Dreams Do Come True!
Madison County's Jake Westbrook was the 21st pick in the first round by the
Colorado Rockies last Tuesday.
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| Jake Westbrook in his first season with the Class "A" Asheville Tourist |
By Dallas Bordon
May I have your autograph Mr. Westbrook? That question will ring for years to come in the ears of Madison County's Jake Westbrook who was selected by the Colorado Rockies as their 21st pick in the first round of last Tuesday's baseball draft. Jake, the son of Cauthen and Joan Westbrook of Danielsville, earlier signed with the Georgia Bulldogs, but due to his senior season success including a 90 plus mile per hour fastball rearranged his plans for the future. Westbrook received the call from Rockies General Manager Bob Gebhart around 1:30 on Tuesday. "I woke up around 11:00 a.m. thinking that the draft was going to start around 12 noon. When I found out that it started at 1 p.m. I thought to myself that now I would have to wait an extra hour to find out anything," Said Westbrook. Not long after the
official call came from the Rockies' Gebhart, Westbrook's phone began to ring with calls ranging from news media in Colorado all the way back to South Carolina. Since that dream day for the right hander happened, the Westbrook household has become one busy place. Jake, who reports say signed on Sunday ($750.000 signing bonus) will travel to Colorado Thursday where he will visit with the team. Westbrook will then leave for Chandler, Arizona where he will finish the season with a Rockies rookie league team before joining a Rockies' class "A" minor league team next year. A location was yet to be determined. Colorado's single "A" minor league clubs are located in Oregon, Virginia, South Carolina and North Carolina. Westbrook is represented by the Shapiro, Robinson Agency which also represents such big league names like Cal Ripken Jr., Kirby Puckett, and Eddie Murray all in the majors at this current time.
As a member of the Madison County Red Raiders baseball team, Westbrook compiled a 9-1 record including 14 appearances, 63 innings pitched, five complete games, two no-hitters, faced 243 batters and finished with an earned run average of 1.11. While in high school, Westbrook was also part of the Red Raider basketball team were he was highly recruited by several colleges.
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| Jake was part of the Little League All-Stars several times while growing up around the Madison County Recreation Department. Included in this picture is Jake's dad Cauthen (back left). Jake is the seventh player from the left on the top row. |
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