MIAMI -- Miami Marlins president of baseball operations Michael Hill scouted Josh Beckett and A.J. Burnett as high schoolers.
None of them looked like right-hander Tyler Kolek.
On Monday, the Marlins announced the signing of their first-round pick in this year's draft with his parents and younger brother in attendance.
"We were looking for the most impactful player on our board, and hands down our room felt like Tyler represented that in terms of the complete package," Hill said. "Not just the physical tools, but the things that allow players to be successful at the highest level. We had that comfort level."
Kolek, taken second overall, went 5-2 with a 0.35 ERA with 126 strikeouts and eight walks in 60 1/3 innings during his senior season at Shepherd High School in Texas. His 102 mph fastball was the fastest clocked ever for a high-school player.
The 18-year-old self-proclaimed "country-strong kid" stands at 6-foot-5, 260 pounds. He always dreamed of becoming a professional baseball player but didn't actually believe he had a chance until last season.
"After I broke my arm, I had a couple months off and I recovered from that," said Kolek, who injured his left arm in an infield collision. "I started pitching again and threw 102 and realized, 'How many people can throw 102?' "
He earned Gatorade Texas Player of the Year honors for 2013-14. Not only did Kolek become the eighth high school pitcher ever selected by the Marlins with their first pick -- the first since Jose Fernandez -- but also the highest since Beckett in 1999 (No. 2 overall).
Kolek said all of his pitches work off the fastball. His stuff was so tough to handle that his catcher's arm would sometimes turn blue if hit by a pitch.
"I'm not near perfect or anything with my fastball, but I think I have good command of my fastball," Kolek said. "My offspeed pitches, it depends on the day. My curveball's there a lot more than my slider is."
Last week, Kolek graduated from high school. He will report to the Gulf Coast League Marlins on Tuesday in Jupiter, Florida. He stretched and worked out with the big-league club Monday wearing a No. 1 Miami Marlins jersey.
It has been a few weeks since Kolek has pitched, and he said he was happy to get the "contract stuff out of the way." He was committed to Texas Christian University.
How long he will remains in the minors depends on his development. Kolek hopes it is "as soon as possible" and will do "whatever it takes to be the best pitcher he can be."
That's what attracted vice president of scouting Stan Meek to Kolek when he met the flamethrower and his family at their ranch in Texas.
"We're drafting more than just the ability," Meek said. "We're drafting who he is as a person, and when I went in the home and met with the family I couldn't be more impressed with the people. I'm kind of a country guy myself, relaxed and took to him. There's values in this young man you don't always get in your first-round pick."
Miami has signed 19 of its 42 players taken in this year's draft, including its first five picks: catcher Blake Anderson of West Lauderdale High School (Competitive Balance Round A, No. 36 overall); infielder Justin Twine of Falls City High School (Round 2, No. 43); infielder Brian Anderson of the University of Arkansas (Round 3, No. 76) and left-hander Michael Mader of Chipola Junior College (Supplemental Round, No. 105).
The Marlins have until July 18 to sign their remaining draft picks. The slot value for the No. 2 selection was $6,821,800. The Marlins did not release details on Kolek's contract.
You can follow Christina De Nicola on Twitter @CDeNicola13 or email her at cdenicola13@gmail.com.
