Baseball: Former Ketcham pitcher Xavier Kolhosser drafted by the Minnesota Twins

Even Xavier Kolhosser's dad was surprised when his son was promoted to the varsity squad as an eighth grader, coach Pat Mealy recalled. For a Roy C. Ketcham High School baseball team that is a perennial contender and typically carries a roster heavy with upperclassmen, there usually isn't room for a middle schooler.

"But the coaches loved his upside and we thought he could hold his own at this level," Mealy said of the pitcher. "The talent was obvious, his instincts were off the charts, and he was willing to put in the work. We thought he had great potential."

The Minnesota Twins probably view Kolhosser similarly now, noticing those talents and traits and believing it eventually can lead to him holding his own at that level, too.

The Wappingers Falls native was selected by the Twins in the 13th round of the MLB Draft on Tuesday. The 6-foot-5 right-hander was chosen after an impressive, though truncated, career at St. John's University.

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"He's excited and I'm truly proud of him," said Mealy, who spoke briefly to Kolhosser after his selection. "He's come a long way to reach this point in his career, and he's put so much time and effort into becoming the player he is. He deserves this."

Kolhosser rebounded from Tommy John surgery as a freshman and went 12-2 with a 3.18 ERA in 21 starts over two seasons, including nine wins this spring. Some scouts believe his height, smooth mechanics and four-pitch repertoire project well to the professional level and there is considerable room for growth. He complements a low-90s fastball with a solid slider, curveball and changeup.

The 21-year-old became the second Ketcham graduate to be drafted in recent years, joining pitcher Ryan Murphy, who was chosen by the San Francisco Giants in 2020 and now is a prospect in Double-A. Beacon product Lenny Torres, who also successfully underwent Tommy John surgery, is pitching at Double-A in the Cleveland Guardians' minor league system.

Ketcham star Owen Paino last weekend withdrew from the draft and chose instead to follow through on his commitment to attend Ole Miss. The shortstop is a heralded prospect who was named Gatorade's New York Player of the Year last month and led the Storm to the Class AAA state final.

The 18-year-old told the Journal he is resolute in the decision and looks forward to playing in college.

"The choice to go to college was always in consideration for him," Mealy said. "I think he's gonna do well there and raise his status even more."

Kolhosser fulfilled his potential at Ketcham, excelling on the mound and showing his overall athleticism as a hitter and baserunner. As a senior in 2021, he posted a 1.95 ERA and was named Pitcher of the Year by the Dutchess County Baseball Coaches Association for a second time.

"He turned himself into one of the most dominant players in Section 1 and, in college, he came back from the surgery and was filthy," Mealy said. "I spoke to his coach at St. John's (Mike Hampton) and he echoed what we thought about Xavier's upside and work ethic. You love to see that rewarded. We're stoked for him."

Stephen Haynes: shaynes@poughkeepsiejournal.com; 845-437-4826; Twitter: @StephenHaynes4

This article originally appeared on Poughkeepsie Journal: Baseball: Xavier Kolhosser taken by Minnesota Twins in MLB Draft