Jace Bohrofen had high hopes for his senior season of high school baseball this spring at Westmoore High School in Oklahoma City. But the season didn’t go like he envisioned it would. With his senior season canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic, he has spent the spring improving his skills with his brother, Braxton, who is a redshirt freshman at the University of Oklahoma.
Bohrofen’s work this spring will help him in the next step of his baseball career. He’s an Oklahoma commit and a top prospect for this year’s MLB draft, which runs June 10-11. Professional scouts project Bohrofen as a potential third to fifth-round pick in this year’s five-round draft.
“These last couple of years, I’ve sat down and watched the draft,” Bohrofen said. “It’s been one of my goals since I was a little kid to hopefully one day, whether it’s in high school or college, give myself a chance to hear my name called in the draft. It’s exciting.”
With the draft just days away, Bohrofen is eager to see if a major league team selects him.
“It’s so surreal,” Bohrofen said. “It hasn’t really hit me yet. Getting some Zoom calls and talking to teams and just feeling them out and them feeling me out is really surreal to be talking to all these big-league organizations.”
Bohrofen has a balanced set of tools with the potential to be a five-tool player in the future.
The 6-foot-2, 195-pound left-handed hitter consistently barrels up pitches with his quick, compact swing. He has a strong understanding of the strike zone, solid raw power and a track record of success hitting against high-end pitching.
Bohrofen didn’t start playing in the outfield until his freshman year in 2017. He used to play shortstop and first base when he was younger, so it’s taken him time to develop comfort in the outfield, he said.
Despite only playing in the outfield for four years, Bohrofen has all the necessary traits to stick in center field long-term. He has solid speed, a strong arm and the instincts required to play the position.
Regardless of if he turns pro this summer or attends Oklahoma in the fall, Bohrofen wants to improve his speed and skills at the plate, he said.
“One thing I want to do is work on my speed,” Bohrofen said. “Another thing I want to do is increase my bat speed. I am going to work really hard with training for both of those aspects. I will probably do some underloaded and overloaded bat training and a bunch of rotational workouts with medicine balls.”
Bohrofen’s father, Brent, played at Oklahoma from 1988-91 and his brother just wrapped up his second year with the Sooners. His family’s history with the program and the ability to play with his older brother were major factors in his decision to commit to Oklahoma, Bohrofen said.
Although he knows he has a great opportunity to at Oklahoma, Bohrofen may never step foot on campus. If he receives a chance to start a pro career this summer, Bohrofen will consult his family and weigh both options before making a decision.
Bohrofen said having a father who played in college and two years in the St. Louis Cardinals organization has helped prepare him for the potential decision he will have to make on the next step in his career.
“My parents have been really supportive since Day 1 with this whole process,” Bohrofen said. “Having a father who got to go through this is really cool too. He gives me guidance and a list of all the pros and cons of what to expect if I play pro ball or if I go to college. It’s ultimately going to be up to me to make the decision. My parents said they would support me with either way I go.”
Read an in-depth story on Jace Bohrofen and his development into a MLB draft prospect here.
Read more stories on top 2020 MLB draft prospects here.
Dan Zielinski III has covered the MLB draft for five years. He’s interviewed 191 of the top draft prospects in that period, including three No. 1 overall picks. Multiple publications, including Baseball America, USA Today and The Arizona Republic, have quoted his work, while he’s appeared on radio stations as a “MLB draft expert.” Follow him on Twitter @DanZielinski3.
[…] Since Bohrofen has only been playing in the outfield for four years, it is important that he continues to develop critical skills such as his footwork and reading the ball once it exits the bat. Like the saying goes, “you are your worst critic,” and he knows that speed is an area to that can help his defense. “One thing I want to do is work on my speed,” Bohrofen said. […]