Rayne Supple, a native of Shelburne, Vermont was selected in the 38th round of the 2015 MLB Draft by the Chicago Cubs, becoming the first player from the state of Vermont to be selected in the Draft since 2002.

After a high school career, capped by Supple throwing a 3-0 shutout victory in Vermont’s state playoff semifinal game for Champlain Valley Union High School in Hinesburg back in 2015, Supple had thoughts of professional baseball on his mind when the Chicago Cubs made their selection.

However, after much consideration from Rayne and the Supple Family, Rayne decided to remain loyal to his commitment to Wake Forest University where the right-hander finished up his freshman season in 2016 with improving arm action, delivery and athleticism, resulting in an uptick in his velocity and secondary command, according to Wake Forest’s Baseball Website Bio of Supple.

Wake Forest went 5-0 in games Rayne started last season and in four ACC outings, totaling 6 1/3 innings, he pitched to a 2.84 ERA. The highlight of the season for Rayne was a three-inning, scoreless save (his first), striking out three in a win over High Point in March.

Supple participated in numerous Baseball Factory events and showcases along the way, beginning with the 2009 Baseball Factory Little League Youth Clinic, followed by appearances in the Pirate City Select Training events in 2009, 2010 and 2011. Rayne was later selected to participate in the 2013 Under Armour All-America Pre-Season Tournament, and there, a young, athletic RHP who displayed a rapidly developing skill set, blossomed before coaches and scouts.

As we wrote here on the Baseball Factory site in June of 2015, Supple was outstanding on the mound during the All-America Pre-Season Tournament as scouts noted, “showed good mound presence with consistent rhythm and tempo and was viewed as an exciting young player with potential to play this game for a long time.” Supple continued to hone his skill set, participating in the Under Armour Fall Classic and Futures Series East events in 2013.

The two-time Gatorade Player of the Year in the state of Vermont has been a joy to watch according to those who worked the closest with him.

“It’s been fun to see Rayne’s development over the years,” says Steve Nagler, Executive Player Development Coordinator for Baseball Factory. “He started by coming to our Select Training in Pirate City and we could see his development really ramp up year-over-year. And when he represented both Under Armour and Baseball Factory in high-level tournaments, he stood out as one of our top pitchers at each event.”

Being from such a small state like the one that is tucked in the northeast corner of the country puts a whole new perspective on being recognized as a player with talent and potential. Rayne’s father Bill, spoke with us last June, noting the excitement of Rayne gaining a scholarship with Wake Forest.

“Overall, being from Vermont, it’s something amazing because we are so small. There’s really no words to describe this feeling,” says Rayne’s father, Bill Supple. “He has the ability to succeed, we’re thrilled with the scholarship with Wake Forest University and then to follow that up with a draft pick is sweet.”

During Rayne’s first Pirate City camp, his coach during the event, Bill Lockwood, told Bill Supple that Rayne “is something and he’ll be someone’s No. 1 pick someday.”

“That really is what Rayne needed, to have Coach Lockwood, Steve Nagler and Steve Bernhardt support and help him. That was instrumental to his development,” Bill explains.

Having Baseball Factory be available to them was absolutely crucial to Rayne’s development and the most important thing in his development, according to his father.

“He’s the poster child for this – if you do it right, and you’re from the middle of nowhere like we are in Vermont, Baseball Factory is essential to your child’s development. Being from nowhere, you have to go somewhere. Baseball Factory gave him confidence to compete against the top players from big-time states like Florida, California and Texas. We couldn’t have been more pleased with the Baseball Factory experience and would recommend it to anyone who wants to gain exposure and see how they stack up.”

The Under Armour Baseball Factory National Tryout Tour (ages 14-18), makes a stop at Centennial Field, home of the Vermont Lake Monsters of the New York Penn League in Burlington this Sunday and there are still spots remaining for your son to have his baseball talents discovered in The Green Mountain State.

For more information and to register for the event, please visit: https://www.baseballfactory.com/events/ or by calling: 1-800-641-4487.