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Thu, Dec 3, 2009 - [ Great South League ] - Viewed 414 times
Editor: This article is from Baseball America and highlights Mike LaLuna, former Athens Pirates player.
 
When the final pick of the 50th round of the draft has been called out and more than 1,500 players have been selected, there are still hundreds of players left disappointed.

Last year Mike LaLuna was one of them. The shortstop at New York Tech headed into his senior season knowing that he needed to build on a .317/.377/.427 junior season. Instead he slumped to .268/.360/.411 as a senior and watched whatever hopes he had of being drafted disappear.
But LaLuna had also toyed with pitching in college-he threw 24 innings during his four-year career. It wasn't enough to get any scouts interested, partly because scouts aren't exactly flocking to every New York Tech game, but it did give him another possible avenue to pro ball. So LaLuna packed up his glove and headed to the Indy Pro Showcase in Detroit. From the minute LaLuna pumped his first 93 mph fastball off the mound at the showcase, his days as a shortstop were over. The independent Cam-Am League's Sussex Skyhawks signed him that same day, installed him in their bullpen as the team's main set-up man and watched him help lead them to the Can-Am League title. The Detroit Tigers signed him in the offseason and he is now pitching for the Tigers' short-season Oneonta affiliate.

"I needed to go to that independent showcase. It was the best thing I could ever do for my baseball career," LaLuna said.