Kyle Stroup a no-go to become a Huskie

Oops!

Stevens and Feeney weren't the only players with NIU ties to get drafted. Fox Lake native Kyle Stroup was the last pick in the draft by the Boston Red Sox, and he has committed to play at NIU.

However, Stroup has informed Mathey that he won't be headed to DeKalb.

If he doesn't sign with Boston, Stroup will head to Chipola Junior College in Florida, where he will be eligible to get drafted next year.

If players attend a four-year school, they aren't eligible to get drafted until their junior year or when they turn 21. Players who attend junior college are eligible after their first year.

I'm really not surprised by his decision, because even if he went to Northern his eyes would always be looking towards the MLB. Stroup was drafted last in the draft (1,504th). He needs to develop his pro potential more and I feel the right choice to do that would have been to sign on with the Huskies instead of going to some JUCO for a year which is likely to happen. I don't see the Red Sox signing Stroup for 250,000 with their last pick of a HS Pitcher.

I also don't feel that it's trustworthy to sign a letter of intent to 2 schools and leaving the possible opening to burn both of them. This may be a common practice in College Baseball, but this is a big blow to our team for the next 3 years he would have played here and produced one of our highest draft picks.

On NIU Baseball Recruit Kyle Stroup

Photo courtesy of Boston Globe

This Boston Globe article is mostly fluff, but a few of these quotes are pretty interesting:

Stroup said he had been told by several scouts that he was going to be picked somewhere in the top 10 rounds, or shortly thereafter, but the phone didn't ring.

He expected it was because he asked for too much money in the beginning, $250,000.

Stroup said he has a fastball that sits in the low 90s, but reaches 95, as well as a knuckle-curve, a changeup, and a splitter.

I'm assuming he stll attends Northern, since I doubt he gets the money he wants being picked 1,504th. This article says that he has to attend NIU for 3 years before regaining his draft eligibility. The 5th ranked recruit in IL could always go the JUCO route to be eligible earlier. Stroup makes our recruiting class ranked 1st in the MAC and 63rd in the nation. Good luck to Kyle on whatever choice he may make.