McConnell drafted by defending MLB champions

Shortstop's dream becomes reality with Phillies

By Robby Dranrdran@mscd.edu

From the days when they are just playing tee ball, every baseball player dreams of making it to draft day and onto the major leagues. For one former Metro baseball player, that dream recently became a reality.

Former Metro shortstop Matthew McConnell was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies June 11 in the 36th round of the 2009 Major League Baseball draft. He is only one of nine players from Metro to be drafted and the third by the Phillies. In spite of his successes, the confident McConnell remains humble, recognizing that there is still work ahead of him.

“It feels good,” McConnell said.

For McConnell, the dream of playing professional baseball was developed while playing backyard ball with his brother and grew from there. After playing in high school and three years at junior college in Arizona, he arrived at Metro. He started to get looks from scouts after a year at Metro and a year later was drafted.

“I’m a left handed middle infielder who can hit,” McConnell said on why he was drafted.

According to Metro’s athletics website, McConnell was .001 point shy of batting .400 during the season with 24 doubles, 11 home runs and 18 stolen bases. He had an on-base percentage of more than 50 percent. This means over half the time McConnell goes to bat he either walks or gets a hit.

While it is not typical for a Metro player to be drafted, it is not unprecedented. The last Metro player to sign a minor league contract or be drafted was pitcher Blake Eager who was drafted by the New York Mets in the 30th round in 2004.

Philadelphia’s scouts were impressed by McConnell’s versatility and plan on moving him to second base. McConnell expressed confidence that he can handle the transition.

“We don’t discriminate on what players we selected,” said scouting directory Marti Wolever. “Players come in all shapes and sizes.”

Though it was originally reported McConnell will be playing with the Phillies single A affiliate the Williamsport Cross Cutters in Williamsport, Penn. McConnell will begin with the Gulf Coast Phillies, the Phillies rookie affiliate and lowest minor league level team.

“I feel that I can move up pretty quickly,” McConnell said, who expects to join the Cross Cutters soon.

McConnell is currently working with other draftees from other colleges and Latin America. There, the Phillies can get a better look at how players are progressing. While they work, the players all make $1,000 a month but have many of their needs taken care of by scouts. McConnell has yet to sign with an agent but said he will likely sign with a family friend whom he did not name.

At the time of the interview, Wolever was on his way to meet with all the new draftees. From there, the draftees will get a better idea of their fate within the system.

“We believe they are all major leaguers,” Wolever said.

Whether or not McConnell will be successful in the minors or the majors has yet to be determined. Many players who are drafted don’t play a single major league game. Yet, the Phillies and McConnell expressed confidence in his potential.