NORMAL (Coronary heart of Illinois ABC) – This yr’s MLB Draft is quickly approaching and for Illinois State’s Ryan Cermak, not solely might his dream large league dream be coming true, he might change into the best drafted participant in program historical past.
“My first phrase was ball,” Cermak stated. “I suppose I used to be a younger stud. I’ve at all times needed to play professionally.”
Cermak has at all times dreamed of taking part in professional baseball and now he’s nearer than ever. The Riverside, Illinois, native is coming off a season the place he lead Illinois State in each house runs and RBIs, and is now thought of by many to be a top-100 prospect on this yr’s MLB Draft.
“It’s an amazing feeling,” he stated. “I keep in mind speaking to my dad once I was rising up when there was 40 rounds I might say like ‘hey I wish to be the fortieth rounder if it meant me taking part in skilled baseball.’”
Cermak ought to be drafted a lot sooner than the final spherical of the draft. Not solely can Cermak hit, however he’s top-of-the-line defenders in faculty baseball, profitable a gold glove award in heart area, a place he by no means imagined taking part in.
“I by no means thought that I might be taking part in outfield in my total life,” stated Cermak. “My total life I grew up taking part in the infield and pitching after which ultimately I received moved out to the outfield.”
Cermak made the transfer to heart area throughout the 2021 season after coming to ISU as an infielder.
“I believe it was a blessing in disguise as a result of I might actually showcase my athleticism and I believe it got here fairly pure to me,” he stated.
Cermak anticipates to be a day one draft choose, which might make him the best drafted participant out of Illinois State. Illinois State’s highest draft choose got here in 1974 when Dave Bergman was drafted by the Yankees. Cermack says he wouldn’t be able to be drafted into the massive leagues if it wasn’t for ISU.
“I believe I wouldn’t have been on this spot if I used to be at some other faculty,” stated Cermak. “I believe the individuals listed below are superior. They’ve my again, they’ve at all times had religion in me and so they’ve at all times needed me to do good and so they’ve at all times seen loads in me.”
“In the end he’s the man once we recruit we speak about him and like hey that is the method and it does work when you are available in and put your effort into it,” Steve Holm, Illinois State head baseball coach, stated. “He has executed a implausible job of setting that bar excessive for the subsequent years.”
Cermak has set the bar excessive for the way forward for ISU baseball however he hopes his future is as the subsequent Redbird to make it to the massive leagues.
“It’s superior as a result of there’s Paul DeJong within the bigs and there’s Owen Miller within the bigs and being alongside these gamers, as they had been in faculty, it means loads and it’s a number of hope for the long run,” stated Cermak.
The MLB Draft is ready to start Sunday, July 17.
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