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Gruver, Turocy, Klein selected for big league teams
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On Tuesday, Austintown Fitch graduate Steven Gruver was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the seventh round of the MLB draft.
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Akron center fielder Drew Turocy is set to swing during a recent game. The 2007 graduate of Canfield High was selected by the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday in the MLB Draft.
By Tom Williams
CANFIELD
After being selected in a round close to where he expected by a major league team that has shown interest in him, Fitch High graduate Steven Gruver has a big decision to make in the next few days.
Tuesday, the Tennessee junior starting pitcher was selected by the Minnesota Twins in the seventh round of 2011 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft. Gruver, a 6-foot-1 lefthander, was taken with 238th overall pick.
“That’s kinda where I was hoping I would be taken,” Gruver said. “My parents got real excited.”
Gruver was at his Canfield home with his parents Sue and Mark Gruver monitoring the draft.
“I was following along, but it goes so quickly that the coaches don’t have time to call ahead,” said Gruver, who added that his feet are touching the ground. “But just barely.”
Another Canfield native, Drew Turocy, was drafted in the 24th round by the Boston Red Sox.
The University of Akron center fielder admitted he became a little discouraged after the 20th round ended.
“We had heard that I could go as high as the 10th round to maybe as low as the 20th,” Turocy said. “So I sort of stopped paying attention.”
His brother Jared, another Akron player, didn’t and alerted Drew with a shout when the selection was made.
“Five minutes later, I received a call from the Red Sox,” Turocy said.
In 30th round, Youngstown State pitcher Phil Klein, a graduate of Gahanna Lincoln near Columbus, was selected by the Texas Rangers. Klein is a 6-7, 230-pound righthander.
Because he’s had plenty of contact with scouts for the Twins, Gruver had a premonition that Minnesota might be his MLB destination.
“Every time it was the Twins’ turn to pick, my ears would perk up,” Gruver said. “It’s a great organization, so I’m really excited.”
Gruver was Tennessee’s ace during his junior campaign this spring, pitching 95.2 innings, more than twice as many as any other player on the roster.
He compiled a 5-7 record and 3.95 ERA in a team-high 14 starts. Gruver also led the squad with two complete games and 84 strikeouts while walking just 28 and holding opposing hitters to a .270 batting average.
For his Volunteers career, Gruver is 9-12 with a 4.99 ERA in 44 appearances, including 30 starts. In 184 total innings, he struck out 165 and walked just 57.
Gruver has found success off the field as well, being named to the SEC Community Service Team and Capital One Academic All-District Team earlier this spring.
Gruver said his junior season’s success was “about what I was hoping for. Last year, a little injury kept me from reaching my full potential.
“This year, it helped that I just stayed healthy.”
Gruver said he hasn’t decided if his college days are over. The 2008 Fitch graduate has one more year of eligibility at Tennessee if he chooses to remain an amateur.
“We’ll be talking about it over the next few days,” Gruver said. “Right now, I’m definitely leaning toward turning pro.”
Gruver said he’s not heard what level the Twins would assign him should he sign.
Gruver credited his parents, Fitch High coach Wally Ford and the Astro Falcon organization.
“They really got me in position for this start,” Gruver said.
A 2007 graduate of Canfield High, the 6-3, 185-pound Turocy helped lead the Cardinals to the Division II state title four seasons ago. He was taken with the 724th overall pick.
The son of Dr. Frank and Marcia Turocy, he’s played three seasons for the Zips and is one semester short of getting his degree in marketing. This spring, Turocy batted .347, with 29 RBIs, 12 doubles and seven homers.
Saying he hasn’t decided whether to accept the Red Sox offer, Turocy added that “I’m leaning toward starting my pro career. We’ll know more in the next few days.
“I’m thankful for the opportunity.”
Turocy also hasn’t been told at what level or league he’s expected to report to if he signs.
Klein was a second-team All-Horizon League selection in 2011. For the campaign, he was 5-5 with a 3.61 ERA.
In 92.1 innings pitched, Klein led the conference with 105 strikeouts while setting a school record for starts with 15 during his senior campaign.