On baseball’s grandest stage, a Tri-State star athlete is establishing himself.
Matthew Fisher, a product of Memorial High School, was chosen in the MLB Draft and will be moving east to play for the Philadelphia Phillies.
On social media Monday afternoon, school personnel expressed their joy and praised the enormous accomplishment.
“Your talent, perseverance, and hard work have gotten you this far, and we’re excited to see what the professional world has in store for you. Matt, go grab ’em! stated on Facebook by a representative for Memorial High School.
Since 2002, Matthew has been the first Memorial Tiger to be selected in the MLB Draft.
Some predicted that Fisher would be selected in the first round of the MLB draft when he entered on Sunday. Fisher was taken by the Philadelphia Phillies in the seventh round, 221st overall, following a stressful day of waiting. Whatever path he chooses, Fisher’s primary focus is on celebrating the significant accomplishment.
Matthew Fisher reflected on the whirlwind of emotions and uncertainty surrounding the last 24 hours, saying, “It’s been an incredible experience, but we really had to trust the process and allow things to unfold naturally. That’s what it all came down to in the end. From last night into today, we had to stay patient, and now we’re finally here. It’s been wild, no doubt about it, but now that it’s settled in, it honestly feels surreal.”
Now, all eyes are on whether Fisher will officially sign with the Philadelphia Phillies. Although he has committed to playing college baseball at Indiana University, the Phillies selected him in a spot that comes with high expectations and high financial demands. According to MLB.com’s Jim Callis, Philadelphia will likely have to offer a significant signing bonus to persuade him to forgo college and turn professional. Fisher, who was projected to be picked late in the first round or early in the second, says there are still key factors that need to be sorted out before he makes a final decision.
“Being picked by the Phillies is something every kid dreams about,” Fisher said. “It’s a huge honor, and I’m incredibly grateful. But there are still some details that need to be worked out before anything is finalized. We’ll just have to wait and see how it all plays out.”
We’ll continue to monitor the situation closely as the decision looms, with the MLB signing deadline quickly approaching at the end of the month.