By Keith Groller | The Morning Call
Photo courtesy of Amy Shortell | The Morning Call
The coronavirus pandemic not only cost Luke Storm his senior baseball season at Easton Area High School, but it also may have taken away his opportunity to be drafted by a major league organization.
The drastically slimmed-down MLB amateur draft begins at 7 p.m. Wednesday on ESPN and the MLB Network. In past years, it was a 40-round marathon. As a cost-saving measure, it was reduced to five rounds this year featuring just 160 picks.
Storm, who is ranked as the No. 3 prospect in the state by Prep Baseball Report, No. 1 at shortstop in Pennsylvania and No. 10 in the nation at the position, will watch the draft knowing that his chances were trimmed along with the draft's length.
At one point during the winter, he was told by one franchise that he is projected to go between the second and fifth rounds, but the reshaping of the MLB landscape with a vast amount of players being released may have changed that projection.
"There's still an outside chance I'll be drafted," he said. "If it actually happens, it would be really cool and a special moment."
If it doesn't, he'll likely continue with his plans to attend Duke University where he has been set to go for more than two years.
"I made my commitment to Duke in the beginning of my sophomore year," Storm said. "From the moment I stepped on campus, I loved everything about it there. I met guys on the team and the place had a welcoming environment. I felt like I was part of the family right away."
Storm has been talking to his adviser, Jeff Randazzo from Philadelphia, who represents Cardinals reliever Jordan Hicks among others. A difficult decision would have to be made if he was among the 160 guys drafted.
"My ultimate goal is to play professional baseball," he said. "The fastest route to get there is the route I am going to follow. It's all up in the air right now, but in the meantime I am doing what I can to stay baseball-ready and stay in shape."
The draft-round reduction will save MLB clubs nearly $30 million in signing bonus money according to the Associated Press. Players not taken in the draft are limited to $20,000 signing bonuses.
Even drafted players will have their signing bonuses deferred due to MLB's economic crisis because no games are being played. Each slot is assigned a value with Detroit having the No. 1 pick at a signing slot of $8.4 million.
However, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic has reported MLB teams will pay drafted players a maximum of $100,000 this year and 50 percent of what is left next year and the other 50 percent in 2022.
Storm would receive a partial scholarship at Duke since Division I programs must split 11.7 allotted scholarships among as many as 30 players.
All of this will be factored into Storm's decision.
"I have a feeling most guys who are not drafted will be reached out to," he said. "Teams will still see if they can sign a guy. For me, $20,000 wouldn't really be an option. I'd be going to school."
According to multiple sources, Storm is the only area high school player who was expected to be drafted prior to the shrinkage of the draft.
Storm hit .448 as a junior at Easton last spring, while slugging .866 with an on-base percentage of .589. He was voted first-team all-Eastern Pennsylvania Conference at shortstop last year and was the EPC MVP.
He is also an outstanding student, ranking in the top 10 percent of his senior class, and was chosen to the National Honor Society and selected to represent Easton on the EPC's Student-Athlete Character Council.
He was recently selected the Coordinated Health male athlete of the year despite never getting on the field this spring.
Storm gained national attention playing for the Diamond Jacks, a renowned AAU program based in Flemington, New Jersey, started by former major leaguer Jack Cust.
"We had about 10 Division I players on the team last year and we faced a lot of good competition, playing in Georgia and Florida," Storm said. "It was a great experience playing with a lot of top-talent guys."
But Storm said his first priority was always Easton and that's why it hurts missing out on one last season representing the Red Rovers.
"My coaches [Carm LaDuca and Greg Hess] put me in the best situations ever since I became a part of the program and I really appreciate everything they've done for me," he said. "I am going to miss it, especially since I missed my senior year. I feel like it really hasn't hit me yet. I try not to think about what could have been or would have been. We had a great team this year and it sucks. But I hope the guys can take care of business next year."
LaDuca and Hess know Storm will take care of business whether his next stop is in Durham, N.C., or in the minor league system of a MLB franchise.
"He's a fantastic kid," LaDuca said. "He's very humble. He's a great teammate."
"In my 32 years of coaching high school athletes, he's in the top five of the most level-headed kids I've coached," Hess said. "He will make the right decision for him. He has been in contact with the Duke coaches and they will steer him in the right direction if he does get drafted. I know Luke really loves Duke. He'll be disappointed if he doesn't get drafted, but he'll be just fine with going to Duke."
Wherever he goes, Storm will always be a Red Rover at heart.
"Over the years at Easton, I've definitely evolved into being a leader," Storm said. "Last year, I was the captain of our team as a junior and I've learned a lot from the great coaches and teammates I've had. Whatever route I take, whether it's Duke or a pro team, I will take those leaderships skills with me and I will always be thankful for my time and opportunities as a Red Rover."