LAKE STEVENS – Could this year get any better for Lake Stevens senior Jake Nelson?
Nelson quarterbacked the Vikings to a semifinal appearance in the 4A state football playoffs. Along the way, he was instrumental in a unbelievable comeback win over Olympia, scrambling for a first down on a 3rd down and 43 and two plays later throwing the game-winning touchdown pass to Christian Gasca.
After football season he and three other Vikings, including Gasca, committed to play football at Central Washington University.
This spring, Nelson led the Vikings in RBI and helped the team to an appearance in the 4A state quarterfinals.
Combined between football and baseball, Nelson lost just three games his senior season.
On Wednesday he got more good news. Nelson was picked in the 26th round of the Major League Baseball draft by the Boston Red Sox. He described the moment as “incredible.”
The Red Sox had shown interest in Nelson leading up to the draft as a pitcher, but indicated that they wouldn’t pick him until the 30th round or later, so the earlier selection surprised Nelson.
The Atlanta Braves had also shown interest in Nelson as an outfielder.
“I think I am a better outfielder than I am a pitcher,” Nelson said.
“But it doesn’t really matter what I think,” he added with a laugh.
Now Nelson is faced with a decision. Does he sign with the Red Sox and try to work his way up through the minor leagues or does he attend CWU and play football. If Nelson is allowed to also play baseball for the Wildcats it might make his decision easier.
“As of right now, I’m leaning more towards football because they might let me play baseball as well,” he said.
If he does choose to play football, both the Red Sox and Braves had expressed interest that they might pick him when he becomes eligible for the draft again.
Nelson has a bit of time before he has to make his decision. For now, he was just excited to be drafted.
“It’s really, really special,” Nelson said. “Today getting drafted was a really big deal just to think of all the guys that could have been drafted and they picked me.”
With all the history of the Red Sox organization, Nelson couldn’t help but think of the possibility of one day wearing a Red Sox jersey.
“It has always been me and my dad’s dream to go to Fenway (Park),” he said. “It would be crazy to run out on that field and play for them.”
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