Woodward Academy's Delino DeShields and his famous father have a running competition between them. DeShields dreams of exceeding the baseball accomplishments of the man by the same name (though different middle name), who played 13 years in the majors.
On Monday night, the younger DeShields achieved his first goal when he was selected eighth overall by the Houston Astros in the amateur baseball draft. His father was picked No. 12 by the Montreal Expos in 1987.
"It's a friendly competition between us, and no one is happier for me than my dad," DeShields said. "He's proud of me. Now I have to do what I was born to do."
DeShields was one of five Georgia high school players drafted among the top 30 players, including three first-rounders by the Los Angeles Angels: Cook third baseman Kaleb Cowart (No 18), East Coweta pitcher Cam Bedrosian (No. 29), and Marietta outfielder Chevez Clarke (No. 30).
Also, Blessed Trinity outfielder Jake Skole was taken 15th by the Texas Rangers. Skole signed a football scholarship with Georgia Tech, but told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Monday night that he was fairly certain he would play pro baseball after the early selection.
A sixth player with local connections, Georgia Tech pitcher Deck McGuire, went to the Toronto Blue Jays at No. 11.
National baseball analysts praised the state talent pool. Said MLB.com's Peter Gammons, "Georgia is, per capita, the best baseball state in the country."
The 5-foot-9, 190-pound DeShields said he felt good about his chances of being drafted by the Astros -- however, he expected to be Houston's second pick of the first round at No. 19. He bumped up after a stellar workout with the team last Thursday.
"I guess they liked what they saw when I was down there to make them change their minds and take me earlier," DeShields said. "I've always known they liked me, but I didn't know they liked me that much. It feels really good."
DeShields was scouted as an outfielder by most teams but said he will play second base for the Astros. Soon after being drafted, he took a phone call from his dad, who manages in the minors for the Cincinnati Reds.
"He was like ‘Stay humble, I'm proud of you, I love you, and great things are going to happen. … It's your time now,'" DeShields said.
DeShields also was coveted by the Toronto Blue Jays, who were forced to draft Tech's McGuire instead.
McGuire, a junior right-hander, is a 6-foot-6 power pitcher and who compiled a 28-7 record in three seasons as a starter. He had a 3.28 earned-run average in 291 innings pitched. He struck out 306 and walked 106.
Skole was informed of his selection by Texas Rangers president and Hall of Fame pitcher Nolan Ryan. "That was a pretty cool experience," he said. "I'm just pumped about everything and ready to go to work."
As for football, Skole said his mind was made up. "I was on the fence about it, but this pretty much rules it out," he said.
The Angles drafted Cowart with the stipulation he be allowed to play third base rather than pitcher. He was considered a top prospect at both positions but prefers to play every day.
Staff writer Doug Roberson contributed to this story
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