Local pipeline remains strong as Radel approaches draft weekend
Sioux Falls has another promising name to watch when Major League Baseball makes its selections this weekend. Jack Radel, who grew up pitching in town and moved through Roosevelt High School to pitch for Notre Dame, is on the cusp of joining teammate and childhood friend Marcus Phillips among recent high draft selections.
Radel’s baseball roots are deeply Sioux Falls. He played for the city’s Little League team that reached the Little League World Series in Williamsport and later starred at Roosevelt High School before pitching at the collegiate level. Those local stops are familiar milestones in a development pipeline that has produced top prospects in consecutive years.
Sanford coach Steve Phillips — whose son Marcus is both a teammate and longtime friend of Radel — reflected on watching Jack grow up in the game.
“It’s really exciting knowing Jack since he was about 9 years old and watching him go through this process of learning the game, loving the game. The time he has spent with the game has been a joy to watch. So it’s really exciting for him to be in this situation where he can go high in the draft.”
Radel said his relationship with Phillips has been an asset as draft day approaches.
“Having him gone through this already it’s someone easy to talk to and he can give me advice on it. He helps me understand it better too since he got picked very high. So yeah, having him around is great.”
Even for a pitcher accustomed to pregame focus, the draft brings a different set of emotions. Radel described the mix of feelings as he awaited the weekend’s decisions:
“I’m getting more anxious about this than when I pitch. So I’m kind of ready for it to get over with and happen already. But I’m excited. No matter what happens I’m going to be thankful that I had the opportunity to do it. So I’m anxious, excited, stressed and all the emotions you can probably have are kind of flowing through me this past week. But definitely excited.”
What this means for Sioux Falls baseball
Back-to-back high picks from the Sioux Falls area underscore growth in the local baseball scene, a point Phillips emphasized. The consecutive visibility of hometown players on major-league radars signals stronger youth programs, coaching and exposure for area athletes. For families and coaches in Sioux Falls, Radel’s possible selection is both a celebration of one player’s rise and a marker of how far the city’s baseball development has progressed.
- Roots: Little League team that reached Williamsport
- High school: Roosevelt High School
- College: Notre Dame
- Now: Eligible for this weekend’s MLB Draft
| Stage | Place |
|---|---|
| Little League | Sioux Falls team, Williamsport appearance |
| High School | Roosevelt High School, Sioux Falls |
| College | Notre Dame |
| Next step | Major League Baseball Draft weekend |
The immediate focus for Radel is simple: let the draft unfold and then take whatever comes next. For Sioux Falls, the broader takeaway is steady—the community continues to produce players capable of attracting national attention, and local coaches and families will watch this weekend with clear interest and hometown pride.
