Jared Carr becomes fourth Shepherd University player ever selected in MLB Draft
SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va. (BVM) — While Division II Shepherd University hasn’t seen a lot of attention in MLB Drafts over the years, the Rams’ baseball program is seemingly on the rise after a pair of selections over the past three seasons. These selections include senior outfielder Jared Carr, who was selected in the 13th round (No. 385 overall) by the Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday. Carr joins his former Rams’ teammate Brenton Doyle, who was picked in the 4th round by the Colorado Rockies in 2019.
“I’m feeling pretty good, it’s still kind of fresh because I haven’t left to do anything yet, but I’m feeling pretty good. I’m excited,” Carr said. “[The call] was really exciting. I was kind of expecting to go right around there, but it’s still kind of nerve wracking for it to all happen.”
While Doyle helped to put the program on the map in recent years, including helping boost Carr’s stock in the process, the senior was able to come into his own during his career and prove that the Rams were more than just one player.
Coming from St. James School in Martinsburg, W.Va., Carr would be chosen as the 2017 Washington County Player of the Year his senior season when he hit for an average of .505 that season and earned the all-time single-season hits record in the county. As a freshman for the Rams, Carr would appear in 20 games with three starts batting .269 with seven hits in 26 at-bats with a double and going 2-for-2 in stolen bases.
The next season, which correlated with Doyle’s final season with the Rams, Carr would break out, appearing in 52 games with 51 starts and hitting for a team-best .428 average and team highs of 86 hits in 201 at-bats. He also added 37 RBIs and scored 64 runs himself with added 16 doubles, five triples and six home runs. After the season, he earned first team All-Mountain East Conference as well as first team American Baseball Coaches’ Association/Rawlings, D2CCA, National College Baseball Writers Association All-Region honors and honorable mention NCBWA All-American.
“It was just nice to see everything paying off,” Carr said. “I just like to give our team a chance to win so it was nice to be able to put in effort towards that.”
It helped playing with Doyle that season, Carr admits not only helping him come into his own offensively, but also by bringing scouts to the small school to see the star player. Though they didn’t come to see Carr necessarily, Carr thinks he helped impress enough to make sure the scouts came back.
“It was really helpful to have him around because he kind of paved the way with bringing attention to the school so that kind of helped me build interest for myself and carry it on for the next few years,” Carr said.
While Carr was supposed to take over the reins as the Rams’ leader the next season, appearing and starting in all 18 games, the shortened season didn’t allow him to break out in all the ways he had hoped. Despite the lack of opportunities, Carr still had a strong season hitting .318 with 21 hits in 66 at-bats and scoring a team-high 24 runs and tying for the team lead with 22 RBIs. He also had a team-best nine doubles and his three home runs also tied for the team lead. Defensively, he posted a 1.000 fielding percentage in 58 chances.
“It sucked really badly when the season did get cancelled, but it kind of gave me an opportunity to step back and realize what I had,” Carr said. “It gave me a few months to kind of work by myself and train by myself and get better. I don’t look at it as a terrible thing, I mean yeah it was bad at the moment, but it kind of made you realize how important [baseball] is to you.”
Carr didn’t let the long offseason impact his final season with the Rams as he would once again be among the best in his conference. The graduate student appeared and started in all 37 games, earning first team All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference East honors as he batted .375 with 48 hits in 128 at-bats with 38 runs scored and a team-best 41 RBIs. The outfielder also added 12 doubles and a team-best 11 home runs while leading the team in stolen bases with 25 in 30 attempts. He would also finish with a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage in 61 chances helping him earn first team D2CCA and NCBWA All-Region honors and another honorable mention NCBWA All-American, becoming one of just four Shepherd baseball players who have garnered All-American honors in more than one season.
Even with his achievements, the newly minted draft pick is always looking to improve his game.
“I wasn’t exactly satisfied with what I did, obviously the numbers looked really good, but I kind of got off to a slow start,” Carr said. “I felt like I could’ve done more to help us win and obviously the playoffs didn’t go too well. I ended up putting together a good season, but I still wish I could’ve done a little bit better.”
Now, Carr joins the elite company of Rams being selected in the MLB Draft along with Doyle, 2013 draft pick Josh McCauley who was selected in the 21st round by the Chicago Cubs and Nathan Minnich who was selected in the 8th round by the Boston Red Sox in 2012. As a graduate, it appears that all signs are pointing towards Carr making the leap to the MLB.
“I’m really happy being in this area, especially because the minor league system is up in this area. It’s nice being really close. I’m happy to be there,” Carr said. “I have high expectations for myself. I want to bring to the table what they picked me up for so I just want to do my best to move through the system and make it to the major leagues.”
As he goes on to join the nearby Phillies, Carr will also be hoping the pride and support of the Shepherd University faithful with him, looking to prove this program’s success will only be brighter in the future.
“It feels pretty good, I’m just hoping the guys who follow me take it as me and Doyle paving the way,” Carr said. “Hopefully we see more of that coming through with the younger guys we’ve got.”
