Parker Picked By Cincinnati

Parker Picked By Cincinnati

LOUISBURG -- Another former Louisburg College standout pitcher has been selected in the 2019 Major League Baseball Draft.

Jason Parker, who was a member of LC's starting rotation during the 2017 and '18 seasons, was selected by the Cincinnati Reds in the 16th Round (474th overall).

Like former LC teammate Seth Johnson (who was taken 40th overall in the Supplemental First Round by Tampa), Parker was predominately a position player in high school, starring in the outfield at West Craven High School near.

But during a scouting visit in the playoffs, LC head coach Blake Herring noticed Parker's velocity during a rare mound appearance.

Herring offered Parker the opportunity to join the LC program in a pitching capacity, and he accepted.

During two years at Louisburg, Parker was a weekend starter during both campaigns and was an honors student. He was the 2018 LC Male Student-Athlete of the Year.

Parker then signed with North Carolina State, where he won four contests this spring, including a victory against then-No. 1 Florida State University.

Parker notched a 4.38 earned-run average and whiffed 70 batters in 76 innings of work.

"Considering he was a Friday night guy in the Atlantic Coast Conference, we figured that Jason had a legitimate chance to get drafted,'' Herring said. "It's kind of funny that both of these guys (Parker and Johnson) didn't pitch a lot in high school.

"But they made themselves into good pitchers. Jason came (to LC) to pitch and did a great job, and ended up working his way up to a ACC player and getting drafted in the 16th Round.

"For both Jason and Seth, it was all about character and work ethic. Those are two of the reasons those guys got drafted.''