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 this past season, 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.