Milwaukee selected Patchoag-Medford pitcher Josh Knoth with the 33rd overall pick in the 2023 MLB draft Sunday night.
The “slot value” of the 17-year-old right-hander’s pro contract due to his high draft pick Worth over $2.5 million.
North, a two-time recipient of the Suffolk County Most Outstanding Player Carl Yastrzemski Award, had previously committed to playing college basketball at the University of Mississippi. But the prospect of signing a lucrative contract makes North likely fit to play minor league baseball before he turns 18 in August.
Although North has a fastball in the 90s and was ranked by MLB.com as having the best breaking ball of any draft-eligible pitcher, MLB.com expects North to go 98th on the draft board. selected. .
The moment he was drafted was captured at a draft party in Medford.
This spring, North was virtually unassailable, Recorded 109 strikeouts in 41 victories And allowed only five hits (all singles) and one run. The 6-foot-1 pitcher had a perfect game with 19 strikeouts. As a junior in 2022, he also tossed out a perfect game.
North grew up playing baseball with Patchogue-Medford catcher Brian Frascona, whose father, Anthony, was the longtime Raiders varsity coach. Anthony Frascogna has coached youth league and school basketball players for over 10 years.
Anthony Frascogna, who was with North and his family, teammates and friends when North’s draft was announced, said, “It’s been awesome to be a part of something so amazing. “Just to be part of that life-changing event…indescribable, blissful.”
Interestingly, North was drafted after the Mets drafted with the No. 1 pick. New York selected highly regarded shortstop Colin Houck from Parkview High School in Lilburn, Georgia, with the 32nd pick in the draft.
Patchogue-Medford alumnus Marcus Stroman pitches for the Chicago Cubs. Stroman was drafted by the Washington Nationals in the 18th round of the 2009 Major League Baseball draft after high school, but chose to play at Duke. He was subsequently selected by the Toronto Blue Jays in the first round of the 2012 MLB draft.
Above: Josh North (right) with Patchogue-Medford High School coach Anthony Frascona. (Source: Anthony Frascona)
