Photo: Perfect Game
Ryan Hagenow’s stock continues to soar of late.
A month after raising a few eyebrows at the Perfect Game Nationals in the Arizona Diamondbacks stadium, the Class of 2020 standout from Farragut High School will get to grace another Major League park.
The 6-foot-5, 200-pound Hagenow was named to the Perfect Game All-American Classic (formerly Aflac All-American Game) that will be played Aug. 11 at San Diego’s Petco Park.
Only 52 players nationwide received this honor on Thursday. However, because of TSSAA’s all-star game rule, Hagenow won’t be able to play — just attend.
“It’s honestly incredible to be selected to play in this game with the top ranked players in the country,” Hagenow said. “It’s a big step to a much bigger goal, and I couldn’t be more excited to get to San Diego.”
THIS HAS TO CHANGE.
Preventing kids from participating in prestigious all-star games because of the TSSAA rule below is ridiculous and out of touch with the sport of baseball. They have to hold this game between JR/SR years. pic.twitter.com/styvSljCVq— Jesse Smithey (@5StarPreps) July 11, 2019
Since the game’s first year in 2003, more than 200 of its participants have gone on to be first-round draft picks. Hagenow is definitely trending in that direction.
The 2019 5Star Preps Pitcher of the Year recently led Farragut to a Class AAA state championship, going 12-1 with a 1.08 ERA and 96 strikeouts in 68 2/3 innings.
Just weeks after polishing off Bradley Central in the state finale, the University of Kentucky commitment impressed at the Perfect Game Nationals by striking out all six batters he faced.
Ryan Hagenow and the Farragut Admirals beat the Hardin Valley Hawks 4-1 in a TSSAA District 4-AAA baseball game in Knoxville, Tennessee, on Monday, April 1, 2019. (Photo by Danny Parker)
He added to his reputation in Dallas, Ga., a little more than a week ago while pitching for the eXposure 17u Prime. He struck out 12 — including the first six he faced — in 6 1/3 innings pitched.
“He’s a legitimate No. 1 guy,” eXposure coach Greg Payne told Perfect Game writer Cory Van Dyke. “He’s going to throw it hard. He’s going to have command. Secondary pitches are all going to be strikes. He just doesn’t have an off day. As a coach when you’re lining up your pitching, it’s really easy to plug that one guy there knowing exactly what you’re going to get.”
Former Farragut pitching star Philip Pfeifer, a 2011 grad, played in this All-American Game in 2010.
Hagenow’s arrival as a No. 1 arm didn’t surprise Farragut coach Matt Buckner. He told us this for Hagenow’s Pitcher of the Year story in June: “I just felt like it was coming with him the whole time. He’s the whole package. He can spin it good. He can throw a change-up. He’s big. He’s long. He’s been super durable. We prepared him well for the end. … But you still have to be The Man, and you still have to do it. He was ready for the challenge.”