Luke Prihoda drafted by Arizona Diamondbacks
6/8/2007 1:00:00 AM | Baseball
From The Huntsville Item
By Tom Waddill, Sports Editor
Luke Prihoda says the “real world” will have to wait. Thanks to a phone call Friday from the Arizona Diamondbacks, Sam Houston State's senior sensation has some more baseball to play.
“I'm just going to have fun and enjoy the game I love,” said Prihoda, who was chosen by the Diamondbacks in the 24th round of Major League Baseball's 2007 First-Year Player Draft on Friday. “I'm going to relish every chance I get, and hopefully I can make some real money before I'm finished with baseball.”
A hard-throwing right-handed reliever who was named national Stopper of the Year earlier this week, Prihoda was taken with the 733rd pick of the First-Year Player Draft. A 6-5, 230-pounder from Weimar, Prihoda led the nation in saves (18) and was voted the Bearkats' most valuable player in '07.
With a 7-3 record and a 1.62 earned run average in 2007, Prihoda was one of the big reasons the Bearkats advanced to the postseason for the first time in seven years. Sam Houston State went 4-0 and won the Southland Conference Tournament two weeks ago; last weekend, Prihoda pitched in two games at the NCAA Oxford (Miss.) Regional.
This week, he patiently waited to hear his name called over Major League Baseball's Web site on the the Internet, which followed every pick of the 2007 draft.
“I was actually chatting online with my brother (Josh) in Iowa, and all of a sudden, he goes, ?Arizona,'” Prihoda recalled. “I started listening and I heard the second guy say, ?The Arizona Diamondbacks pick Luke Prihoda, senior pitcher from Sam Houston State University.'
“I was relieved and excited at the same time.”
Immediately the phone started ringing nonstop. Relatives and friends called. Diamondbacks scout Trip Couch touched base, too.
“He told me the sooner I leave the better,” Prihoda said. “I'll probably head out Monday to Tucson (Ariz.), then I'm either going to Yakima or Missoula, Montana ? Yakima, Washington for short-season (Class) A ball or Missoula for Rookie League ball.
“Either way, it'll be some good summer baseball.”
Prihoda did his best to relax Friday. He played golf during the first five rounds of the draft Thursday, then turned on his brother Brad's computer Friday and followed the draft from another room.
“I knew I wasn't going to be a top-round pick, so I went and played golf yesterday. I woke up today and started looking, but more or less, I was watching TV and waiting for a phone call,” he said. “I was just listening, watching TV and trying to relax. I didn't want to drive myself crazy.”
Once he heard the news, it wasn't long before Couch called and talked to him about what was next.
“Mr. Couch told me to just go out there and keep getting people out,” Prihoda said. “He said, ?That's what you've been doing all year, so just continue what you've been doing.'
“He didn't really talk to me about my role. I guess when I go to Arizona, they'll tell me what they want me to do. I know as a senior, I'm going to have a regular senior signing. Minor league money isn't a lot of money, but it will keep me out of the real world for a while.”
Prihoda was the only current SHSU player picked in the two-day, 50-round draft. Two players from coach Mark Johnson's 2007-08 recruiting class were selected.
Shortstop James Crowley, a junior from Galveston College, was taken by the Baltimore Orioles in the ninth round, while right-handed pitcher Jared Springer of Montgomery High School was selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 37th round. Springer is the younger brother of SHSU senior pitcher Casey Springer.
Current Bearkat chosen in Major League Baseball's 2007 First-Year Player Draft
Luke Prihoda RH pitcher Diamondbacks 24th/733
Future Bearkats chosen in 2007 Draft
James Crowley Shortstop Orioles Ninth/279
Jared Springer Pitcher Pirates 37th/1,111
