and gold for three seasons. During the 2019 campaign, he will be remembered as one of the best players in the nation. The Giants just put a stamp on that.