Tyler Vail spent his Tuesday afternoon gathered at a table
with family and friends at Starters Riverport in Bethlehem.
"Everyone was in a big circle," Vail said,
"and we were all checking out our phones. Then, it
popped up."
The 18-year-old Notre Dame High School of Green Pond
graduate was selected in the fifth round -- with the 155th
overall pick -- of the Major League Baseball Draft on
Tuesday. Vail, a right-handed pitcher, was watching the
draft ticker on the mlb.com website when he saw his name pop
up as a selection of the Oakland Athletics.
"I was shocked. I was excited. I don't think
I've ever sweat so much in my life," he said.
"This is what I've been working for since I
started playing baseball ... it's kind of amazing to
realize it really happened.
"I just started hugging everyone."
Athletics scout Mark Sowers then called Vail to confirm the
pick.
The Colonial League MVP -- he went 6-2 with a 2.10 ERA and
batted .492 as a second baseman, Vail said he spoke with
scouts from the Mets, Red Sox, Padres and A's over the
past couple days. He expected to be chosen between the third
and sixth rounds.
"They asked me all kinds of stuff -- am I healthy, if
the money is still good -- other questions like that,"
he said. "All I told them was I was looking to be
drafted in the first 10 rounds."
Vail, a 6-foot-1, 190-pounder, must now decide whether he
wants to sign with the Athletics or accept his scholarship
to play at the University of Maryland.
He said he plans to discuss the situation with his parents,
Ron and Linda Vail of Palmer Township.
"Right now I'm leaning toward playing pro
ball," Vail said.
His pitching days at Notre Dame this season became a
major-league event.
During an April game against Pen Argyl, Vail pitched with
seven scouts in attendance and was consistently registering
between 87 and 90 mph on the radar gun.
Notre Dame coach Mike Bedics said Vail's velocity
increased through the season and the pitcher hit 95 mph
during a District 11 game against Pine Grove -- a 12-2
Crusaders loss.
"Over and over, you heard they liked Tyler's
velocity and his potential," Bedics said of
conversations with scouts. "They wanted to know how he
was perceived by his teammates, coaches and teachers. They
just want to be certain they know their investments."
Vail said if he decides to sign with Oakland, he is likely
to be placed in a short-season league in Arizona with other
young draft picks. He would then attend spring training with
the club next spring and be placed at a minor-league level.
Vail realizes it's a long road ahead to one day
pitching in the big leagues. But he appears ready for the
challenge.
"If I work hard and advance through the farm
system," Vail said, "maybe I can make it in like
three or four years. But I've got to keep working hard.
I'm ready."
Michael Blouse can be reached at 800-360-3601 or
mblouse@express-times.com. Talk about sports in the region
at lehighvalleylive.com/forums.