One of the most dominant high school pitchers this past season in the Ozarks is turning pro. Tuesday afternoon, Aurora grad Wyatt Sparks signed with the Texas Rangers.
Sparks went 11-1 his senior year throwing 75 innings with 143 strikeouts and an earned run average of 0.93. The Missouri State signee walked just 14 batters for a 10-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio, which helped him post a microscopic 0.56 WHIP (walks+hits/innings pitched).
At the plate, Sparks hit .357 with 26 runs scored including a key home run in the state semifinal.
Saturday morning, Sparks flew to Arizona to meet with the Rangers front office. Sparks was drafted in the 23rd round (689th overall) on June 6th and decided to delay making a decision on turning pro or attending Missouri State. He signed following his physical Monday afternoon.
The 6’2″, 185 lb righty was one area prospect tabbed at solidifying a young, talented pitching staff for Keith Guttin at Missouri State. Sparks would have joined fellow 2018 graduates Logan Thomazin (Walnut Grove) and Forrest Barnes (Ozark) and eventually 2019 grad Mason Auer (Kickapoo) with the Bears.
