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Alex Garbrick selected by New York Yankees in MLB Draft

(MOREHEAD ATHLETICS) Mill Hall native and Morehead University pitcher Alex Garbrick throws a pitch in an NCAA baseball game. Garbrick was selected by the New York Yankees in the MLB Draft.

By AARON JAMES

ajames@lockhaven.com

Mill Hall native Alex Garbrick’s childhood dream came to fruition Wednesday when he was drafted by the New York Yankees in the 40th round of the 2019 Major League Baseball First Year Player Draft.

The redshirt sophomore right-handed pitcher, and former Central Mountain Wildcat, is currently enrolled and playing collegiate baseball at Morehead State. He now has the opportunity to play at the next level for the franchise he grew up cheering on.

“I’ve been a Yankees fan since the day I knew what baseball was,” Garbrick said about being drafted by the Yankees.

“I was on the back porch of my house with my mom, dad, sister, girlfriend and my cousin following the draft tracker on MLB.com and we saw my name pop up before I even got a call or anything and my mom started yelling,” he added about the moment he had been waiting his whole life for.

The freshly-drafted pitcher missed his entire 2018 campaign at Morehead State after getting elbow surgery but already had his sights set on the next level and wasn’t going to let an injury hold him back. He worked and grinded through rehab to return to the field to see the interest was there still, and stronger than ever.

“The first time I realized this was really a possibility was my freshman year of college. I made really big strides in velocity and grew a lot as a pitcher when I got to college. This season I had a handful of teams that were interested and said they were going to come watch me. Earlier in the draft there were a couple teams in consideration I thought might pick me up and it didn’t happen but I just kept watching and waiting,” Garbrick stated.

Garbrick is no stranger to a big stage. In 2011, he was part of the run that engulfed Pennsylvania and the country alike playing in the Little League Word Series for Keystone Little League. Over the course of five games the Keystone little leaguers played in front of estimated crowds totaling 160,000 people, and 42,000 people alone in their first LLWS game.

“Everything I’ve been through so far has made me ready for this. Going back to little league and playing in front of all of those fans in Lamade stadium, I had thousands of fans watching me at once. Then in high school I had to work hard to be the best, and in college everyone was the best in high school, so I have to work even harder to be the best at this level. So if I get the opportunity to play for the Yankees I’m going to keep that same mentality,” Garbrick reflected on the path his career has taken and looking ahead to using his experience to his benefit moving on to the next level.

Up next for the Yankee prospect is a trip to the New England region where he will join the Cape Cod League in the next few weeks as soon as a roster spot opens up. The Yankees will have until the mid July deadline to make the Morehead State pitcher an offer. At that time Garbrick has the opportunity to accept or return to college and open up his eligibility to be drafted again next year.

As far as support, since Garbrick has been home from school, and been drafted, he’s been lauded with praise and well wishes in the Lock Haven community.

“It’s been crazy, my phone has been blowing up non stop. I’ve gotten hundreds of text messages and tweets sent to me. It’s awesome to know the support I have here, and from my coaches and teammates at Morehead. It’s been cool to see and I really appreciate everyone,” said Garbrick.

Time will tell what is to come for the 90-plus MPH right-handed hurler, but the Yankees have opened the door for him to chase his dream.

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