Chicago Cubs Draft Middletown North Pitcher Tyler Ras

MIDDLETOWN, NJ — A local Middletown High School North teen and standout baseball player was drafted Wednesday by the Chicago Cubs. Tyler Ras was drafted in the 33rd round of the Major League Baseball draft.

He was chosen by the Cubs as the 998th overall pick in the draft. As Patch reported, Ras was previously recruited to play Division 1 baseball for the University of Alabama, which he committed to earlier this spring.

The 6-foot-4 Ras is a right-handed pitcher who was voted by New Jersey residents statewide as the top senior pitcher in New Jersey in NJ.com's annual poll. His fastball pitch can reach 93 miles per hour, which baseball experts predict will only improve as he gets bigger. Here's a video of him on the mound below.

He's also an infielder.

Ras is pictured second from left during a signing day at Middletown North earlier this year:

Photos provided to Patch by Kelly Finch, School Counselor/NCAA Representative at Middletown High School North