Pruitt Invited To Elite Baseball Tryout

While his football recruiting is starting to heat up after becoming an All-American nominee earlier this week, Har-Ber’s Houston Pruitt also is a standout baseball player and likely will receive opportunities to play either sport at the next level.

Pruitt, a 6-foot, 185-pounder who runs a 4.5 second, 40-yard dash, received an invitation this week to attend the East Coast Professional Showcase Tryout in Jackson, Miss., on June 18. This is an invitation-only tryout and the players will be selected to play for the Southeast Team that will be sponsored by the San Diego Padres in Lakeland, Fla.

The event is the premier summer event on the east coast. The dates for the showcase will be Aug. 1-4 and those selected will play in front of more than 450 professional scouts and college coaches.

The team will be selected by the Padres’ staff. The head coach will be Padres area scout David Francia whiel the assistant are Scott Nichols (Royals), Andrew Jefferson (Giants), Rickey Drexler (Devil Rays), Dennis Moeller (Dodgers), Rob St. Julien (Blue Jays) and Damon Iannilli (Rockies).

Pruitt has a scholarship offer from Tulsa for football, where he excels at safety. He bats leadoff for the Wildcats baseball team. Heading into the postseason, Pruitt was batting .493 wth 6 home runs.  As a pitcher, the right-hander has been clocked throwing a 90-plus MPH fastball.