Advertisement

Edmonton Prospects player picked by Padres in 2018 MLB Draft

Click to play video: 'Edmonton Prospect now San Diego Padres draft pick'
Edmonton Prospect now San Diego Padres draft pick
WATCH ABOVE: Erik Sabrowski is an Edmonton baseball player who pitches and plays first base for the Prospects. He was just selected by the San Diego Padres in the MLB Draft – Jun 8, 2018

Erik Sabrowski describes it as “a milestone moment.”

On Wednesday morning, the 20-year-old pitcher was selected by the San Diego Padres in the 14th round of the 2018 Major League Baseball Draft.

“I’d just been following along on my laptop for a couple days,” he said. “I was cooking breakfast and my name popped up… next to the San Diego Padres.

“I was kind of stunned. I had a pretty good idea that it was going to happen, but thinking it’s going to happen and it actually happening was a completely different experience for me.

“I kind of just stood there and looked at the computer screen for a few seconds.”

A Padres scout called him moments later to firm up details.

Story continues below advertisement

“A milestone moment, that describes it perfectly,” Sabrowski said.

READ MORE: Edmonton Prospects crush Lethbridge Bulls 7-1 in 2018 home opener

Sabrowski, who calls Edmonton home, currently pitches and plays first base for the Prospects. His relationship with baseball has gone through various phases over the years.

“I used to play it for fun and then I realized I was kind of good and wanted to see if I could go to college and play baseball. Then, in the last year or so, it’s been: ‘Alright, let’s see if I can make a career out of this and hopefully see if I can do something cool, something big.’

For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen.

Get breaking National news

For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen.
By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.

The Prospects’ AGM said being drafted 441st overall “is really good.”

“Erik is a local product, played with Prospects Academy and has been a leader with us for the last two years on and off the field,” Jordan Blundell said in an email to 630CHED.

READ MORE: Edmonton Prospects lose 4-0 to Swift Current in WMBL championship game

Sabrowski will leave for Arizona on Sunday where he’ll start mini camp and rookie orientation at the Padres’ spring training complex. From there, the team will decide which minor team he’ll play for.

Story continues below advertisement

“There’s six different levels of minor leagues,” Sabrowski explained. “They have teams in Texas, a team in Indiana, a team in Washington. I’m really up to their mercy to see where they feel I’m the best fit.”

READ MORE: Iveson responds to Alomar’s RE/MAX Field letter: ‘There’s no axe hanging over baseball’

He describes himself as an aggressive pitcher who attacks the batter, commands a big presence on the mound and is “always on the hunt, always on the attack.” It is perhaps no surprise that his favourite pitch is the fastball.

Now, he could someday be throwing heat in an actual MLB game.

“As a kid, you always envision yourself playing in the MLB for your favourite team in front of a sold-out crowd but actually seeing my name pop up on the draft board — it was something that nothing could have prepared me for.

“It’s just the realization of years of baseball, hard work, teaching, hardships, success — all of it is kind of put in to that moment right there. I’d say a lot of that rushed through me a little bit, thinking back on past experiences on the baseball diamond.”

Story continues below advertisement

Erik Sabrowski, a pitcher for the Edmonton Prospects, was drafted by the San Diego Padres on Wednesday, June 6, 2018.
Erik Sabrowski, a pitcher for the Edmonton Prospects, was drafted by the San Diego Padres on Wednesday, June 6, 2018. Courtesy: Edmonton Prospects

Sponsored content

AdChoices