Nearly seven weeks after the 2006 MLB Draft, several former N.C. State baseball players are working towards their dreams of becoming major league stars.
Of the eight players drafted from June 6-7, only one player did not sign a contract — Jeff Stallings. The other seven — Aaron Bates, Jon Still, Sam Walls, Gib Hobson, Jonathan Diaz, Matt Camp and Brian Aragon — have all signed to play professional baseball.
Bates and Still were both drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the third and fourth rounds, respectively. The other six heard their names called later.
Walls was drafted in the 10th round by the Phillies; Hobson in the 11th round by the Giants; Diaz in the 12th round by Blue Jays; Camp in the 13th by the Cubs; Stallings in the 18th round by the Giants, and the final pick from the Wolfpack was Aragon in the 22nd round by the Yankees.
And while the Pack finished its season less than two months ago, Bates hasn’t wasted time getting himself acquainted to the next level.
He has been playing with the Lowell Spinners, a minor league affiliate of the Red Sox. Bates had a .344 average with three home runs in only 26 games through July 18. Aside from that, he was named New York-Penn League Player of the Week for July 3-9.
His teammate, Still, hasn’t had the same type of performance. In his first 21 games, he had a .193 average and only one home run.
Former pitcher Gib Hobson has been playing for the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes — a San Francisco affiliate located in Oregon.
He said every since leaving State, he has had a wonderful experience.
“Everything is going great,” Hobson said. “Our team is currently in first place in the Northwest League.”
Not only is his team in first place, Hobson hasn’t given up many runs, either.
He has started six games for the Volcanoes and has a 3.33 ERA. In 27 innings, he has allowed only 24 hits while walking only eight and striking out 17.
Even though he has been pleased thus far, Hobson said he still can’t believe he is a professional baseball player.
“To tell you the truth, it really hasn’t sunk in that baseball is now my job,” Hobson said. “For now, this just feels like another summer league.”
While Hobson compared the current league to that of a summer league, he jokingly added it would be just like summer league baseball if it weren’t for the paychecks — which come twice a month.
Walls hasn’t disappointed on the mound, either. In nine games for the Batavia Muckdogs, he has gone 11 innings while giving up 10 hits, no earned runs and striking out 11. He has also collected four saves.
Camp, Aragon and Diaz are all getting an opportunity to play in summer leagues, too. Camp, who plays for the Boise Hawks, is batting .299 with five stolen bases and 17 RBI in 28 games. Aragon, who is with the Staten Island Yankees, is batting .311 with one home run in 16 games.
And while Diaz hasn’t been as hot at the plate, his batting average is .256, which compared to his last season batting average of .255 with State, is slightly better. He also has 21 hits and 17 runs in 26 games with the Auburn Doubledays.
