Matthew Fisher, an alumnus of Memorial High School, has created a ripple in the world of Evansville baseball. His selection as the 221st pick in the seventh round by the Philadelphia Phillies during the Major League Baseball Draft on June 14th etches his name into the rolls of history. This marks him as the first Memorial Tiger to be drafted straight out of secondary school since the year 2002, and only the third such occurrence within the entire history of the school’s program. Notably, numerous sports publications regarded Fisher as a first-day pick.
His skills on the mound saw significant recognition, as reflected in his status as a top 50 prospect within the evaluations of MLB.com and ESPN. Among high school pitchers nationwide, the former placed Fisher in the illustrious position as the fifth-best talent. This triumph speaks volumes, given that throughout the rich history of Evansville baseball, only four individuals have managed to secure a first-round draft pick in the MLB.
Known athletes from Evansville to have been crowned as first-round picks consist of Tony Moretto from Harrison in 1975, Andy Benes from Central in 1988, Steve Obenchain from Memorial in 2002, and Preston Mattingly from Central in his 2006 season. Fisher’s name is now on track to become one of the city’s baseball legends, all thanks to his extraordinary pitching prowess. In the recent spring season of his senior year, Fisher displayed optimal performance with a track record of 6 wins to 0 losses, supported by an outstanding ERA of 0.76.
His season stats were a testament to his incredible aptitude, recording 61 strikeouts versus a scant 11 walks over a total of 36 ? innings. Fisher’s sharp pitching limited opponents to just 16 hits counterbalanced by a mere four runs, further solidifying his standing as the Indiana Gatorade Player of the Year. Equipped with an ensemble of effective pitches, Fisher demonstrated his ability to reliably deliver strikes.
His pitching repertoire was as diverse as it was devastating, featuring a fastball that was often clocked at 95 miles per hour, a low-80s slider, a curveball accelerating through the upper-70s, and a deceptive mid-80s changeup. However, his competence on the baseball field wasn’t the only skill under his belt that piqued the scouts’ interest. Remarkably, Fisher also boasted impressive athleticism off the baseball field.
An All-State quarterback for Memorial, Fisher led his team to an undefeated regular season. His senior year saw him accumulate 2,779 passing yards and a whopping 42 total touchdowns. Named the Southern Indiana Athletic Conference Player of the Year in both baseball and football, Fisher’s athletic skill on display was nothing short of mesmerizing.
With his recent accomplishment, Fisher becomes the ninth alum of Memorial to have been selected in the MLB Draft. Past luminaries in the program’s records who were also drafted straight out of high school include Don Mattingly in 1979 and Mark Wezet in 1973. While Mattingly enjoyed a 14-year stint with the New York Yankees, Wezet matured his talents on the college field at Murray State.
Notably, Fisher’s course now hinges on a significant choice: embarking on a professional baseball journey or advancing his education through college baseball. The allure of signing with the Phillies is now counterbalanced by the prospect of attending Indiana University. July 30 stands as the closure date for signing contracts unless players have exhausted their college eligibility.
Uncertainty hovers over the slot value of the 221st overall pick in the draft at $257.70k. Depending on the ebbs and flows of negotiations, the final signing bonus associated with this position could end up being either higher or lower.