If ex-Saint Mary's star Mickey McConnell's pursuit of a professional basketball career ever fizzles out, the reigning West Coast Conference player of the year may have an intriguing backup option.
The Los Angeles Dodgers selected McConnell in the 31st round of Major League draft on Wednesday even though the Arizona native hasn't played baseball since his senior year at Mesa's Dobson High. McConnell's focus remains on preparing for the upcoming NBA draft right now, but he admits he's flattered by the interest from the Dodgers.
"It's exciting, I'm totally surprised, this was a little bit unexpected," McConnell said in a statement released by the school. "The last time I played was four years ago in high school. In the summers I would hit a little bit and do minor baseball stuff with my brother but nothing serious or organized."
It's unusual for a Major League club to spend even a late-round draft pick on a prospect who hasn't played baseball in four years, but McConnell's high school credentials warranted some attention.
The standout shortstop earned honorable mention all-state honors and left Dobson as one of the school's all-time leaders in hits and stolen bases. Whereas only a handful of Division I programs recruited him in basketball at the time, numerous top schools wanted him in baseball including then-defending national champion Oregon State.
Baseball was in his blood since his father Rick McConnell was a member of Arizona's 1976 College World Series team, but ultimately Mickey decided his heart was with basketball. It looks like a wise decision considering all he accomplished at Saint Marys, though it was tough at the time.
"It was kind of a strange thing," Rick McConnell told Dime Magazine recently. "You know, most people thought baseball was the smart move for him. Baseball kind of threw a curve in everything because it made him think a little bit."
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