Robert Ross

With the 57th pick in the 2008 draft, the Texas Rangers have selected LHP Robbie Ross, 19-year-old this month, out of Lexington Christian High School in Kentucky.

Per Baseball America, Ross is the 43rd-best talent in the draft: BA says:

"Kentucky offers its best draft crop ever this year, and its high school class is especially deep with four prospects with the talent to go in the top two rounds. The best of that contingent is Ross, a lefty with pitches and polish. He sits at 90-92 mph and touched 94 with his fastball, and his secondary pitches and command are just as impressive. He shows a hard slider and nice feel for a changeup, and he pounds the strike zone. The only knock on Ross is that he's just 6 feet tall, but he generates his quality stuff via athleticism and arm speed, rather than effort.

"Scouts eagerly anticipated his late-April matchup with fellow Lexington southpaw Nick Maronde, and Ross didn't disappoint. He struck out 14 and walked none, giving up just an unearned run while dealing Maronde the second loss of his prep career. He also outdueled Niceville (Fla.) lefty Brett DeVall earlier in the year, ending the game with a 94-mph fastball for a strikeout. A Kentucky recruit, Ross should be signable in the first two rounds."

Robbie Ross, LHP, 5-10, 185 (Lexington, Ky., Lexington Christian Academy)

Robbie Ross, the 17th-best prospect in all of high school baseball per Baseball America, comes to UK as one of the top left-handed prep arms in the country. Ross participated in the East Coast Professional Showcase and Perfect Game’s National Showcase, and also received an invitation to join USA’s Junior Olympic team. An excellent athlete, Ross was a member of the soccer team at LCA for five years, leading Lexington Christian to the state soccer championship as a eighth grader. In soccer, Ross earned team MVP honors as an eighth grader and as a freshman, as well as leading the team in scoring as a sophomore and junior.

Cohen on Ross … “Robbie is an outstanding athlete with great stuff. His arm strength and ability to throw his offspeed pitches for a strike should enable him to pitch early and often.”

The Remaining Picks for Today:

• Pick 89
• Pick 123

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