PNC Park — Austin Meadows officially signed with the team and was introduced on Friday at the ballpark. The announcement was made by Senior Vice President, General Manager Neal Huntington and Joe DelliCarri, Pirates Director of Scouting.
Meadows hit .535 with 14 doubles, one triple, four home runs and 28 RBI as a senior this year at Grayson High School (GA). He was rated as the third-best position player and the fifth-best player overall in this year’s draft by Baseball America. He was also rated by the same publication as the “Best Athlete”, having the “Best Strike Zone Judgement”, as well as the second-best “Pure Hitter”, and “Closest Player to the Majors” among high school players.
“We are excited to add Austin to our already talented minor league system and for him to begin his professional career,” said DelliCarri. “He is a talented young man who comes from a very strong family.”
When asked who he idolized growing up, Meadows said it was his dad who he looked up to the most, “He’s always been pushing me since I was little. I started playing baseball when I was three years old, so I really got the work ethic and the attitude from him. It’s just good to have him by my side, especially when I’m away I’ll be able to call him and ask him for anything I need help with.” (His dad added later that he did not pay Austin to make that comment.)
His parents Kenny and Staci Meadows both had ball experience as both played in college (Staci at Georgia Southern and Georgia State and Kenny at Morehead State). Staci is currently a third grade teacher and stressed the importance of finishing your education, but even this opportunity made her change her mind. “Being a teacher, it was always ‘you’re going to school’ until I started to understand a little bit more that this is a golden opportunity, I mean, these are not things that you can let slide, I mean, you have got to take this opportunity and he can go to school later.”
The 18-year-old outfielder was also a 2013 Rawlings pre-season first-team Al-American. As a junior in 2012 at Grayson High School, he helped lead his team to the Georgia Class 6A state semifinals with four home runs, 28 RBI and 19 stolen bases. He also led the USA Baseball 16U National Team to the IBAF World Youth Championship in 2011 in Mexico, leading his team in hits (22), doubles (five), triples (three), RBI (28) and stolen bases (six) while also setting a record for the most RBI and earning a spot on the all-tournament team.
“I want to thank God, my family, my friends and my coaches for getting me to the position where I am today and for being there for me and I would also like to thank the Pittsburgh Pirates for allowing me to join the organization to start a new career”
Meadows will begin his professional career with the Gulf Coast League Pirates.
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(Photo Credit: John Bohn)
