College or pro? Rocklin's Lorenzini preparing for MLB Draft

The 2025 Major League Baseball Draft is less than a month away and one local prospect is hoping to make the next step in his baseball career. Rocklin High School senior Joey Lorenzini, a 6-foot-5 left-handed pitcher, may not have to wait long to hear his name called when the draft rolls around. The Arkansas signee would have been a four-year varsity player at Rocklin had he not missed his sophomore year recovering from Tommy John Surgery, but he came back better than ever. In his junior and senior year at Rocklin, Lorenzini helped lead the Thunder to consecutive Sierra Foothill League titles and posted a career ERA of 1.55 with 115 career strikeouts. His senior year performance was often for an audience of radar guns from Major League scouts, leaving many teams pondering if it is worth the risk to take a blue chip college prospect with their first or second round pick. He said this season was the first time he realized that signing a professional contract this summer was a possibility. There were Major League scouts at every one of Lorenzini's starts his senior year, and they came out in the masses as the season went on. "There was a game in the beginning of the year that wasn't even like a real game, it was like a scrimmage game and I think, like, 12 scouts showed up," said Lorenzini. "That was kind of when I was like, okay maybe the draft can be a real thing." Lorenzini's fastball has peaked at 94 miles per hour but typically sits around 91. He also has a changeup and slider that leaves hitters in fits and he can mix his pitches well, pounding the zone and attacking hitters. Last week, Lorenzini flew out to Arizona to take part in the MLB Draft Combine at Chase Field in Phoenix. While he didn't do anything physical at the combine, he met with Major League teams and discussed his draft potential. Lorenzini also got a chance to meet some of the top high school and collegiate prospects in the nation, allowing him to make connections and receive advice from other future big leaguers. "Leaving the airport I was in the car with Vanderbilt's Friday night starter and we were able to talk for a little. It was just cool to, like, talk to those guys and get their thought processes and see how they do things, especially coming out of a school like that," said Lorenzini. "You're able to get some good information about what it looks like to be at a top school and be the top guy." If Lorenzini falls out of the first few rounds, it is likely that he won't hear his name called at all, as teams may be wary to use a pick on a player that will make more in NIL money than a signing bonus and will likely end up at school in the fall. If that is the case, Lorenzini will be unfazed as he joins a Razorback team that is coming off of a College World Series appearance. "It's honestly kind of a win-win situation. I don't feel like I can go wrong choosing either thing," said Lorenzini. "Both things have their pluses, and both things have a negative. At the end of the day, if it makes sense to go pro, I'll go and if it doesn't, then I'll go to school." Lorenzini is starting summer classes at Arkansas soon and will be in Fayetteville for the draft, but says that his family will fly down so that they can all be together on what might become one of the biggest days of his life. Asked if he has any idea if he will choose to go pro or play in college, Lorenzini said, "Honestly it's 50/50. If the money's right, and it makes sense to go pro, then I'll sign a contract. But if it doesn't make sense, I can't go wrong going to school." The MLB Draft will take place in Atlanta on July 13 and 14.