Jason Groome, Top MLB Draft Prospect, Ruled Ineligible to Pitch for 7 Games

New Jersey high school pitcher and top 2016 Major League Baseball draft prospect Jason Groome has been ruled ineligible by the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. With nine games remaining, he will become eligible May 1. 

Per Joe Zedalis and Matthew Stanmyre of NJ Advance Media, New Jersey's governing body for high school athletics ruled Groome ineligible due to a violation of the state's transfer rule. 

Hudson Belinsky of Baseball America passed along the official statement from the NJSIAA:

Per Philip Anastasia of the Philadelphia Inquirer, an NJSIAA spokesman said Groome "can return return May 1 or his team's 12th game, whichever comes first." Anastasia also noted that timetable means Groome will likely miss just two starts.

Groome transferred back to Barnegat High School in New Jersey to "finish his high school career playing with childhood friends" after spending last year in Florida at the prestigious IMG Academy, per Zedalis and Stanmyre's report. 

However, the report cited NJSIAA bylaws as saying that "Groome’s move from the boarding school back to Barnegat did not constitute a bona fide change of address and Groome had to sit out 30 days or half of the season’s games before becoming eligible."

Also according to the bylaws, "a bona fide change of residence occurs when 'the parent/guardian moves with the student from one public high school district to another public high school district.'” 

As a result, Barnegat must forfeit the victories in games that Groome played this season, and his stats from the games get erased. 

Baseball America posted video from a start Groome made on April 5, showcasing some of the skills that have made him one of the best draft prospects this year:

The 2016 MLB draft will be held on June 9, with Groome likely to be one of the first players selected. He's the consensus No. 1 prospect in this year's class, topping MLB.com's latest rankings. 

ESPN.com's Keith Law saw Groome during that April 5 start, noting the southpaw touched 94 mph with his fastball in the first inning and called his curveball "the standout pitch" with a potential 65-70 grade on the 20-80 scouting scale. 

Losing this playing time likely won't hurt Groome in the draft, especially if it just ends up being two starts. He may not end up being the top player taken by virtue of not facing in-game competition for at least the next two weeks, but 6'6" lefties with his combination of stuff and upside don't last long.