Westfield pitcher Gage Stanifer signs with Toronto Blue Jays

The Westfield to Major League Baseball pipeline has another potential member.

The Toronto Blue Jays selected Westfield right hander Gage Stanifer in the 19th round, 578th overall, on July 19 during the third and final day of the 2022 MLB Draft.

Stanifer is the fifth former Westfield player to be selected in the MLB Draft. He's the first since former Shamrock and Butler star Ryan Pepiot was selected by the Los Angeles Dodgers 102th overall (third round) in the 2019 draft.

"This has been something I've always wanted," Stanifer said. "Growing up it's always a kid's dream to go play in the big leagues. The Blue Jays trust in me and seeing that they think I have what it takes to play in their organization is pretty cool. It was a really cool experience to hear my name called. I knew someone believed in me, and I feel like my opportunity is now. I'm gonna work as hard as possible to get what I want."

Pepiot debuted with the Dodgers this season. Former Westfield and Purdue catcher Kevin Plawecki was selected in the first round by the Boston Red Sox (35th overall) in the 2012 draft. He's in his eighth MLB season.

"We've been fortunate to have a lot of really talented athletes at Westfield," Westfield coach Ryan Bunnell said. "I think it's a testament to my staff, who does a lot of the work with them. It's also a testament to the kids. They put in a lot of work with us, but they also do a lot outside of what we do in the high school program, and you have to be able to do that to be successful."

Stanifer, a Cincinnati commit, was one of the top pitchers in Indiana last season. The 6-3, 210-pound righty, went 5-2 with a 0.74 ERA and 83 strikeouts over 38 innings as a senior. For his career, Stanifer had a 12-3 record with a 0.86 ERA and 183 strikeouts in 90 innings.

Stanifer's best pitch is a fastball that sits 92 to 95 mph. He's touched 97 at times this spring. He complements his fastball with a hard-breaking slider and an improving changeup that could develop into another plus offering.

Bunnell said Stanifer's work ethic helped him develop into an MLB draft pick. After the 2020 high school baseball season was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic, Stanifer converted his basement into a weight room. He spent the lost season working to improve his strength and become a more physically imposing presence on the mound. Bunnell added that Stanifer is also a student of the game. As an upperclassman, he spent significant time with younger Westfield pitchers helping them hone their mechanics and sharpen the mental side of their games.

"A big year for me was the COVID year, losing that whole season," Stanifer said. "I'm pretty physical so (working out) helps me (generate) a lot of force down the mound. A lot of stuff with strength helps me out pitching, so I take a lot of pride in what I do in the weight room and always do as much as possible."

Stanifer's first step in his pro journey will be reporting to the Blue Jays rookie complex in Florida where he'll take part in workouts before making his professional debut. Stanifer said his time in Florida last fall playing with Team Indiana helped him realize getting drafted and turning pro was possible. The Blue Jays were one of the first teams to reach out to him during the draft process, and getting selected by the organization helped solidify his decision to forgo his college commitment.

"(Turning pro) will set in whenever I walk in the complex," Stanifer said. "It hasn't really hit yet, but I'm excited to get that feeling and get things going."

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: MLB Draft: Westfield RHP Gage Stanifer signs with Toronto Blue Jays