‘I’m grateful’: Basic baseball star selected in 1st round of MLB draft
Basic shortstop Tate Southisene was selected in the first round of the MLB draft Sunday by the Atlanta Braves with the 22nd overall pick.
“I feel great,” Southisene said. “I’m excited. I don’t have a lot of words to say, I’m just really excited. There were a couple of teams in the first round that were interested. We had a good deal with the Braves and I was glad it was able to work out.”
Southisene entered the draft as MLB.com’s No. 39 prospect and is committed to play college baseball at USC. Southisene said he will report to the Braves’ camp next week in Florida.
“It’s been fun, from the high school season, the (most fun) time of my life, I just really tried to enjoy every single moment and not take it for granted. I’m grateful for it all,” Southisene said.
He also played outfield this past season for Basic and helped the Wolves win the 5A Southern Region and state titles in May.
Listed at 5 feet 11 inches and 170 pounds, Southisene was the state’s top hitter in the 5A classification, posting a .495 batting average with nine home runs, 33 RBIs, 51 hits and 16 stolen bases. He was named the Gatorade state baseball player of the year.
Southisene was a three-time first-team All-Southern Nevada infielder and also played on Basic’s 2022 5A state title-winning team.
The Braves “are very excited to have me and I’m excited to join their organization, with how they develop their players and how they go about their business,” Southisene said. “They’re a winning organization. I’m just excited to take another step forward towards my dreams and to get going.”
Tate’s older brother, Ty Southisene, was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the fourth round at 120th overall last year. Ty Southisene elected to sign with the Cubs for $1 million and forgoed the opportunity to play college baseball at Tennessee, which won the 2024 College World Series.
Ty Southisene has appeared in 48 games with the Cubs’ Single-A affiliate, the Myrtle Beach Pelicans in the Carolina League, and has a .340 on-base percentage in 155 at-bats this season.
The draft process has “been very stressful, but it’s definitely made it a lot easier on me because he’s already gone through it,” Tate Southisene said of having his brother being able to help him out during the process. “I’m able to learn from what he’s done.”
Tee Southisene, the older brother of Tate and Ty’s twin brother, is playing college baseball at USC. Rising Basic senior Troy Southisene, the youngest of the four brothers, is also committed to USC.
Rounds four through 20 of the MLB draft take place Monday. Oregon’s Mason Neville, a top-40 prospect by MLB.com who played high school baseball at Basic, is still available. Palo Verde catcher Brady Dallimore, who is committed to play college baseball at TCU, is listed as MLB.com’s No. 239 draft prospect.
Contact Alex Wright at awright@reviewjournal.com. Follow @AlexWright1028 on X.
