High School/Other: Lettered three years as a second baseman and shortstop ... all-conference and team captain as a senior, hitting .323 with 24 RBI and 17 stolen bases ... team co-captain his junior year, helping lead Tinley Park to second place in the conference with a .301 batting average, 17 RBI and 14 stolen bases ... as a sophomore, hit .297 with 18 RBI and 15 stolen bases for Tinley Park's conference runner-up team ... captain of his freshman team, hitting .325 with 21 RBI and 22 stolen bases ... also played for a Tinley Park traveling team in the summer ... lettered two years in golf ... team captain as a senior ... all-conference in sophomore competition ... also played basketball ... four-year honor roll student.

Personal: Son of Gregory and Emma Degen ... plans to major in secondary education (history).