Sean Hermann has signed with the New York Yankees after being selected in the 14th round of the 2021 MLB Draft.
Sean Hermann’s final time taking the mound for Durant High School was ultimately a somber day, falling 1-0 to Spruce Creek in the Florida State Semi-Finals this past May.
Despite the Cougars coming up just short in extra innings to mark the end of a great year, Hermann threw 7.1 scoreless innings in the contest, allowing just four hits while striking out 9 before the game’s lone and winning run would cross the plate later in the eighth inning.
“It hurts to lose baseball games,” Hermann said. “But we played our hardest and sometimes you’re going to lose, you can’t win every time but we had an amazing season. Those guys were amazing and it was truly a family. I’ll never forget them, I was just at the field the other day to celebrate with all the guys the day after I got drafted. We were just a really close team.”
His flawless performance at the state’s highest level capped a stellar individual season in which he was named the Class 7A Player of the Year by the Florida Dairy Farmer’s High School Sports Awards program.
Hermann finished the 2021 season with a 9-0 record, compiling a 0.36 ERA, 135 strikeouts and three saves over 78.1 innings pitched.
But while his career with Durant may have come to a close, there is more baseball in store for the 18-year-old Plant City native.
On July 13, Hermann was selected by the Yankees in the 14th round of the 2021 MLB Draft.
“It was just a dream come true hearing your name called,” Hermann said. “I was there with my family so it was just a special moment.”
Hermann says that a major turning point came as he started to put on weight heading into his senior season, and with that added size came increased velocity. Then as the season rolled on, what was once just a dream of being drafted began to look more and more like a reality.
As offers came his way Hermann quickly committed to the University of South Florida but had no hesitation in turning pro after his selection in the draft as he signed with the Yankees just a few days later.
“I knew that I wanted to sign,” Hermann said. “It’s always been my dream to be a professional baseball player and it’s hard to do nowadays, everybody kind of throws 95, 96. You’ve got to take your chance. I’ve got my chance now and I’ve just got to work hard and hopefully make it one day.”
Since signing his contract the life of a professional ballplayer has come quickly, reporting for medical evaluations the following day before then heading to workouts at the Yankees’ training facility shortly after. And fortunately for Hermann, someone who has great pride for his hometown, the Yankees’ Spring Training facility where he currently works with the organization lies less than 30 miles west of Plant City in North Tampa.
“It’s a blessing,” Hermann said. “I knew as soon as I got drafted by the Yankees that I would be in my hometown. I’m a big hometown guy and that’s why I wanted to go to USF. It was an amazing opportunity when I found out that I was still going to be just 20 or 30 minutes away from home, playing professional baseball.”
