Baseball: Downers Grove North’s Jude Warwick selected by Detroit Tigers in MLB Draft’s 12th round

Jude Warwick was waiting at home with his mom and dad Tuesday morning, waiting for the call he first anticipated last year could come.

How did he pass the time?

“We colored a little bit to pass the time,” Warwick said, “get our mind off of it.”

The phone call came. Color Warwick a professional baseball player.

Warwick, who hit a walk-off home run in a sectional final in May to give Downers Grove North its first sectional championship since 2004, was drafted Tuesday by the Detroit Tigers in the 12th round of the Major League Baseball Draft.

Warwick, a shortstop committed to play collegiately at Michigan State, was drafted with the 356th pick by the Tigers. As a senior Warwick batted .391 with 50 hits, 14 doubles, six triples, five home runs, 26 RBIs and 22 stolen bases.

Warwick confirmed that he will sign his professional contract with the Tigers.

“A tough decision, but super thrilled and super excited,” Warwick said. “We were waiting for the call, there was the possibility of it coming late Monday and I was waiting around, talking to my advisor about possible options.

“It was a very difficult decision for me, Plan A go to the Tigers or Plano B Michigan State. I talked to my family, decided it would be best for me to sign and I couldn’t be happier.”

Warwick said he’s been pursued by the Tigers for the better part of the year, and that they were the only MLB team that was really on him.

The Tigers saw Warwick play in Jupiter, Fla., last year where he had a good tournament. Right back when he got in his car after the last game Warwick got a text from an area scout, the first time he had heard from an MLB team. The Tigers eventually invited Warwick to hit with them before the season, and had a scout at all of his Downers Grove North high school games this spring.

“They were very big on my projectability,” Warwick said. “They knew I had a skill set, get their hands on me with their development team and get me bigger, faster and stronger.”

Ever since the high school season Warwick has been working out at MAR Health and Performance in downtown Downers Grove. He played in a summer college league with the Lombard Orioles.

“It was in my mind that I might get drafted ever since Jupiter and when I hit with them in February,” Warwick said. “But I never completely expected it until I heard my name on the TV. It was an exciting moment for me and my family.”

It is the second consecutive year that Downers Grove North has had a player selected in the MLB Draft. Last year, Warwick’s former teammate George Wolkow was drafted by the Chicago White Sox with the 209th pick. Wolkow signed a professional contract with the White Sox and is at the White Sox’s Single-A affiliate at Kannapolis.

“He was one of my first calls after I received the news,” Warwick said. “He’s a good friend of mine, we’ve played together since I was 10. It was awesome to see him go through process and now to have it happen for me is awesome.”

Warwick also is the second player from his conference drafted this week. On Sunday, former York pitcher Ryan Sloan was selected by the Seattle Mariners in the second round with the 55th overall pick.

“Not totally sure what’s next,” Warwick said. “I have the night to celebrate with my family and friends. After that we’re not sure. I could leave tomorrow, could be end of the week. Eventually I’ll move down to Lakeland (Fla.), that’s the plan.”