Jake Shibilsky has all the skills to pitch at the Division I level in college.
He throws three pitches, reaches the mid-80s with his fastball and is also an imposing hitter at the plate. However, this fall Shibilsky (Chesapeake-AA) will return for his second season at Anne Arundel Community College after undergoing Tommy John surgery between his junior and senior year in high school.
While the surgery kept Shibilsky off the mound his senior year, he still could hit and finished the year batting .424 with 10 home runs for the Cougars. However, this was not enough to convince top schools from recruiting him.
Now, nearly two years removed from the surgery, Shibilsky appears better than before. His play at Anne Arundel this spring helped him earn a spot on the Baltimore Orioles summer scout team, Youse?s Maryland Orioles.
“I?m fully recovered from surgery and feel I?ll only get better with another year under my belt,” Shibilsky said.
Shibilsky has more than held his own against competition in the Cal Ripken Sr. Collegiate Baseball League, including June 14 when he gave up one run on two hits and struck out two in 2.2 innings as the Orioles defeated the Maryland Redbirds, 10-9.
Maryland Orioles manager Dean Albany said Shibilsky has yet to reach his full potential.
“He?s still building up his velocity and has all the tools we look at when we?re thinking about drafting someone,” said Albany, who is also a scout for the Baltimore Orioles.
