Publications & Sites 
Carmel ace picks college over pros
Although he was drafted by the Rangers, Carmel pitcher Alex Young, seen here during the regional tournament, will be pitching at TCU next season. | Michael Schmidt~Sun-Times Media
Updated: August 8, 2012 3:09AM
It took three days of drafting, but Alex Young’s number finally was called.
Wednesday afternoon, Carmel High School’s fireballing left-handed pitcher was drafted in the 32nd round (996th overall pick) of the Major League Baseball amateur draft by the Texas Rangers.
The 6-foot-2 Young has until July to officially accept any Rangers offer, but he already knows his decision.
“I’m going to tell them I’m going to college,” said Young, who will be taking his pitching talents to Texas Christian University. “They can follow me in next three years and then hopefully draft me in the first round.”
Young, the East Suburban Catholic Conference Pitcher of the Year, finished his senior season with a 7-1 record.
Possessing a 90-plus fastball and deadly slider, the belief was Young — ranked No. 11 in Illinois’ senior class by the Prep Baseball Report — would be taken higher than the 32nd round.
In fact, he almost was.
One major-league team — checking on his signability — called him during the second round. But after Young turned down a $1 million offer, that club decided not to draft him.
He also was contacted by two other teams.
“It was hard. Listening to both sides, we sat down and said what’s better for our son physically, emotionally, everything,” said his mother, Karen Young. “We decided it was going to college.”
Young will pitch this summer for the Northern Knights club team before heading to TCU in August.
