So, Dave Moates is asked, is there one play above any other that stood out for Lastings Milledge?
Moates is the man who coached Milledge, the Mets’ first-round draft pick, at Lakewood Ranch HS in Bradenton, Fla., this past season. And when he’s asked about his top player’s top play, he doesn’t hesitate.
“He was playing in our first game after we won the district title. It was against Maples Gulf Coast, the first quarterfinal of the regional,” Moates remembers. “We were losing 5-1 in the seventh inning and we got a hit, a hit-by-pitch and another hit and we scored a run.
“Lastings got on with a hit and he got to third. The bases were loaded with nobody out and we were down 5-4.
“He stole home to tie the game.”
Keep in mind that Moates has been coaching baseball for over 20 years and is no stranger to overseeing future major leaguers (San Diego pitcher Brian Tolberg and Tampa Bay reliever Lance Carter are two of the recent ones).
But he knows that when it comes to Milledge, this is a special case. A different type of prospect, one who can win a game for his high school by stealing home, one who can provide the kind of spark that eventually led to a Class 5A state title.
“Very good players make very good plays,” Moates said. “He set the tone for the rest of the playoffs.”
Milledge was on hand last night at Yogi Berra Stadium at Montclair State University for the All-American baseball game, a collection of the best prep players in the country pitted against each other in an East vs. West All-Star showdown.
In a collection that also includes the draft’s top pick, outfielder Delmon Young, and its fifth pick, outfielder Chris Lubanski, it was Milledge who was named the Player of the Year at a banquet Sunday night.
Last night before the game started, Milledge walked around in a No. 27 East jersey but what stood out more was his fitted black Mets cap. He says he’s excited to be a Met, that it’s the perfect spot for him, and his new team is just as thrilled to have him.
Milledge, taken 12th overall by the Mets last week, may be the most highly regarded five-tool high schooler in the nation. The 18-year-old, who stands 6-1 and weighs a lean 185 pounds, batted .414 for the season while ripping 10 homers and stealing 42 bags.
Now you see why, when Mets director of amateur scouting Jack Bowen was asked what initially drew him to Milledge, he replied, “Pretty much a little bit of everything.”
Bowen later said that he’s most impressed by the energy with which Milledge plays, noting, “He doesn’t do anything halfway.” And he’s not the only one who gushes. Milledge himself likens his game to Rickey Henderson’s. Meanwhile, Milledge’s agent, Tommy Tanzer, compares his client to Roberto Clemente.
“He doesn’t have the arm that Roberto had, but he’s a better outfielder where he gets better jumps on the ball,” Tanzer said. “He’s every bit as good defensively as he is offensively.”
Henderson? Clemente? Not bad company for an 18-year-old kid.