Draft a Beginning and an End for EBHS Star

The Thomore’s had a separate room all prepared for the day, a Draft Room, from which , his father Ken, and others could monitor the Major League Baseball Draft and field questions and phone calls.

They spent a lot of time in that room on Monday and Tuesday, and almost as much time on the phone speaking with ball clubs. In the end, the last phone call from the Colorado Rockies, when the club said they would draft Carl as the 77th pick in this week’s major League Baseball Draft.

“Words can’t describe it, that’s what I’ve been saying to everyone,” said Carl, hours after receiving the news that he would soon be a Colorado Rocky. “Any pro club would have been great, but the Rockies, with the relationship with Coach (Mike) Garlatti, that’s special. I couldn’t have asked for anything better.”

Garlatti, who coaches Carl when he works out at the Baseball Warehouse in Highland Park, also serves as Northeast Regional scout for the Rockies. In March, Garlatti described Thomore as an “ultra talented” player who was focused and played with a passion. That passion resulted in a .493 batting average, three home runs, 22 RBI, 25 stolen bases, an on base percentage of about .690 and a slugging percentage of .750 during his senior year with the East Brunswick Bears.

After graduation this month, Carl will head to Wyoming to play for Colorado’s Single A club.

“After graduation they push you toward that,” he said. "That’s what I want to do, play ball as soon as possible. I’ll enjoy some last weeks with my family.”

His father, Ken, said he couldn’t be happier with the Rockies selection, or prouder of his son.

“The Rockies are a great club,” he said. “They have a blue collar work ethic like our family.

“He’s real excited. I don’t know if it’s sunk in yet…it’s been a real emotional moment for our family, for Carl and myself because of our relationship.”

Carl’s baseball career has been one filled with honors and awards. He was selected to play with several top prospect and developmental league teams, including the NJ Twins, the East Coast Pro Showcase Team and the News York Yankees Area Code Team. He also was named to the Rawlings/Perfect Game Preseason All American and All Northeast Regional High School Senior 1st Team. In addition, during his junior year, there were between eight and 12 scouts at every game.

But before all that, before the extra training, and before the scouts was his mother, who died five years ago after a fight with breast cancer. Carl says his mother was his biggest fan, and knows that during this week, she couldn’t be prouder of her son.

“She’d probably still be holding me. Probably still be hugging me, and telling me how proud she is of me and I know she’s looking down smiling,” said.

Click here to see MLB.com's analysis of The Rockies' pick.

Carl was one of two New Jersey residents drafted this week.