Mounds View's Sam Hentges Among Best Baseball Players In MN
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Mounds View's Sam Hentges is considered one of the best high school baseball players in the state. He carries a 6-foot-7-inch frame, can pitch, hit and uses his size to make an impact.
He could be drafted by Major League Baseball next month, but he will probably play for the University of Arkansas next spring.
Hentges has that swing the type everyone strives for and it produces results.
"I have long arms. I use my leverage on the mound and in the batter's box. I use my long legs and long arms to generate power," Hentges said.
What he brings is more than talent and that's what separates him.
"High character kid," said Mounds View baseball coach Mark Downey. "He's very ground, very humble. He's about the team first and he gets a lot of attention as a high-profile athlete, but it doesn't affect his ability to prepare or perform."
That's why he's popular. He likes to be part of a team.
"I think it's coming out every day with your friends and you build great relationships with your teammates that last a very long time," Hentges said.
Last year, he was there, helping his team win a state title and earn a baseball memory for a lifetime.
"The whole thing was a blur but it was definitely a blast playing at Target Field and winning it with a bunch of guys you grew up playing ball with," Hentges said. "It's a dream come true."