Magnolia High graduate Jaxx Groshans has become the latest ex-Bulldog to hear his name called in the Major League Baseball draft.
The reigning World Series champion Boston Red Sox nabbed the 6-foot, 209-pound Groshans with the 167th overall pick in the fifth round of the 2019 MLB First-Year Player Draft on June 4.
Magnolia head baseball coach Taylor Shiflett could not be any prouder.
“That’s awesome for him,” Shiflett told Texas Scorecard. “He’s worked really hard to get to this point. … To be picked in the fifth round, that’s a really big honor for him and the program. For us, to have another guy drafted is an awesome feeling too.”
Currently a Kansas Jayhawk, Groshans joins his younger brother Jordan and Adam Kloffenstein among former Magnolia standouts who were selected by a MLB team. The Toronto Blue Jays picked the junior Groshans and Kloffenstein in last year’s draft.
Groshans lettered on the diamond during his four years at Magnolia. A four-time all-district selection, he earned team MVP honors in his senior season in 2016.
A junior in Lawrence, Groshans proved to be quite an asset on offense hitting 12 home runs, 46 RBI and a .340 batting in 2019.
Shiflett was an assistant coach when Groshans, a catcher and first baseman, donned the maroon and white, but attested to the latter’s character.
“He was always smiling, always had fun playing the game,” said Shiflett.
The second-year Bulldogs skipper added that Groshans’s arm caused opposing runners to have second thoughts about stealing bases from him.
Shiflett advised Groshans to enjoy being in the pros.
“You don’t get this opportunity very often,” he said. “You got to enjoy the experience in order to be able to move up. Don’t put pressure on (yourself). It’s still just a game like he played when he was nine or ten.”
