Major League Baseball Has its Eye on Sandy Springs Senior

Before he was even old enough to attend school, Skye Bolt’s father would toss him golf balls—not baseballs—that he would hit into a net to improve his hand-eye coordination. It’s fair to say that baseball has been a daily routine for the Holy Innocents’ senior ever since. In fact, when Bolt was asked as an 8-year-old what he wanted to be when he grew up, his answer was quick and simple: “I want to be a professional baseball player.”

Ten years later, his dream could become a reality. To give a quick run-down, all 30 major league baseball teams have contacted the switch-hitting centerfielder. Baseball America, ESPN High School Sports and Perfect Game have listed him as one of the nation’s top prospects in this year’s big league draft. And, in looking at his current high school season, it hasn’t been uncommon for professional scouts, Assistant General Managers, Scouting Directors and National Cross checkers to be in the stands watching Bolt play.

Some 40-plus representatives have already been spotted, with plenty more coming as his high school team makes another probable deep run into postseason.

“It’s an exciting time for our team, our program, and for me,” Bolt said. “I’m just trying to go out there and play the game hard, have fun and do something that can help my team win.”

When asked about the attention and potential pressures, the senior handled it like a big leaguer. “The first few games of the season, I was still getting warmed up so I had a few bad at-bats and my timing was off. With all the scouts watching, it bothered me for a minute, but failure is a part of this game some 60-70 percent of the time. If you can’t handle failure and make the adjustments you need, then you need to find something else to do,” he said.

Obviously Bolt has made the necessary adjustments: He’s hitting .428 with six homers, 12 doubles, 19 RBI and 15 stolen bases, whileleading the team to 15 victories in its first 17 outings.

“Skye fills nearly every waking moment with the passion to help himself or the compassion to help others,” Holy Innocents’ coach Dylan Deal said. “He works tirelessly to hone his craft and I have long admired his industriousness. Also, one can infer from the number of homers and extra base hits to the opposite field, that he has no problem making adjustments at the plate.”

A big key for Bolt and his Bears this season has been facing better competition. Traveling to Jacksonville and Gainesville, FL, over spring break, Holy Innocents’ faced some of the best teams in the state, including The Bolles School, former home of Atlanta Braves third baseman Chipper Jones. With scouts loading the stands in the game vs. Bolles, Bolt was intentionally walked three times by one of the top pitchers in the country. In the field, the senior threw out a would-be go-ahead run late in the game on a perfect strike to the plate.

One of Bolt’s high school coaches, Jay Hood said, “Skye performs at his highest level against better competition.”

He added, “The better the pitcher, the better the team, the better his performance. He is accustomed to facing the top pitchers from around the country from his East Cobb summer circuit. When you’re conditioned to facing 91 to 95 miles-per-hour fastballs on a regular basis and now you’re seeing a regular diet of 75-80, it takes some adjusting. That’s one of the most impressive things about Skye—his ability to make adjustments.”

Hood knows about young, talented players and the drafting process, since he, himself, went on to play in the Angels professional organization after playing college ball at Georgia Tech.

As far as East Cobb baseball goes, Bolt was named MVP for the travel team last summer, a team that was ranked #1 (17-U). Packed with Division I commitments and professional draft talent, Bolt led his Braves’ squad in nearly every offensive category.

“He can do it all,” East Cobb Coach Juerod Roberts said. “He is tooled-out with 6.5 speed and a cannon for an arm. On top of that, he’s a switch-hitter with power. I’ve coached a lot of college and professional baseball players over the years, but Skye is special. He has every tool to play at the next level. When you consider the physical tools as well as his mental approach and baseball acumen, he is a guy who understands the game extremely well and doesn’t carry failure with him. Instead, he lets go and makes adjustments very quickly.”

As a Top-100 prospect and a scholarship to perennial baseball powerhouse UNC, Bolt is considered a top round pick in this year’s major league draft. His 6’ 3”, 184-pound frame projects himself well at the next level, and his tools and performance seem to validate that possibility. One thing seems for sure, he will certainly play in the years ahead. Now it’s just a question of which one—college or pro?