Bubba Starling Still Trying to Decide Between Major League Baseball and College Football

by Jeff Fisher
Host, NHSCA Sports Hour

On April 3rd when we spoke with Gardner Edgerton's (Kansas) three-sport athlete Bubba Starling on the NHSCA Sports Hour, we knew the young man was going to have a major decision.

Starling had already committed to play football at the University of Nebraska, but he also knew in a couple of months, he would be a high pick in the Major League Amateur Draft.  When draft day came, he was taken with the fifth pick overall by the nearby Kansas City Royals, and that made the decision even bigger.

When I asked him on the April 3rd show which way he was leaning, he said, "I don't know if I'm ready for that big step going from high school baseball to major league baseball, as far as maturity.  I just think the best thing for me to do right now is to go up to Nebraska and play two sports there."

Well, when Nebraska opened fall camp last week, Starling wasn't in Cornhusker red-and-white, but he also wasn't wearing a Royals uniform either.  However, he is enrolled in Lincoln.



Now the clock is ticking toward midnight on August 15th.  That's when Starling must sign a major league contract with the Royals or wait two more years to be drafted again.

It's been reported that Starling, who is represented by super-agent Scott Boras could receive a MLB contract with a signing bonus in excess of $7 million dollars.

So for now, Cornhusker fans are turning Royal blue while holding their breath in anticipation of Starling's decision.

As far as Starling, he texted a message to the Kansas City Star last week saying, "It's getting really stressful now, too".

Click here to listen to our interview with Starling.

Meanwhile, the #4 overall pick Dylan Bundy of Owasso High School in Oklahoma is also faced with a similar decision. If the Baltimore Orioles don't sign the righthanded pitcher by August 15th, he'll attend Eastern Oklahoma State College.

Click here to listen to the June 12th interview with Bundy.

Former NHSCA Sports Hour Guest Bubba Starling Drafted by Kansas City Royals

by Jeff Fisher
Host, NHSCA Sports Hour

Congratulations to Bubba Starling, a guest on our April 3rd show, who was taken in today's Major League Baseball Amateur Draft.



Starling, who was a great three-sport athlete at Gardner-Edgerton (Gardner, Kansas), was taken with the fifth pick overall by the Kansas City Royals.  The 6-5, 200 pound outfielder has a big decision to make...in February he accepted a scholarship to play football the University of Nebraska.

As a senior, Starling hit .481 with one home run in every six at-bats.  His fastball has been clocked at 95 miles-an-hour, but he didn't pitch this season.

In his final football campaign, Starling, who will also be allowed to play baseball for the Cornhuskers, rushed for nearly 2,500 yards and 31 touchdowns.



Also drafted in the first round today was Archie Bradley of Broken Arrow High School in Oklahoma.  Bradley, who's fastball has been clocked at 101 m.p.h., was taken by the Arizona Diamondbacks with the #7 pick in the first round.

On Sunday, we spoke with Bradley's head coach Shannon Dobson, who said he's one of the best high school prospects he's ever seen.



Click here to listen to the April 3rd interview with Bubba Starling.