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.

The news of his draft selection became even sweeter, receiving the news after throwing a 3-0 shutout recently in a state playoff semifinal game. Rayne, a senior at Champlain Valley Union High School in Hinesburg, also is the first baseball player to be drafted from his high school. 

Champlain Valley dropped a tough 5-2 defeat at the hands of Rice Memorial in the Vermont Boys Baseball State Championship on Saturday. Now its onto the Bristol Blues of the Futures Collegiate Baseball League to participate in a college wood bat league.

The Baseball Factory alumnus is committed to Wake Forest University and has participated in many Factory events and showcases along the way, beginning with the 2009 Baseball Factory Little League Youth Clinic. Appearances in the Pirate City Select Training events in 2009, ’10 and ’11 followed. Selected to the 2013 Under Armour All-America Pre-Season Tournament, Supple was a young, athletic RHP who displayed a rapidly developing skill set during the event.

He 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.

“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.

“Overall, being from Vermont, its 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 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 was the most important thing for Bill while being involved in his son’s development.

“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 be more pleased with the Baseball Factory experience and would recommend it to anyone who wants to gain exposure and see how they stack up.”

Now Rayne will take his experiences and his talent to the next level, one way or another. He’ll either look to attend Wake Forest on a scholarship or join the Chicago Cubs organization. Right now, the Cubs have eyed him as a draft-and-follow prospect, one that could pay dividends for Chicago should they choose to if he’s lights out, something Nagler is well aware of having closely followed Rayne from his time as a little leaguer until now.

“With Rayne’s size, athleticism and work ethic, it will be fun to see how he continues to develop in his next levels of baseball, either at Wake Forest University or in pro ball,” explains Nagler. 

Bill Supple sticks to a simple, yet smart philosophy that will apply to any level Rayne reaches in his future.

“(Rayne’s) an athlete who happens to play baseball and he’s a baseball player who happens to be a pitcher.”