Former Little League Baseball World Series Player Randal Grichuk Drafted 24th Overall, Signs With Angels

By Communications Division

June 19, 2009

In leading Lamar National Little League to the 2003 and 2004 Little League Baseball World Series, Randal Grichuk showed glimpses of the talent that recently saw him drafted 24th overall in the 2009 Major League Baseball First-Year Amateur Draft.

Grichuk was selected in the first round by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim out of Lamar (Texas) Consolidated High School, and on June 20, made the decision to sign a professional contract with the Angels organization.

The 6-foot, 185-pound outfielder had signed a letter of intent to the University of Arizona. Grichuk has hit 38 homers over the last two seasons, including 21 as a senior, which led the nation. In his senior season, he hit .613, with 23 walks, and only 11 strikeouts in 75 at-bats.

As an 11-year-old first baseman and pitcher, Grichuk and his Lamar National Little League teammates won the Little League Baseball Southwest Region Tournament, played in Waco, Texas, and advanced to the 58th Little League Baseball World Series in Williamsport, Pa. With Grichuk, the Lamar National Little League repeated the feat in 2004.

With his team going 2-2 in the 2003 Series, Grichuk was 4-for-9 at the plate, with three runs batted in, and three runs scored. Lamar National Little League reached the U.S. Semifinal, losing to New England Region Champion Saugus American Little League, 14-13.

In the 2004 Series, the Southwest Region Champions posted a 5-1 record, reaching the United States Championship game, before losing to Conejo Valley (Calif.) Little League, 4-0. Lamar National Little League finished third in the world, winning the World Series Consolation Game, 5-0, over Mexico’s National Champion, Linda Vista Little League.

In six World Series games, Grichuk helped his team to a collective .381 batting average, hitting .632 (12-for-19) with four home runs, three doubles, 11 runs batted in and nine runs scored. Grichuk’s hits, homers, slugging percentage and RBIs were all tournament bests. He tied for first in runs scored.

Observers have been impressed by Grichuk’s bat speed and strong hands since his Little League World Series appearances. In 2007, Grichuk hit three home runs to help Team USA win the gold medal at the World Youth Baseball Championship in Venezuela.