Puk not sure he'll play for Warriors
A.J. Puk plans to begin taking classes at the University of Florida in June, casting doubt on whether the 6-foot-6 lefthander will play baseball at Cedar Rapids Washington this season.
Puk signed his national letter-of-intent with the Gators Wednesday morning during a ceremony at the high school, honoring a commitment he made to Florida last November.
"It's great. It's great to finally make it official," he said after signing on the dotted line. "I can't wait to be down there during the summer."
Puk said he plans to leave for Florida in late June. The Iowa high school season will begin in mid-May, giving him a chance to play for the Warriors for about a month, but he'd leave for Florida before the prep playoffs begin.
"I don't want to start a season and then leave them when the important stuff is coming around," he said. "It's still questionable. That's how I feel right now."
There's a chance Puk won't make it to Florida at all. Allan Simpson, a draft expert for Perfect Game USA, ranks Puk as the 54th top prospect for the 2013 major league draft, which would put him squarely in the second round and facing an attractive bonus.
"Right now I'm set on going to Florida," he said. "You never know what can happen, but right now I'm just thinking about going to Florida."
Baseball America ranks Puk as No. 18 in the Class of 2013. Perfect Game USA ranks him 21st in the senior class. Simpson's No. 54 ranking includes all high school and college players who are eligible for the draft.
Puk played sparingly for Washington last season due to a thumb injury and travel-team obligations, but he excelled in national tournaments and showcases. He's considerd a promising two-way player, a tall lefthander with a 92 mph fastball and a lanky first baseman with a sweet swing who can belt a ball more than 400 feet.
Puk said Florida considers him a two-way player at this point. "And that's one of the main reasons I like them," he said.
However, Puk said he knows he'll probably have to choose one spot or the other as time goes by.
"I'll have to choose later, because I don't think there's anybody that's ever done both at the same time," he said. "I'll enjoy it while it lasts.
"Right now I like to do both. We'll just see which one takes me further in my career."
The Florida Gators have made three straight trips to the College World Series and finished second in the nation in 2011. If Puk plays for Florida, he won't be eligible for the major league draft again until he's a college junior in 2016.
Right now, he's dreaming about playing for the Gators and then giving pro ball a shot.
"I definitely would like to do it for the rest of my life," he said. "It's going to be a lot of hard work. I'll keep enjoying baseball while it lasts."
