Future Games Ignited Interest in Purdue Commit Sokol

Jack Sokol RHP / 3B / New Albany, OH / 2020

“I grew up watching the College World Series and Major League Baseball,” the New Albany junior said. “I always dreamed of playing at the next level, but I never thought it would be possible.”

Slowly that idea became a possibility before participation in the Future Games back in August helped make it a reality.

“School ball my sophomore year I was doing well and I’m thinking I can compete with these guys if I kept working hard,” the seventh-rated 2020 right-handed pitcher in Ohio reflected. “After talking with Miami back then, I knew I had to keep working harder. Gaining confidence was the key.”

It showed at the Future Games with an impressive performance that was noticed by a large number of scouts in attendance.

“I got there the day before,” the 6-4 175-pounder explained. “It was intimidating seeing all the scouts there. I remember getting jitters before the game I was going to pitch. When I went to warm up in the bullpen it was stressful with all the guys with radar guns lined up. But once I got on the mound it was just me and the catcher.”

The results were what Sokol had hoped.

“That’s the best I’ve pitched in a long time,” the 10th-ranked junior in the state said. “I pitched two innings and I think I only threw two balls. It was one of the best performances I’ve done in my career.”

Suddenly schools were reaching out like never before.

“I had no really big colleges until then,” Sokol noted. “It was mainly after the Future Games.”