Holt impressed by MT after visit

Middle Tennessee head baseball coach Jim McGuire has had his eyes set on Jackson Christian pitcher Carter Holt for some time now.

With a fastball in the low-to-mid 90's, it’s easy to see why the Blue Raider coaching staff, and others, covet the Jackson native.

Named the west Tennessee baseball player of the year, Holt burned through the competition on his way to an impressive 12-2 record and an even more impressive 1.11 ERA in 2016.

McGuires and his staff’s efforts have paid off in the form of a visit. Carter made the trip from Jackson to Murfreesboro last week and came away impressed.

It's his relationship with McGuire, though, that may propel the Blue Raiders into the lead to land his services.

“I have a good relationship with coach McGuire,” Holt told GoMiddle.com, “Coach McGuire is going to do what’s best for you.”

The possibility of working a 6-foot-4 pitcher into the rotation is any coach’s dream, and McGuire is no exception. Holt’s lethal combination of a fastball, changeup, and slider make him a potential weekend starter as early as his freshman year - something McGuire and his staff didn't shy away from pitching that idea to Holt when he was in town.

Middle Tennessee’s push for the west Tennessee standout may not be enough to keep this ace in-state, however. Arkansas State is another program that has made quite the impact on Holt.

“The coaches are a bunch of good guys,” Holt said of the ASU staff. “They call me all the time and they talk more than just baseball. I want to go a nice town. My top two are Arkansas state and MT."

Holt will make the trip to Jonesboro after the first week of August and hopes to make a decision soon afterwards so he can take a deep breath and enjoy his senior year.

Even though SEC power Alabama has entered the picture recently, Holt says he will remain firm in his commitment once he makes it. He is also fielding heavy interest from Southern Illinois, Lipscomb and Murray State.

In addition to colleges, Holt has been fielding calls from teams like the Chicago Cubs and Atlanta Braves of Major League Baseball, which has piqued his interest as well.

If he goes the college route, playing time may be the deciding factor given his draft prospectus. Holt says location will come into play as well, adding "I want to go a nice town."

"If I got drafted high enough and the money was right, I’d go pro," Holt said. "If I have the opportunity to go pro, [though], I’d make sure they would pay for my college."

With an eye toward the major leagues, Holt’s upcoming decision will be the first step towards fulfilling a lifelong dream of playing professional baseball.

For Holt, he wouldn’t have it any other way.