The final swing in the high school baseball career of Evan Hankins was something straight out of a Hollywood script.
The senior at The Miller School in Charlottesville, Virginia, pounded a pitch from Lucas Driscoll of the Paul VI Panthers in the bottom of the sixth inning that resulted in a grand slam and invoked the game-ending mercy rule as the Mavericks earned a resounding 16-3 victory in the finals of the VISAA (Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association) Division I state finals on May 18.
“Hitting that grand slam was pretty much the best ending to my high school career I could ask for,” Hankins said in a recent interview. “Yes, I did know it was gone. As soon as I hit it, I knew it was way gone. Rounding the bases it was a feeling of relief, but also memories I had with my teammates were running through my mind.”
Another unforgettable moment could occur in the coming days for Hankins, who played his first two seasons of high school baseball at John Battle prior to transferring to The Miller School.
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He is ranked 206th by Baseball America and 217th by ESPN.com in the rankings of the top prospects eligible for the Major League Baseball Amateur Draft, which begins Sunday with Rounds 1-3 and concludes on Monday with Rounds 4-20.
Depending on where he gets selected, Hankins could have a tough choice to make whether to begin his professional career or play for the University of Tennessee Volunteers.
Either way, not a bad predicament for the 19-year-old from Southwest Virginia who still lived in Bristol with his parents when school wasn’t in session at The Miller School.
“It is a great spot to be in for sure,” Hankins said. “Having the opportunity to be selected in the draft is such a blessing itself, but ending up at Tennessee is also an amazing opportunity as well.”
A 6-foot-5, 225-pound power-hitting first baseman and hard-throwing left-handed pitcher, Hankins is a two-way terror and could have a future at the plate or on the mound.
“I think I can do both at the highest level,” Hankins said. “I think I am more developed as a hitter and understand more about the mechanics of hitting, and more raw as a pitcher.”
Hankins did them both pretty darn well at The Miller School, which is coached by National Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 2025 member Billy Wagner.
“I’m not a big proponent of letting guys do that [as two-way players] but knowing that he was tough-minded enough to go out and do it,” Wagner said. “It was fun to watch him go out there. He really became a leader, a captain and helped us win that championship.”
The final stat line for Hankins included a .379/.538/.552 slash line with four home runs and 33 RBIs as he walked more times (25) than he struck out (23), while he was 5-0 with a 1.835 ERA on the mound.
“I thought what stood out was his consistency,” Wagner said. “I don’t think many people realize what it’s like having a large target like him in your lineup and having to come every single day, I mean he was the focal point. … He had to deal with probably everybody’s best stuff on a daily basis. Everybody knew when he got to the plate. He stayed even keeled and level-headed.”
It didn’t hurt when your coach is Wagner, a Tazewell High School graduate who was one of baseball’s elite relief pitchers during a 16-season MLB career.
“Having Coach Wagner as my coach for the past two years was a great opportunity and experience,” Hankins said. “He taught myself and our team how to compete and just focus on winning ballgames and everything else will just take care of itself.”
As a freshman, Hankins made the final out in John Battle’s 4-2 loss to Appomattox in the 2022 VHSL Class 2 state finals.
It was a different result with a different team four seasons later.
“This season at Miller ended up the way we knew it could from the beginning,” Hankins said. “Winning the state title is a dream come true for any high school player of any sport. Glad we got that accomplishment off the checklist.
“It was surreal. Having the feeling of all the hard work we have to this season had finally paid off.”
Not long after The Miller School’s season ended, Hankins took part in the MLB Draft Combine at Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona.
He had a chance to chat with Dave Trembley, an instructor during the event, who once managed the Baltimore Orioles and the Appalachian League’s Bristol State Liners.
“The Combine was amazing,” Hankins said, “MLB does a great job with taking care of the guys and doing everything imaginable for us. My favorite part of it was getting the opportunity to catch up with some of my friends from summer ball.”
Shortstop Josh Owens from Providence Academy in Johnson City, Tennessee, was also there and figures to be a top pick.
“Josh is a great guy,” Hankins said. “We were on the same flight out to Phoenix and getting to know him was awesome. He is a great player, but off the field he is even better. He carries himself at an elite level from being a ballplayer to his character.”
Outfielder Nathan Eisfelder, who previously played at Providence Academy before transferring to IMG Academy in Florida, is also on the radar of scouts.
Abingdon High School graduate Chase Hungate of Mississippi State University is hoping to get chosen too.
Pitcher Andrew Ronne, shortstop Cody Miller and pitcher Derek McCarley from Southern Conference champion East Tennessee State could be selected.
Several Appalachian League alumni could go as well, including California native and Vanderbilt University signee Cooper Flemming, a highly-touted shortstop who played in just one game for the Johnson City-based Bristol State Liners this summer and went 2-for-3 with a home run.
Whatever happens for Hankins, he’ll be hammering pitches in the future for the Big Orange or a minor league affiliate of a big-league organization as his memorable year continues.
“The stronger the pitching,” Wagner said. “The better he did. It was good to see him excel.”
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