Stock Skips His Way To USC
See also: Stock named 2005 Youth Player of the Year
Across America this month, millions of teenagers were preparing for their final year of high school, brushing up on their calculus and narrowing their list of colleges to attend a year from now.
Robert Stock is a year ahead of them.
The 16-year-old catcher/righthander from Westlake Village, Calif., enrolled Wednesday at Southern California, opting to skip his senior year at Agoura High. Instead, Stock attended his first college class--Writing 140--Thursday morning and will be eligible to play baseball for the Trojans when their season begins January 30 against Cal Poly at Dedeaux Field.
"I have a grasp on it," Robert Stock said Wednesday night, "but I'm sure within the next week or so, it's really going to hit me that, 'Wow, I'm in college right now.'
"Missing my senior year in high school, not getting to take part in all these activities . . . I will definitely miss not going to the prom with my girlfriend; I've known her since the sixth grade. And I'll definitely miss playing baseball with my little brother (Richard). I haven't played with him since I was little, and I definitely will miss that."
Stock, who was named Baseball America's Youth Player of the Year in 2005 as a 15-year-old, met early academic admission requirements based on several criteria outlined in Rule 14.3.1.4 of the NCAA's early admission program. Stock ranked in the top 20 percent of his high school class and has completed each of his core class requirements, except English. He also had the required GPA of at least 3.5 in each of his last four high school semesters. He then had to apply for a waiver from the NCAA that would grant him eligibility to play baseball at USC, which he received. His 1410 SAT score helped him overcome the final stumbling block of getting into Southern California through its Resident Honors Program, which allows about 30 elite students who have demonstrated exceptional maturity to enroll in the university a year early.
The Stocks were the ones who first broached the possibility of early enrollment with the USC coaching staff, and they were told the Trojans had no more scholarship money to give out. But the Stocks decided getting to school early was important enough that they would pay Robert's way his first year.
"If he (went) and played at Agoura this year, and then gets drafted in his normal class, I think baseball-wise, three more years would be one too many," said his father Gregg Stock. "He's ready to play Division I baseball this year. Being at that level for three years (beginning in the fall of 2007) would hold him back. It's much more tempting to sign (a professional contract after being drafted in) June 2007, versus going to college for three more years.
"The idea is to get our cake and eat it too."
Stock will be draft-eligible following his junior season at USC in 2009, whereas had he not signed out of high school in 2007 and waited until next fall to enroll, he would not be eligible to be drafted again until 2010. This decision negates any leverage he would have in 2007, but allows him to gain three years of college experience and enter the draft a year earlier than he would have, had Stock gone the conventional path. Gregg's assertion that his son is physically ready to compete against Pacific-10 Conference competition isn't debated by those in the scouting community, although the decision won't come without controversy.
"That has some validity," said a crosschecker with an National League club in response to Gregg Stock's sentiment. "He has played against the best competition and obviously he's an advanced player. But obviously when someone makes that kind of comment, it's going to make him a target in the college baseball world. I think he has enough ability that he would be able to back it up.
"Say he has a great year at Agoura and continues to develop as a catcher. There are clubs out there that might like him a lot and take him in the first 10 picks. We're talking anywhere from $2.1 to more than $3 million. I would hate to close that option. That's a pretty good start on life. But to each his own. That's the bottom line. I just hope it doesn't open a can of worms for other kids thinking that they can do this same thing."
Stock has been the talk of amateur baseball for more than three years. His fastball was clocked as high as 90 mph when he was 14, and he has developed a penchant for performing well on the biggest of stages. He started on the mound for the West in August's Aflac All-American game and homered to center field in the seventh inning. This spring as a junior at Agoura (Calif.) High, Stock came down with an inflamed rotator cuff in his right shoulder and decided it was best to concentrate on hitting and catching this summer.
Since Stock carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning of the California Interscholastic Federation Southern Section Division I championship game in May, he's toed a rubber less than a handful of times. The scouting consensus suggests his future is behind the plate, and the Stocks are convinced his best source of instruction is at USC. There Stock can learn from coach Chad Kreuter, who spent 16 seasons catching in the major leagues.
"My career goal is not to make money," Stock said, "but to play in the major leagues, and going to college will make those chances higher."
Kreuter said the Trojans' primary goal is to get Stock ready to catch in the Pac-10, but Stock also will factor into USC's bullpen mix along with junior closer Paul Koss and incoming freshman Hector Rabago.
"How can you not want to use that resource? He's 93-95 off the mound," Kreuter said. "I know that one of the starting pitchers at Agoura got hurt last year, so he threw a lot, and he only threw once this summer because his arm was dead, so we will be careful with his arm. First and foremost for us is getting him ready behind the plate. I'm confident his bat will be fine, and we'll get him work off the mound, but we'll ease him into that. We have a situation now where we'll have three guys who can close games."
Stock's catch and throw skills are unrefined, but his arm strength serves him well as a catcher. His footwork and exchange can be cleaned up, which would improve his pop times from home to second. He's athletic and agile enough to block balls adequately presently. His instincts, work ethic and championship-caliber makeup should serve him well as he continues to develop.
"I think what's going to happen is he's going to catch every day, he's been a pitcher and this last year, he has put all of his time in catching, so you have to understand how little time he's had back there," the crosschecker said. "I think he's going to hit as much as (former USC All-America and current Mariners catcher) Jeff Clement with the power that Clement hit with, and be a better catcher than Clement."
Stock is instantly the favorite to win Southern California's starting catching job, although he will compete with senior Johnny Bowden and incoming freshman Keith Castillo. Kreuter said the competition should make all three players better.
Stock's new teammates were shocked when he was introduced to them in a team meeting Wednesday, Kreuter said, but they were also excited. Stock got a chance to stand up in front of his teammates and introduce himself at the meeting.
"Usually the first time you get them up (in front of the team), there's some growing pains--they're a little unsure speaking in front of their peers. I was impressed how he handled himself," Kreuter said. "I think that was a great sign that he's not going to have a tough time on the field. Physically, he's good enough. If he can handle himself in situations like yesterday, he's going to be a star on the field."
Contributing: Aaron Fitt
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PrintSee also: Stock named 2005 Youth Player of the Year
Across America this month, millions of teenagers were preparing for their final year of high school, brushing up on their calculus and narrowing their list of colleges to attend a year from now.
Robert Stock is a year ahead of them.
The 16-year-old catcher/righthander from Westlake Village, Calif., enrolled Wednesday at Southern California, opting to skip his senior year at Agoura High. Instead, Stock attended his first college class--Writing 140--Thursday morning and will be eligible to play baseball for the Trojans when their season begins January 30 against Cal Poly at Dedeaux Field.
"I have a grasp on it," Robert Stock said Wednesday night, "but I'm sure within the next week or so, it's really going to hit me that, 'Wow, I'm in college right now.'
"Missing my senior year in high school, not getting to take part in all these activities . . . I will definitely miss not going to the prom with my girlfriend; I've known her since the sixth grade. And I'll definitely miss playing baseball with my little brother (Richard). I haven't played with him since I was little, and I definitely will miss that."
Stock, who was named Baseball America's Youth Player of the Year in 2005 as a 15-year-old, met early academic admission requirements based on several criteria outlined in Rule 14.3.1.4 of the NCAA's early admission program. Stock ranked in the top 20 percent of his high school class and has completed each of his core class requirements, except English. He also had the required GPA of at least 3.5 in each of his last four high school semesters. He then had to apply for a waiver from the NCAA that would grant him eligibility to play baseball at USC, which he received. His 1410 SAT score helped him overcome the final stumbling block of getting into Southern California through its Resident Honors Program, which allows about 30 elite students who have demonstrated exceptional maturity to enroll in the university a year early.
The Stocks were the ones who first broached the possibility of early enrollment with the USC coaching staff, and they were told the Trojans had no more scholarship money to give out. But the Stocks decided getting to school early was important enough that they would pay Robert's way his first year.
"If he (went) and played at Agoura this year, and then gets drafted in his normal class, I think baseball-wise, three more years would be one too many," said his father Gregg Stock. "He's ready to play Division I baseball this year. Being at that level for three years (beginning in the fall of 2007) would hold him back. It's much more tempting to sign (a professional contract after being drafted in) June 2007, versus going to college for three more years.
"The idea is to get our cake and eat it too."
Stock will be draft-eligible following his junior season at USC in 2009, whereas had he not signed out of high school in 2007 and waited until next fall to enroll, he would not be eligible to be drafted again until 2010. This decision negates any leverage he would have in 2007, but allows him to gain three years of college experience and enter the draft a year earlier than he would have, had Stock gone the conventional path. Gregg's assertion that his son is physically ready to compete against Pacific-10 Conference competition isn't debated by those in the scouting community, although the decision won't come without controversy.
"That has some validity," said a crosschecker with an National League club in response to Gregg Stock's sentiment. "He has played against the best competition and obviously he's an advanced player. But obviously when someone makes that kind of comment, it's going to make him a target in the college baseball world. I think he has enough ability that he would be able to back it up.
"Say he has a great year at Agoura and continues to develop as a catcher. There are clubs out there that might like him a lot and take him in the first 10 picks. We're talking anywhere from $2.1 to more than $3 million. I would hate to close that option. That's a pretty good start on life. But to each his own. That's the bottom line. I just hope it doesn't open a can of worms for other kids thinking that they can do this same thing."
Stock has been the talk of amateur baseball for more than three years. His fastball was clocked as high as 90 mph when he was 14, and he has developed a penchant for performing well on the biggest of stages. He started on the mound for the West in August's Aflac All-American game and homered to center field in the seventh inning. This spring as a junior at Agoura (Calif.) High, Stock came down with an inflamed rotator cuff in his right shoulder and decided it was best to concentrate on hitting and catching this summer.
Since Stock carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning of the California Interscholastic Federation Southern Section Division I championship game in May, he's toed a rubber less than a handful of times. The scouting consensus suggests his future is behind the plate, and the Stocks are convinced his best source of instruction is at USC. There Stock can learn from coach Chad Kreuter, who spent 16 seasons catching in the major leagues.
"My career goal is not to make money," Stock said, "but to play in the major leagues, and going to college will make those chances higher."
Kreuter said the Trojans' primary goal is to get Stock ready to catch in the Pac-10, but Stock also will factor into USC's bullpen mix along with junior closer Paul Koss and incoming freshman Hector Rabago.
"How can you not want to use that resource? He's 93-95 off the mound," Kreuter said. "I know that one of the starting pitchers at Agoura got hurt last year, so he threw a lot, and he only threw once this summer because his arm was dead, so we will be careful with his arm. First and foremost for us is getting him ready behind the plate. I'm confident his bat will be fine, and we'll get him work off the mound, but we'll ease him into that. We have a situation now where we'll have three guys who can close games."
Stock's catch and throw skills are unrefined, but his arm strength serves him well as a catcher. His footwork and exchange can be cleaned up, which would improve his pop times from home to second. He's athletic and agile enough to block balls adequately presently. His instincts, work ethic and championship-caliber makeup should serve him well as he continues to develop.
"I think what's going to happen is he's going to catch every day, he's been a pitcher and this last year, he has put all of his time in catching, so you have to understand how little time he's had back there," the crosschecker said. "I think he's going to hit as much as (former USC All-America and current Mariners catcher) Jeff Clement with the power that Clement hit with, and be a better catcher than Clement."
Stock is instantly the favorite to win Southern California's starting catching job, although he will compete with senior Johnny Bowden and incoming freshman Keith Castillo. Kreuter said the competition should make all three players better.
Stock's new teammates were shocked when he was introduced to them in a team meeting Wednesday, Kreuter said, but they were also excited. Stock got a chance to stand up in front of his teammates and introduce himself at the meeting.
"Usually the first time you get them up (in front of the team), there's some growing pains--they're a little unsure speaking in front of their peers. I was impressed how he handled himself," Kreuter said. "I think that was a great sign that he's not going to have a tough time on the field. Physically, he's good enough. If he can handle himself in situations like yesterday, he's going to be a star on the field."
Contributing: Aaron Fitt
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