All 30 Major League Baseball (MLB) teams are trying to persuade Theo Alexander, a senior who plays for Lake Washington High School’s baseball team, to play for them.

And beginning his senior season as the first person to be named KingCo’s 3A baseball player of the week isn’t a bad way to further convince the scouts that he deserves to play in the MLB.

“I’ve pretty much talked to all of them (the teams),” said Alexander. “Every team in the MLB has scouted me, touched base with me, and have introduced themselves to me.”

Alexander is proud that every team is fighting for him to be a special part of their roster, but there’s no feeling like the first time it happened.

“The first team that scouted me was the Kansas City Royals and they saw me when I was 14, 15 years old,” Alexander said.

Although Kansas City was the first team that scouted him, MLB scouts had been eying Alexander since he was playing Little League at 12 years old. Alexander was already feeling good about his talents on the field, but he didn’t know how talented he really was until MLB scouts were calling for him.

“I kind of had a feeling, but I didn’t think that my talents would be as good as they are,” said Alexander. “Working hard pays off. I realized it this year when the (MLB) scouts started to come to my house to tell me this.”

As of right now, Alexander has committed to playing baseball for the University of California at Santa Barbara. He is also among Baseball Northwest’s Class of 2012 top 60 prospects. All of that could change, though, if there are teams that show further interest in him.

“I want to go there (UC Santa Barbara), but playing in the MLB is my dream,” said Alexander. “I’m waiting to see where other teams will see me in the draft.”

Alexander plays outfield. He started playing baseball when he was 5 years old; during his younger years he was a catcher. As he got older, he wanted to play infield but ended up getting moved to the outfield. Alexander realized that outfield was better for him after all.

“I wanted to play infield, first base, but (later) I realized I didn’t want to play those positions. So I just stuck to the outfield,” he said.

Playing outfield worked out in the end not only because he felt comfortable there, but because he got to shadow his favorite player.

“My idol has been Ken Griffey Jr. so I try to mimic him in some ways, but it’s difficult because he was very unique.”

This spring, Alexander helped his team open the season with a 3-0 record for week one. He went 4-for-7 with a triple, two home runs; six RBI and scored five runs. By the end of the week, Alexander already tacked on a .727 on-base percentage.

Given the KingCo 3A Honorable Mention recognition last year, along with earning a spot to the Power Showcase All World baseball team, Alexander still seeks to improve on everything to make him a better baseball player. This includes the things at which he is already good.

“I’m pretty good at hitting. I (can) hit with power,” Alexander said. “I get on base a lot. For fielding I have range and a pretty good arm.”

As far as improvements go, “I need to improve on everything. Everything needs improvement. I have got to get better.”

His amazing statistics speak otherwise. Lake Washington Head Coach Derek Bingham always saw Alexander as a player with great potential and a strong work ethic. His leadership has developed as a baseball player and a person, Bingham said.

No matter what decision Theo Alexander makes after high school, his passion for baseball, obvious talent and positive attitude will help out any baseball team he ends up playing for.

Erin Acacio is a student in the University of Washington Department of Communication News Laboratory.