Breakthrough Series features next era of college stars

VERO BEACH, Fla. -- This weekend’s Breakthrough Series at Jackie Robinson Training Complex featured some of the top high school baseball talent in the country, but there is a prevalent college baseball feel around the legendary facility this time of year.

Part of that is the rivalry and trash talking -- competitive but friendly in nature -- between some of the elite players committed to Division I powerhouses who are playing this weekend in super regionals to advance to the College World Series in Omaha.

David Hogg II and Aiden Harris are two such players.

A 2024 top prospect out of Grand Prairie, Texas, Hogg committed to Oklahoma as an eighth-grader, but the Lone Star State native -- who grew up in the heart of the Texas-OU rivalry -- changed his mind and decided to join LSU coach Jay Johnson and his staff in Baton Rouge to further his education and baseball development.

According to the 6-foot-2, 190-pound shortstop, the switch from the Big 12 (and future Southeastern Conference) school to the SEC standout in Louisiana was an easy one based on the personnel and history there.

“The coaching staff and the culture of playing at Alex Box Stadium,” Hogg said of LSU’s selling points. “Best stadium, best fan base in the country. … You want to go somewhere with a winning tradition. Honestly, it’s just a blessing that [LSU] was able to see that [in me].

“I’m a humble human being who works hard every day, day in and day out. Low to the ground, head down, just get the job done. It was really a blessing for them to see that.”

Host LSU opened its super regional on Saturday against a familiar foe -- the conference-rival Kentucky Wildcats. The No. 5 Tigers played their first game late Saturday night.

Hogg will most certainly use any win by LSU to chide fellow camper Harris, whose decision to stay in-state in Virginia and play college baseball was borne out of fandom and proximity.

To no one’s surprise, Harris committed to the Virginia Cavaliers. UVA dropped a 5-4 decision on Friday against Atlantic Coast Conference rival Duke.

However, the No. 7 Cavs rebounded by thrashing the Blue Devils, 14-4, on Saturday to knot the series and create a deciding Game 3.

A larger-framed third baseman and pitcher who stretches out at 6-foot-4, 220 pounds, Harris has the commonwealth school’s navy blue and orange colors in his veins, so it was only natural that his future matriculation would be in Charlottesville.

“As a little kid, I have pictures on my phone of me just growing up and going there,” said Harris, who hails from nearby Midlothian. “I’ve been wearing that stuff since the day I was born. It’s always been a place of comfort. My family’s from there.

“It’s also such a great program. Coach [Brian] O’Connor is a great guy and has been there a long time. I’ve talked to some of the guys there, and they say he is just the best coach around.”

Said Harris of the trash talk between the group at JRTC this weekend: “It gets pretty competitive and rowdy. We just can’t wait to get on the field and talk trash to each other.

“My CWS is I’ve got UVA versus LSU in the finals. David Hogg is not right. I’ve definitely got UVA winning it all.”

But at the heart of this weekend is the competition and learning, not the College World Series, and Hogg couldn’t be more grateful of what he has already gleaned and stands to gain this weekend under the tutelage of the Breakthrough Series and MLB Develops coaches.

“MLB Develops has helped me in many ways get to the next level because of the development I received here,” Hogg said. “All the pouring back from the great coaching staff -- Jerry Manuel, Lou Collier, everybody, I could go down a list. They help us to become better young men and perfect our craft at the next level.”

The shortstop said he has learned a valuable lesson regarding the mental and physical side of the game.

“Just staying consistent,” said Hogg. “It takes a lot of work to get to that high level that we all want to get to. Stay consistent and put in the work and really buying into the process.”

In a game that routinely hands players failure, especially on the offensive side, Harris said he learned perspective from Collier as well.

“Just to always compete,” said Harris, a Class of 2024 player. “He’s always reminding us that no matter what, just go out there and battle the best you can. You can go 0-for-4 or 4-for-4, just keep competing no matter what.”