Sometimes the loss of one opportunity can lead to one that is bigger and better. Austin Maddox found that out over the past few weeks.
The Eagle’s View Academy (Jacksonville, FL) catcher went into the June 9 Major League Baseball Draft labeled as one of the top high school catchers. Scouts cited his above average arm and tremendous power as two tools that would carry him to the big leagues.
But then he started to fall in the draft, slipping all the way to the 37th round where he was picked by the Tampa Bay Rays. How could a catcher with that much talent fall so far? That had everything to do with signability issues. Maddox let it be known before the draft that it would take a good amount of money to keep him away from his long time dream of playing baseball for the University of Florida.
Maddox wasn’t the least bit fazed by his freefall through the draft. Instead of worrying about what might have been, he was simply happy to be a Gator.
“I’m excited to come down and play for Florida,” Maddox said. “I’m not too worried about the draft. It’s going to be fun.”
His first game as a Gator is still eight months away, but the thought of putting on the Florida uniform already has Maddox excited.
“I can’t tell you how it’s going to feel because I don’t even know, but it’s going to be a great feeling,” Maddox said. “I’ve always wanted to do it my whole life, and it’s finally going to be coming true.”
Maddox and his family will head to Gainesville Tuesday, the day freshmen athletes must report to campus for the start of Summer B. The Rays can still negotiate with him up until the August 17 deadline, but once he moves in to his Gainesville dorm, Maddox doesn’t expect to leave.
“Once I get to campus I know I’m not going to want to leave,” Maddox said. “I’m just excited to be a Florida Gator, and I’m not worried about the Rays. I’m ready to get to Gainesville and play for the University of Florida.”
Once he gets to campus, Maddox will live with West Orange shortstop Nolan Fontana, his teammate last summer on Team USA. Fontana was the leadoff hitter and Maddox hit in the middle of the order.
“It’s really exciting,” Maddox said. “I just want to come in and help the team as much as I can. I want to find my role on the team to the best of my abilities and fill it.”
Fontana isn’t the only player on the team Maddox already knows. If there’s one thing that describes this recruiting class, it’s relationships. They have met at other camps and showcases over the past few years and Maddox believes that will give them a leg up on team chemistry.
“If you know the guys, it always makes it more exciting,” Maddox said. “We’ve already started developing that relationship so that just makes it a lot easier once we get on campus.”
Maddox’s closest friend on the team will be someone he already knows and has for a while. Florida second baseman Josh Adams played at Eagle’s View Academy with Maddox for two years, and the two were best friends in high school. Their friendship has remained close even though Adams was in Gainesville, but now they have the chance to live in the same city again.
“That’s going to be a blast,” Maddox said. “I talk to Josh just about every day. He’s pretty excited about it, too. We know it’s going to be fun. We want to get to Omaha next year though.”
No one may be more excited about Maddox coming to campus than Florida head coach Kevin O’Sullivan. He and Maddox have had a close relationship for more than a year now, and Maddox is energized by the thought of playing for the head Gator.
“He was excited,” Maddox said. “He’s just ready to get to Omaha. He texts me all the time saying he’s ready to be there. He text me the other day saying how much he hates watching all these other teams play in the College World Series. He just wants to be there.”
If O’Sullivan has it his way, Maddox will be right with him in Omaha.