Tommy Troy ‘staying within himself’ as MLB draft approaches
Editor’s note: The Arizona Diamondbacks selected SS Tommy Troy with the No. 12 pick in the first round of the 2023 MLB Draft on July 9.
STANFORD, Calif. (BVM) — Stanford shortstop Tommy Troy did not start taking baseball seriously until he was 12 years old. But just two years later, he was representing his country on the diamond.
In 2016, he was selected to compete in the USA Baseball 14U National Team Development Program. Troy was able to play with and go up against some of the best talent across the country.
“Being around the best of the age group kind of sparked the motivation to continue to get better,” Troy said. “It made me feel like I was just as good as those guys.”
Years later, Troy still belongs in that elite tier.
Now in his draft-eligible season with the Cardinal, he is viewed across the industry as one of the best middle infield talents in this year’s crop. Kiley McDaniel of ESPN has Troy as his No. 15 prospect in the class.
Tommy Troy (@StanfordBSB) is an absolute dynamo who will make the Cardinal offense go in ‘23. Monster ‘22 spring/summer that saw him win the Cape League’s Top Pro Prospect award. ++ hand speed, + athlete, showed he can handle SS. Great range up the middle. Will never get cheated! pic.twitter.com/yBuVdqWL9o
— Peter Flaherty III (@PeterGFlaherty) January 1, 2023
At 5-foot-10, 197 pounds, the Los Gatos native is a toolsy player that makes consistent contact and frequently shows off his above-average speed.
This skill set put him on the radar of scouts coming out of high school, but he ultimately had the desire to play in college. After seeing and hearing the draft buzz, Troy realized that he could have a long-term future in baseball.
“I’ve always believed in myself. I’ve always had a dream of playing baseball at the next level,” Troy said. “It really settled in after my junior year getting closer to that draft year.”
Instead of starting his professional career, Troy drove about a half-hour northwest to his dream school, Stanford University. He became a regular almost instantly.
As a freshman, he started 39 games and finished out the year with a .832 OPS. And he has taken off ever since.
He came back as a sophomore and hit .339 while slugging .568. After the season ended, he headed to Cape Cod and bolstered his stock even more, hitting .310 with a .917 OPS. He would win the CCBL Outstanding Pro Prospect Award.
Stanford 2B/SS Tommy Troy hit a ball 114 mph last night. It never came down. Feels like his raw power is undersold in public circles. pic.twitter.com/XcD3xJX4Am
— Joe Doyle (@JoeDoyleMiLB) February 19, 2023
Now a junior, he has the chance to continue to cement his status. But Troy is more focused on helping his team than helping himself.
“The talk is always there, but I try to disassociate myself from it,” Troy said. “I’m just focused on playing with the guys, enjoying this year and having fun.”
Tommy Troy @StanfordBSB @CotuitKettleers hit 9 HR in the first round before winning the tie-breaker over Cam Fisher. Troy hit 10 in the finals. #BACape22 pic.twitter.com/xKoXZlDX5O
— Geoff Pontes (@GeoffPontesBA) July 23, 2022
This is the mindset that he has had throughout his entire time at Stanford and one of the main reasons why he has been a key contributor in back-to-back College World Series appearances.
“That’s a dream that most baseball players want,” Troy said. “It’s just an amazing experience there.”
Unfortunately, Stanford was eliminated both years, but that gives Troy and the rest of the team that extra fire this season.
“I just want to focus on playing hard every day,” Troy said. “If we want to make this thing work this year, every piece of the puzzle has to be working properly. It’s my job to stay within myself and not try to do too much.”
