Brook Stockberger
Special to the Daily Press
LAS CRUCES — Jack Byers has work ahead before he reports to the University of Arizona.
Summer plans
The recent Artesia High School graduate is scheduled to:
- Travel to Phoenix for a workout with scouts from the San Diego Padres organization.
- Prepare to begin his college baseball career at Arizona this fall.
Byers, a 6-foot-3, 190-pound right-handed pitcher and third baseman, helped Artesia win the Class 4A state baseball title in 2025. Artesia reached the 4A semifinals this year before losing to Goddard.
Byers said he wants to arrive in Tucson, Arizona, ready for school and baseball.
He also plans to spend part of the summer resting before college begins.
“I don’t even have a summer job,” he said. “I’m going to hang out and play golf with my buddies.”
Byers also competed in golf for Artesia. He was part of an Artesia boys’ golf team that won a state championship this year.
All-star event
Byers played in the 49th Bob Ogas Annual All-Star Baseball Classic in Las Cruces earlier this month. He drove in multiple runs for the Green Team through the event’s first two games.
“He’s a great hitter too,” said Jackson Bickel, who coached Byers at Artesia.
Byers missed the third and final game of the event because he traveled to Phoenix for a workout with San Diego Padres scouts.
“There were about 14 other people. It was good to meet with the Padres’ people who are over there in Arizona,” Byers said. “I threw about 20 pitches to batters.”
Byers said the organization also put him through a movement assessment. He said he does not know whether he will be selected in the MLB Draft, scheduled for July 11-13, but said the workout was a good experience.
College commitment
For now, Byers said his focus is on preparing for Arizona, one of the top college baseball programs in the country.
Arizona has won four national championships in baseball.
“I am really looking forward to playing over there,” Byers said.