4 Texas High School Players in Under Armour All-America Baseball Game

The Under Armour All-America Baseball Game, marking its 10th year, was played July 29 at Wrigley Field in Chicago and featured the top players from the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. The game was aired on the MLB Network.

The game is part of four-day event that includes a workout in front of scouts and a home run derby.

Four high school players from Texas made the 40-man roster.

Braxton Ashcraft – RHP, Robinson HS
Jordan Groshans—IF, Magnolia HS
Matt Rudis – RHP, Madisonville HS
Bobby Witt, Jr. – SS/RHP,  Colleyville Heritage HS

Two of the Texas players got some notice from Baseball America after the game:

Jordan Groshans | INF | Magnolia (Texas) High

Groshans went 1-for-3 at the plate with one of the more impressive hits of the game, a triple to deep right-center in the top of the seventh inning. He took a 77 mph curve from Matt Rudis over the heart of the plate for a strike, then put a charge into a 91 mph fastball on the outside corner on the next pitch.

Groshans uses a fairly big leg kick to start his load, and his foot usually lands just before his hands fire into the swing. On this occasion he did an excellent job keeping his hands back to stay with the pitch and drive the ball to the opposite field with authority.

He rounded first in 4.7 seconds and rounded second in 8.29 seconds. Earlier in the game, Groshans grounded out to shortstop, and clocked a 4.55-second home-to-first time.

Best Slider: Braxton Ashcraft, RHP, Robinson (Texas) High

Ashcraft threw three sliders in the game, all with late biting action at 84-86. His inning went by quickly, as Ashcraft hammered the strike zone with his fastball, slider, and curveball.