Jacob Humphrey is headed to pro baseball.
The Standish native and Bonny Eagle High alum signed with the Colorado Rockies, the fleet-footed outfielder confirmed Tuesday.
“I’m super fortunate to have this opportunity,” he said. “I’m kind of taking my underdog approach into it, knowing I’m going to have to fight for everything and I’m going to have to earn every rep that I get. It’s just like another year. I’ve got to approach it with the same mindset, the same will to get better.”
Humphrey called signing with a big-league team a “surreal feeling.”
“Since you pick up your first bat and you’re playing for fun, you talk about ‘Oh, I could be there one day. That’s my dream,'” he said. “But you never think it’s attainable until you’re actually pretty close. … I’m just super excited to be able to take this next step.”
Humphrey, an outfielder, signed after finishing his college career at Vanderbilt, which went to the NCAA Tournament at the No. 1 overall seed but was eliminated in its home regional. He batted .279 with an .842 OPS in his senior season, collecting 13 extra-base hits and scoring 39 runs in 50 games. He belted four home runs, including one in the SEC championship game against Ole Miss.
In two seasons at Vanderbilt, Humphrey hit .268 in 90 games with six home runs. He spent his first two collegiate seasons at UMass Lowell, hitting .326 over 107 games with 11 home runs while scoring 107 runs and driving in 52.
His most eye-popping attributes, however, are his speed and instincts on the basepaths. Humphrey stole 109 bases in college while being caught only nine times, a 92% success rate. He stole 19 bases in 21 tries as a senior.
For all of his success, however, Humphrey wasn’t picked in the MLB draft that was held Sunday and Monday.
“I was definitely a little disappointed and a little upset,” he said. “I was really expecting to hear my name called, but everything happens for a reason. I’m just excited to have this post-draft opportunity.”
During the draft, the Rockies were in touch with Humphrey and his agent about their interest. Tuesday morning, they made an offer.
“This is my ultimate dream,” Humphrey said. “Once you get there, it doesn’t matter if you were a first-round pick or last. Everyone’s putting on the same jersey and working toward the same thing.”
Humphrey said playing at Vanderbilt and adjusting to the step up in competition will help prepare him as he aims to climb the Rockies’ organizational ladder.
“Vanderbilt and the SEC, it’s a really challenging place to play, but it’s also a lot of fun,” he said. “You’re going to be facing the best competition there is in college baseball every weekend. You’ve got to show up ready.”
Humphrey won the SMAA’s Fred Harlow Award for dedication as a Bonny Eagle senior in 2021, and was a finalist for the Winkin Award. He batted .477 with nine doubles and three triples while stealing 13 bases and not being caught.
Humphrey will join a Rockies organization embarking on a rebuild at the major league level. Colorado has MLB’s worst record at 22-74, and only one prospect — first baseman and outfielder Charlie Condon — ranked among the top 100 in the minor leagues.
That means plenty of opportunities to impress. And like he did in Lowell and Nashville, Humphrey is looking to turn heads.
“I’m an undrafted free agent, fourth-year senior. You kind of get overlooked,” he said. “I’m kind of taking that mindset in. I want to prove what I can do, and show them why they made a great choice in choosing to sign me.”
