Derek McCarley had other options to mull.
But East Tennessee State checked off every bullet point on the Seymour baseball player’s list of musts.
So the 5-foot-10, 170-pound junior outfielder/left-handed pitcher went ahead and committed to the Buccaneers.
Derek McCarley of Seymour.
“The major reason for committing to ETSU, for me, personally, was that they had the exact degree I wanted to major in. I loved the coaching staff and how excited they were to have me,” said McCarley, who plays offseason travel ball for the Tennessee Nationals.
“Also, the opportunity to play as a two-way player in college. And it was also close to home.”
McCarley plans to enter pre-med with a future route of physical therapy, he said.
As for now, he’s developing his physique to prepare for not only his final two seasons of high school ball but to also make the leap to college baseball.
I want to improve my strength and my speed,” said McCarley, who also considered Memphis, Belmont, Coastal Carolina and MTSU.
“Increasing velocity and also having perfected feel and command of the zone. I also want to improve and perfect my mental side of the game.”
Seymour won 20 games last season and will be one of the teams to watch again in District 2-AAA. Eagles standout pitcher Dylan Dickert recently announced his commitment to Walters State, and 2021 star infielder/pitcher Elijah Galyon remains committed to Kentucky.