Aptos High School alumnus Gabe Geekle was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday despite announcing he would keep his promise to play at the University of Arkansas. (Lucjan Szewczyk – Santa Cruz Sentinel)
APTOS — Hotly scouted Aptos High ace Gabe Gekle withdrew from the list of MLB first-year draft picks before the three-day event kicked off on Sunday. Yet his name was called.
Geekl chose to honor his contributions to the University of Arkansas and had his advisers inform the MLB organization of his decision.He also posted on social media that he would join the 2023 SEC West champion Razorbacks rather than turn pro after high school.
That didn’t deter the Cincinnati Reds from picking him in the 20th round of the draft on Tuesday. He was selected 588th overall.
“I was pretty surprised,” said Geekl when he heard his name called. “It felt good.”
It was #159 on the MLB pipeline rankings. The recommended slot money for the player selected for that spot is $378,000. For Gail, that alone wasn’t enough to give up his college experience. He’ll be draft eligible in three years.
The 5-foot-11, 185-pound flamethrower moved into his Arkansas apartment Monday.
“It’s a very nice place,” he said. “I’m happy with my decision. It’s a cool spot. I can’t wait for the season to come.”
Gekle dominated two years after recovering from Tommy John surgery.
He helped the Mariners win league titles in both seasons and was named Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League Player of the Year in 2022 and Pitcher of the Year in 2023. Geekl went 13-0 with a 0.73 ERA in three seasons with the national team. He pitched 106 total innings, allowing just 54 hits and 11 earned runs. He had 217 strikeouts and 33 walks from hitters.
The right-hander had more than a dozen scouts with him in every start this season.
Geekle, who appeared in last summer’s Area Code Game and Perfect Game All-American Classic, also participated in the MLB Draft Combine in June. His 92–94 mph fastball recorded a spin rate (revolutions per minute) of 2,630. MLB average spin speed is 2,150 rpm. His slider ranges from 77 to 78 mph and his rpm is over his 3,000. And his changeup checks in at 86 mph.
He was one of two Aptos graduates selected in this year’s draft. Arizona State junior second baseman Luke Keyshall was drafted 49th overall in the second round by the Minnesota Twins.
Guekle was recently named to the all-state second team of secondary school players by Calhay Sports, but is also the second player from Santa Cruz County to be drafted by the Reds in the past three years. San Jose State first baseman Ruben Ybarra, a University of St. Francis alumnus, was a fourth-round pick in the 2021 draft.
