Serra Catholic’s Mark Black switches paths, commits to Chipola
By JOSE NEGRON
jnegron@yourmvi.com
Mark Black altered his future plans prior to the final rounds of the 2020 Major League Baseball Draft Thursday.
Not being selected in the five-round event only made his decision more clear.
The former Serra Catholic standout and two-time Mon Valley Independent-Aul Bat Co. Player of the Year will not be playing baseball next year at Division I St. John’s University, a school he committed to prior to his sophomore season.
Instead, he announced on Twitter Sunday evening that he will continue his baseball career at Chipola College, a premier junior college program in Marianna, Fla.
Black made the decision to go the junior college route in an effort to become draft eligible in 2021 and 2022. Had he attended St. John’s, he wouldn’t have been draft eligible until at least 2023.
“With so much unsettled in baseball and the world in general right now, I have decided that I need a reset while everything works itself out,” Black wrote. “This was a difficult decision on many levels. I have nothing but respect and great things to say about coach (Mike) Hampton and the St. John’s University community. They are truly wonderful people at St. John’s who could not have treated me any better.”
Chipola, which plays in the National Junior College Athletic Association under veteran head coach Jeff Johnson, has won a pair of national titles over the last three years. The program frequently attracts players interested in playing collegiate baseball for a year before entering the MLB Draft.
Over the last 20 years, 25 Chipola products have been selected in either the first or second rounds of the draft. Notable Chipola alumni include Washington Nationals pitcher Patrick Corbin, former MLB manager Buck Showalter and a pair of former Pittsburgh Pirates in Jose Bautista and Russell Martin.
“Chipola is a national powerhouse at the junior college level and is a very heavily scouted program that plays a high level of competition,” Black said. “I think this move gives me a really good opportunity.
“They have a reputable record and every year they have five to 10 guys committing to power 5 schools. I think it will be really good for me.”
Black’s decision to attend Chipola didn’t solely revolve around his aspirations to enter the draft sooner rather than later. He also considered whether or not he would be able to attend classes on St. John’s campus in Queens, N.Y., an area hit hard by the coronavirus.
“That was the biggest concern,” he said.
While his senior season ended before it even had a chance to begin this spring, Black made his three years at Serra Catholic count.
A 5-11, 215-pound catcher who threw out 66% of base stealers during his high school career, Black closed his high school career as one of the WPIAL’s top power hitters. In three seasons, he set school records with 24 career home runs, 127 RBIs, 101 runs scored and 115 hits.
Black, who closed his career 12 home runs shy of tying the WPIAL record, hit .507 with a WPIAL-leading 14 home runs and 44 RBIs as a junior last spring.
Serra Catholic head coach Brian Dzurenda thinks Black would have been bound for even bigger things had the spring season not been canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“He is so much stronger and faster than he was in 2019,” Dzurenda said. “This would have been an unbelievable year. I think he was going to completely dominate everybody he played. He was going to destroy the baseball.”
Dzurenda is impressed by Black’s decision to go the junior college route.
“I think it was a well planned choice and it was done the right way,” Dzurenda said. “I’m very proud of the way he has handled everything. He made a wise decision.”
Black was not taken in last week’s MLB Draft, which consisted of five rounds rather than the usual 40. Had the draft remain unchanged, Black could have wound up being a top 10 round pick.
“He handled not being drafted in an extremely mature way,” said Dzurenda, adding he’s certain that Black will be picked in next year’s draft. “He’s right back to work and that’s what I expect from him. I believe in this kid and I think he is just going to get better.”
