Draftee's with NC Ties

Mitchell

He might be the only kid on the mound that has been clocked at 93 mph and also run a 6.5 (60). I certainly can't believe he was around in the 10th round. Of course, I am biased on this one! One of the best athletes I've ever been seen. Could have probably played basketball at Clemson also.

 

Wow Score...he sounds like me. Yeah, DJ is a tremendous athlete, but I think it was the HS coaching that got him developed

 

Jason is unbelievably jacked up about his opportunity. I was fortunate enough to be there when he signed. I've said it a couple of times, but this could not have happened to a better kid.

I am so proud to have had the opportunity to coach him over the last few years. I have no doubt that he will go as far as he wants to. His work ethic, desire and love of the game will have him in the bigs, mark my word.

 

Wasn't anything to do with coaching, it had to do with the desire to work hard and a lot of God-given ability. Not to mention a little persuasion from his grandpa on a few umpires when they called balls that were missing by just a "16th of an inch!"

Seems like just yesterday he was at the warning track in right field just daring a runner to try to score on him. Great young man from an absolutely great family. He deserves it!

 

played with kevin mattison in the fall of '03 with the carolina hurricanes, one of the smoothest swings i've ever seen and he was a true team player


congratulations

 

dj is definately one of the better athletes i have seen on the field. great kid also, and great family. i would like to congratulate him and garrison lassiter on being drafted. both are extremely hard workers and deserve the best. of course we wish all of the nc boys good luck. know alot of them, all of them are deserving
ps: how about 2 guys from catawba way to go timmy and dt

 

add jerry sands to that. my alma mater is represented well this year. GO INDIANS!!!

 

Jerry Sands goes pro

Sands signs with Dodgers

Jerry Sands will begin his pro career with the Vero Beach Dodgers later this month.


By D. Clay Best, Sports Editor

Jerry Sands has a new favorite color: Dodger blue.

Sands, a former Smithfield-Selma High and Catawba College baseball standout, signed a professional contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers Wednesday night. The Dodgers had made him a 25th round draft pick in last week's Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
The 6-foot-4, 225-pound outfielder who hit 61 home runs in his three seasons at Catawba and carried a career .381 batting average there is set to begin training Thursday in Vero Beach, Fla. at Dodgertown, the Dodgers' spring training home. He will begin the Minor League Baseball short-season with the Vero Beach Dodgers later this month.
"I talked things over with my parents after hearing what the Dodgers had to say and I just made the decision that I didn't want to let this opportunity pass me by," said Sands, the son of Gerald and Lori Sands. "It's a chance to play professional baseball, which is what I've dreamed about for so long. If I had gone back into the draft next year, I might have been drafted lower or not drafted at all." Pro teams have until Aug. 15 to sign their picks from this year's draft. If players are not signed by that date, they go back into the 2009 MLB Draft pool. As a college junior, Sands could have been drafted again after his senior season.

 

Hope not a duplicate post.....

Just read about Jerry Sands and thought I would post the article from the Lexington Dispatch reference David Thomas. As a family friend, I am very excited for D.T. Jr, and D.T. Sr. I was also glad to see O'Lefty giving him respect in the DII vs UNC posting and Catamount 36 giving him his deserved credit earlier...

David was one of the true athletes that lettered in all 3 sports all 4 years of high school. He only played high school and legion baseball. His absence from showcases and showcase team probably kept him from being on a larger programs radar... However, D.T. made the best of it, was very committed to his school and coach and if you ask him today, he would probably (I don't know) would say he wouldn't have changed a thing..

With his athletic abilities and work ethics, I wouldn't be surprised if he isn't one of the few that make it to the show...after all, Dustin Pedroia did and critics said he wouldn't make it...


UPDATE: D.T. is still in Arizona waiting on Passport. Plans are for him to report to Vancouver within next couple of weeks.

http://www.the-dispatch.com/article/20080607/NEWS/806070331