Blue Jays 2013 Draftees Highlight Their MLB Draft Experiences

June 6, 2014

Being selected by a major league organization in the MLB draft is the ultimate goal for any baseball player. Every June, over a thousand high school and college players get selected by MLB franchises for a chance to play minor league baseball with the hopes of making it to the major league one day.

The moment is special for the player and their families, but every player has a different experience throughout the process. A few members of the Toronto Blue Jays draft class of 2013 highlighted their draft experience from a year ago.

LHP Matt Boyd, 6^th round (175^th overall) out of Oregon State University:

“Being drafted by Toronto was a dream come true,” stated Boyd. “I felt blessed that a great organization like the Blue Jays believed in my ability, as much as they did.”

 

RHP Kendall Graveman, 8^th round (235^th overall) out of Mississippi State University:

“It was an exciting time to get a call from a major league club like Toronto and for them to think so highly of me,” Graveman said. “To pick me where they did was an honor.”

 

LHP Chad Girodo, 9^th round (265^th overall) out of Mississippi State University:

“Being drafted was a big surprise. I had no idea I was going to go in the 9th round,” stated Girodo. “I really had no idea when I was going to go specifically, but it was a very happy time for sure. I was excited to start pitching with the Blue Jays!”

 

1B L.B. Dantzler, 14^th round (415^th overall) out of the University of South Carolina:

“I was playing in a college super regional when the Blue Jays selected me,” Dantzler recalls. “I was on deck and a fan yelled I hope you have a passport. I figured I was drafted, so I had one of my teammates check his phone and sure enough Toronto picked me. It was a cool experience.”

 

OF Chaz Frank, 20^th round (595^th overall) out of the University of North Carolina:

“My draft experience was awesome,” stated Frank. “I was actually playing in the super regional against L.B. Dantzler’s South Carolina team. I came off the field, not knowing I was drafted. One of my buddies came up to me and said congratulations you’ve been selected by the Blue Jays. It was a humbling experience for sure.”

 

LHP Scott Silverstein, 25^th round (745^th overall) out of the University of Virginia:

“I was really excited when I found out I was drafted by Toronto,” Silverstein recalls. “It validated everything I’ve worked on my whole life and it was a dream come true. I couldn’t be more thankful for the opportunity the Blue Jays presented me.”

 

LHP Matt Dermody, 28^th round (835^th overall) out of the University of Iowa:

“My draft experience was good,” stated Dermody. “I just finished up my senior season at Iowa and I was selected by the Blue Jays. It was a great experience.”

 

RHP Garrett Pickens, 29^th round (865^th overall) out of Delta State University:

“My draft experience was awesome,” stated Pickens. “I was just sitting around waiting for the call. The Blue Jays called me in the 29^th round saying they were going to pick me. It was an awesome experience.”