Hardee's Lindsey drafted No. 23 overall by Dodgers

Kellon Lindsey, Hardee's two-sport standout, was selected No. 23 by the Los Angeles Dodgers in Major League Baseball’s amateur draft on Sunday night.

This past season, Lindsey batting .403 with six doubles, two triples, a home run and 26 stolen bases in 25 games for the Wildcats while playing elite defense at shortstop. Considered one of the most athletic high school players in this year's draft, experts considered Lindsey a high-ceiling prospect.

Lindsey and Hardee faced rival DeSoto County twice this season, winning 6-1 and 2-1. DeSoto County starting pitcher Corbin Gilmore largely got the better of Lindsey, who went just 1-for-6 against the Bulldogs hurler with a double and three strikeouts.

During his junior season in the spring of 2023, Lindsey played a role in eliminating Lemon Bay from the Region 4A-3 semifinals. During that epic, extra-innings affair in Englewood, Hardee broke a scoreless tie by pushing a run across in the top of the ninth inning. Lindsey got the game to extra innings by coming on in relief to end a Lemon Bay threat in the bottom of the seventh. He retired all seven batters he faced to pick up the 1-0 win.

On the football field, North Port and DeSoto County took their lumps from Lindsey, who was the Wildcats' quarterback. In a 20-7 win against North Port, Lindsey ran for 226 yards and two touchdowns while passing for 51 yards and another score.

Two weeks later, Lindsey led Hardee past DeSoto County for the first time in three seasons, passing for 138 yards and three touchdowns and tacking on 86 rushing yards in a 48-0 romp.

Lindsey will now take his talents to the Dodgers organization, where he will aim to terrorize future National League West opponents.

Australian second baseman Travis Bazzana was taken by the Cleveland Guardians with the No. 1 pick, and three players from Wake Forest were selected in the top 10.

A former cricket, rugby and soccer player who came to the United States to play baseball for Oregon State, the 21-year-old hit .407 with 28 homers and 66 RBIs this season. He became the first Australian and first second baseman taken No. 1.

“An opportunity to make an impact on a lot of baseball players and a lot of people back home in Australia, and hopefully change the narrative for baseball there,” Bazzana said.

Bazzana hit .360 over three seasons at Oregon State with 45 homers, 165 RBIs, 180 walks and 66 steals.

Cleveland president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti said the team made its decision Sunday.

“He recognizes pitches exceedingly well,” Antonetti said. “He knows the strike zone, makes good swing decisions, when he does choose to swing makes elite-level contact. And I think what’s really grown in Travis’ game over the past year or so is the ability to add impact and drive the ball.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report