Ex-Georgia Tech FOOTBALL recruit on the brink of baseball debut (Updated)

Blessed Trinity graduate Jake Skole will start in center field in Monday night’s season opener for the Arizona Rangers, the rookie-league baseball team for the Texas Rangers.

Skole bypassed his football scholarship to Georgia Tech after he was drafted No. 15 overall by the Rangers, signing for a bonus of $1.577 million.

“I like the way things worked out,” Skole told the AJC. “The Rangers signed a lot of guys early. It’s better to be here working hard to make it to the big leagues rather than staying at home and waiting out a contract. For me, this way is better.”

Before reporting to Arizona, Skole hung out for a few days with his older brother, Georgia Tech All-ACC third baseman Matt Skole. Matt is a top prospect for next year’s draft and left this weekend for the Cape Cod summer league.

“I can’t wait to play … I haven’t played in a game since the high school season ended. I’m ready to get some [plate appearances],” Jake said. He will bat in the No. 3 spot for the Rangers.

Skole said he is almost fully recovered from a high ankle sprain, which caused him to miss most of Blessed Trinity’s regular season. If he plays well over the next few weeks, Skole said he could be promoted to the Rangers’ Class A affiliate in Spokane, Wash.

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