In our 14th, and final, look at Valley League alums who have been named as prospects, we have former Liberty Flame and Charles Town Cannon (2013) Adam Parks!
Adam was a 33rd round draft pick of the Texas Rangers in 2014, after only a few innings pitched at Liberty (17 1/3 in 2013, and 9 2/3 in 2014). Clearly, though, the Texas brass saw something they liked, as Adam’s done little but strike out opposing batters in pro ball.
In 2014, he struck out 31 in 25 2/3 innings at Spokane in the Northwest League. In 2015, he struck out 86 in 73 1/3 innings over three levels, and so far (through Saturday, April 23) in 2016, he’s struck out 10 in 5 2/3 Double-A innings.
Fangraphs named him a “quick hit,” and said this:
RHP Adam Parks has a potential excellent slider with the ability to throw strikes. He could factor into the big-league bullpen picture with another solid season in the minors after scuffling a bit in his first taste of Double-A last year.
In the interest of full disclosure, I had a lovely chat with Adam’s dad and other family members at a minor league game in Hagerstown, Maryland, in the summer of 2015. (Although it didn’t feel like summer, as I recall.)
At any rate, good luck this year, Adam!
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