So you thought Basketball and or Football produced the best in Kentucky HS players..... WRONG

 

By Mike Fields — Herald-Leader Staff writer

 

 

Need to be reminded that Kentucky high school baseball is superior to Kentucky high school basketball and football when it comes to producing big-time talent?

 

 

No former Kentucky Mr. Basketball honorees are in the NBA. Darius Miller (Mason County, 2008) could change that next season.

 

Only one former Kentucky Mr. Football is in the NFL: Michael Bush (Male, 2002) is with the Chicago Bears this season after playing for the Oakland Raiders the past few years.

 

 

Six Kentucky Mr. Baseball winners are currently in the major leagues:

 

Scott Downs (Pleasure Ridge Park, 1994), in his 10th season in the big leagues, has five saves for the Los Angeles Angels.

 

Austin Kearns (Lafayette, 1998), also a 10-year veteran, has found new life with the Miami Marlins. He was batting . 375 in a reserve role before tweaking a hamstring.

 

Joe Blanton (Franklin-Simpson, 1999), another 10-year vet, is having a solid season in the Philadelphia Phillies rotation. He's 4-4 with a 3.74 earned run average.

 

Collin Cowgill (Henry Clay, 2004) is seeing spot duty in the outfield with the Oakland A's. He was in the highlights recently after he made a head-first slide into home and hit Giants pitcher Tim Lincecum.

 

Nathan Adcock (North Hardin, 2006) is on the Kansas City Royals' pitching staff. He's appeared in five games.

 

Ben Revere (Lexington Catholic, 2007) is back from the minors and in the Minnesota Twins outfield. He's batting .270.

 

 

That's a pretty impressive list, and it doesn't even include A.J. Ellis (Paul Laurence Dunbar, 1999) or Robbie Ross (Lexington Christian, 2008). Neither was Mr. Baseball, although A.J.'s brother Josh (Dunbar, 2003) was. A.J. is batting .327 as the starting catcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers, and Ross is making a splash as a rookie reliever with the Texas Rangers.

 

 

Read more here: Mike Fields' high school notebook: Six Mr. Baseballs from Kentucky in major leagues | High School Sports | Kentucky.com

 

 

Mike Fields' high school notebook: Six Mr. Baseballs from Kentucky in major leagues | High School Sports | Kentucky.com

The best sport with the most opportunities once again....if only people knew...

Nate Jones from Pendleton County (2004) is having a successful rookie year out of the White Sox bullpen. He has a 1.23 ERA in 22 innings pitched thus far, with 21 K's, and 2 wins.