Baseball: New City native, former Clarkstown North catcher Will King drafted by Braves
Whenever Will King is on the diamond, it's business as usual.
The New City native was in the dugout during a Cape Cod Summer Baseball League game, when his advisor shared the news that he had been drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the 20th round of the MLB Draft. After a quick intermission to hug his parents and teammates, his focus was back onto the game and cheering for his teammates.
Even after getting a day to digest his big career step, King is appreciative, but still keeping a business-like demeanor.
"It's pretty surreal, it's a dream come true, but honestly, it's just another stepping stone and part of the process," King said. "I'm excited to start."
King will leave for Florida this weekend for team equipment fitting and learn the next steps. He was the lone catcher chosen by the Braves in this year's draft.
"They came to watch me a couple times in-season, at school, and I had a couple of calls with the Braves' scout," King said. "He was really cool. The organization and their ideas were very on point for what I was looking for. It's awesome how it fell into place."
It's been quite the journey for King, who started out in New City. He was briefly a shortstop at Clarkstown North, before switching to his more natural position at catcher. He spent two solid seasons with the Rams, before transferring to IMG Academy, where he stood out for the prep powerhouse.
King finished high school a year early to get a jumpstart on his Division I collegiate career at Eastern Kentucky and quickly became a mainstay in the Colonels' starting lineup. He was an All-ASUN selection in each of the last two years as a sophomore and junior.
"Everywhere I've been, every school I've been to, the people around me have helped me get to where I am now," King said. "I feel like it wasn't necessarily a sketched out plan that we had, but I feel like everything happens for a reason. Everything that happened, I can only be thankful for and happy that it happened."
Clarkstown North baseball coach Joe Stefania, who coached King in his freshman and sophomore high school seasons isn't surprised by his former player's success.
Despite King's 5-foot-9 frame, he's always found a way to stand out whenever he takes the field.
"He comes from a great family, just great blue-collar type people," Stefania said. "He's surprised people because of his stature his whole career so far, and I honestly think it's gonna continue. I have high hopes for him.
"When I first met him, I really thought he had a ton of ability. You just never know how it's going to materialize, but it's all because of his work ethic that he got there. He had a cannon and you saw how comfortable he was behind the plate that you never felt like a ball was going to beat him. His hands are so quick, and just watching him hit, the ball pops off his bat."
King doesn't plan on taking any days off until he departs, and he has a message for his future teammates and the fans that haven't met him yet.
"I'm just trying to help the team ‒ whatever team it is I play for, when, whatever level I start it ‒ just try to play my hardest every day, every time I step on the field," King said. "Just have fun while doing it, and be a good person while doing it too."
Will King's path to the MLB
Played two seasons at Clarkstown North, named all-league as a freshman in 2018 and all-section as a sophomore in 2019
Transferred to IMG Academy for junior year, batted .425, and graduated high school early to begin college career
Three-year starting catcher at Eastern Kentucky, two-time All-ASUN honoree
At 17 years, seven months and 27 days old, King became the second-youngest player to hit a home run in the NCAA (behind Jason Varitek) during a game his freshman year against Tennessee Tech on May 1, 2021.
Led the Colonels in batting average (.346), doubles (13), slugging percentage (.626) and OPS (1.053). Also hit 12 home runs and tallied 47 RBI this past season
Drafted in the 20th round by the Atlanta Braves in 2023
Follow Eugene Rapay on Twitter at @erapay5 and on Instagram at @byeugenerapay.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: 2023 MLB Draft: New City native Will King selected by Atlanta Braves
