SAN MATEO — The past two years have been full of transitions for the player ranked among the nation’s top high school baseball prospects by ESPN.
Hunter Bishop changed schools, from St. Francis to Serra. Changed positions in football, from quarterback to wide receiver. Changed his primary focus, from football to baseball.
And, most significantly, changed his contributions to Serra’s baseball team, going from a lightly-used transfer outfielder his junior year to a big-time slugging star as a senior.
More change could be on the horizon as Bishop faces an important decision: Play college baseball or sign a professional contract.
Bishop has signed a letter of intent with Arizona State. But after being ranked the No. 44 prospect nationally by ESPN, he could be a high pick in the Major League Baseball draft next month.
“Talent-wise,” said one big league scout, who asked not to be identified, “he fits somewhere in the top three or four rounds.”
For now, Bishop is focused on closing out his senior season in style. The right fielder is batting .452 and slugging .726 for the top-ranked team in the Mercury News rankings.
“It’s crazy for me, kind of a dream,” Bishop said of his upcoming decision. “It’s something I’ll talk about with my parents. It will be a really hard decision.”
Starting point
Bishop went to St. Francis his first two years of high school. That’s where his brother, Braden, starred in baseball and football. Five years older than Hunter, Braden went on to play at the University of Washington and is currently playing for Class A Clinton in the Seattle Mariners organization.
“He left a pretty good legacy at St. Francis,” Hunter said. “I wanted to start my own legacy at Serra.”
It also helped that Bishop had a lot of friends at Serra, which was closer to his family’s home in San Carlos.
“Coming from St. Francis, it was kind of weird at first because they’re such big rivals of ours,” Serra pitcher Chris Apecechea said. “But Hunter, he works so hard. Every day he comes to practice ready to get better, ready to learn. His work ethic is second to none. His biggest tool is his ability to bounce back. If he has a 0 for 3, 1 for 4 day, he’s in the cage hitting as soon as the game ends. When he goes 4 for 4, same thing. He’s never satisfied.”
Due to Central Coast Section transfer rules, Bishop had to sit out the first four games of the football season and the first 15 games of the baseball season his junior year.
Once eligible, he became the football team’s starting quarterback. In baseball, after missing more than half the season, Bishop got only 23 at-bats.
He made a name for himself as a baseball prospect while playing travel ball last summer. He took part in the Area Code games in Long Beach and the Under Armour All-American game in Chicago.
Carving own path
Bishop moved to wide receiver in football as a senior and averaged 23.7 yards per catch, scoring seven touchdowns.
“I’d always loved playing quarterback, but my junior year didn’t go as planned,” Bishop said. “Coach (Patrick) Walsh thought it would be good for me to show my athleticism at wide receiver. It was fun, I had a great time.”
Shortly before Christmas, Bishop accepted an offer from Washington to join the Huskies as a preferred walk-on in football.
Again, he would be following in the footsteps of his older brother.
But then he got a call from Arizona State baseball coach Tracy Smith.
“I went down there and visited and fell in love with it,” Bishop said.
In late January, Bishop decommitted from Washington and committed to play baseball at Arizona State.
Focused on Serra
The matter of his college destination done with and out of the way, Bishop settled in to experience a full season of high school baseball. And he has responded in a big way with a team-high 33 hits, 12 for extra bases.
“He came in as a pitcher/position player,” Serra coach Craig Gianinno said. “We decided, ‘Let’s focus on the outfield and let his physical tools show.’ As a junior he showed glimpses of his ability. This year it’s been exciting for him to have a chance to develop his tools. Scouts, cross checkers have been flying in to watch him. He’s received some serious attention. I’m proud of him for doing the best job he can to limit distractions.”
Older brother Braden is a right-handed hitter, 6-foot-1 and 195 pounds. Hunter, a left-handed hitter, is 6-4 and 205. And still growing.
“The first thing that stands out about him is his size,” the major league scout said. “He’s an explosive athlete with power and speed potential. He hasn’t played a lot, which is good. He has no bad habits. He has a high ceiling, a chance to be a special player.”
