FORMER Shoalhaven Mariner Cam Warner was too busy preparing for the College World Series to notice Major League Baseball club Detroit Tigers has drafted him.
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Luckily, one of his teammates spotted he'd been taken in the 28th round of the national draft - which was held recently.
He was unsure exactly when he would join the MLB organisation, but felt it would be for the upcoming short-season A-ball - several rungs below the Majors.
The second-base has been playing baseball since he was a kid, following his father and two older brothers into the sport to play for the ACT Eagles, as well as spending time at the Mariners during the winter seasons.
"I didn't really talk to the [Tigers] team much about it,” Warner said.
“I was training earlier and I was in the locker room and one of the guys came in and said, 'You got picked up'.
"We had some scout meetings early on, a couple of months ago, but I didn't really get a phone call - it was just a selection I guess.
"I was following it a little bit, but we were getting ready for training - it was pretty cool.
"Every young baseball player dreams of playing at a higher level, either professional or college baseball."
The 23-year-old spent two-years at Texas Christian University, after transferring from Hill College and during his senior season with the Horned Frogs he hit .284, with five home runs and 10 stolen bases.
He had a second-best 76 hits this season, and was been a solid fielder at second base this season (.980 fielding %).
The Tigers season will begin in mid-October.