Pope Baseball Star Drafted by Cubs

baseball standout Duane Underwood was drafted Tuesday by the Chicago Cubs.

Underwood, a right-handed pitcher rated among the Top 100 prospects in the Major League Baseball draft, was selected with the No. 67 pick in the second round.

The biggest decision for Underwood is which uniform to suit up for next.

Underwood is part of the University of Georgia's recruiting class that is No. 2 nationally and includes Appling County's Byron Buxton, who was the second pick overall in the draft by the Minnesota Twins.

Buxton may spurn the Bulldogs to turn professional right away, given the signing bonus that usually comes with being such a high selection. 

Underwood, who is 6-feet-2, 185 pounds, guided Pope to state quarterfinal appearances in the last two seasons and was considered a possible first round draft pick.

More recently, however, some MLB scouts thought his stock was on the decline this season. 

Still, the MLB scouting report concludes that Underwood's "poise, knowledge of the game and athleticsm say he'll continue to evolve as a pitcher."

The initial reaction in the Windy City was similar. Chicago Now said the Cubs went for "high upside" in choosing Underwood, whom it calls "one of the most talented, yet enigmatic, high school arms" in the draft.