It’s only been several weeks since Neil Medchill graduated from Lake Orion High School, but he’s already well on his way to achieving his dream of playing Major League baseball.
Medchill, an Oxford resident, was drafted by the L.A. Angels in round 30 of the MLB draft on June 8. The draft began on June 7, and Medchill said he got a call just before he was drafted.
‘They let me know right before,? he said. ‘I thought I would go later.?
Medchill, who has played baseball and basketball all four years he’s been at LOHS, said he is pleased that the Angels selected him.
‘I like the team,? he said. ‘I was choosing between Bowling Green and Chandler-Gilbert Community College in Arizona.
‘Bowling Green made me a nice offer, but I want to go to Arizona, since I was drafted,? he said. ‘And where it’s warmer.?
Medchill is a Las Vegas, Nevada native who relocated to Michigan with his family when he was in seventh-grade, after his father Dudley came to help start the MGM Grand Casino in Detroit.
Medchill currently lives with his father, and mom Jan, in Oxford. He has two sisters: Julie 30, and Michelle, 19, who attends Arizona State University.
‘So she’ll get to come watch me play,? said Medchill. ‘My parents want to move back to Las Vegas soon, so they’ll get to come watch me as well.?
Medchill said he plans to study physical therapy in Arizona, although his ultimate goal is to be a professional baseball player.
‘That’s something I’d love to try to do,? he said. ‘It was always a dream…really it’s pretty hard to (make that) come true.?
Medchill said he has been working hard, and has gotten a lot of advice from LOHS varsity baseball coach Andy Schramek.
‘I’ve gone to him a lot,? he said. ‘He’s very supportive. He’s been wonderful.?
Medchill is also fortunate to have family friend Russ Cleveland, who is a catcher for a minor league team for the Detroit Tigers organization, giving him advice.
‘I’ve known him forever,? said Medchill.
Medchill said he will play baseball at Chandler-Gilbert, located in Chandler, Arizona, at least for his freshman year; after one year he will be able to play for the Angels organization if they decide to sign him.
‘There’s a time period where they can sign me before anyone else can,? he said. ‘Or I can be drafted again.?
Medchill said he has been playing baseball for ‘as long as I can remember.?
‘Since I started playing catch with my dad in the backyard,? he said. ‘My dad played baseball in college.?
Although he’s played both sports at the varsity level, Medchill said he will always choose baseball over basketball.
‘Because I’ve got God-given talent in (baseball),? he said. ‘I was a center in basketball, but I’m only 6?3.?
Medchill has broken his nose twice playing basketball, and will undergo reconstructive nose surgery on June 29.
Before that, he’ll play in the East-West All Start game at Comerica Park on June 23. He hopes to have recovered from surgery enough to play at the Negro Leagues Celebration at Comerica Park on Aug. 5.
‘I still might not be able to play then, but I’m hoping to,? said Medchill.
When he has free time, Medchill enjoys collecting sports memorabilia with his father.
‘We collect mostly baseball stuff,? he said. ‘He’s got some Mickey Mantle things…he has a lot of nice stuff.?