Michael Burgess in SI
Hillsborough slugger Michael Burgess "is the nation's best high school power-hitting prospect'' according to a story in this week's Sports Illustrated. The story, titled "The King of Pop,'' describes two mammoth Burgess homers: the blast in last season's Class 5A title game with which Burgess joined Ken Griffey Jr., Bo Jackson and Frank Thomas as the only players to clear the 40-foot centerfield wall at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota and the shot -- hit with a cracked bat -- that cleared a six-story building at the Aflac All-American Classic home run derby last August in San Diego. Dwight Gooden, Gary Sheffield, Carl Everett, Chris Ray and Elijah Dukes also receive mentions as former Hillsborough High players who have gone on to play in the majors.
Click on this link to read the story at SI.com:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/highschool/04/25/burgess0430/index.html
(Times photo - Brian Cassella. Click to enlarge.)
The St. Petersburg Times High School Sports blog is written and compiled by the Times preps sports staff from Pinellas, Hillsborough, Pasco and Hernando counties. We invite your participation in the comments area.
i disagree clearwater freshman sean gilman not to get confused with sean o'brian is a straight beast at the plate; in his 3 at bats the whole year which were in there district game when he finally got the playing time he blasted a 430 foot bomb dead center englebert! and also had 2 frozen ropes to left center shots that got him 2 doubles. .everyone should be looking for his name in the future!!
Posted by: kevin almondberger | July 18, 2007 at 03:07 PM