Robert Maddox III realizes he could have been on the way to fulfilling his lifelong dream right about now.
Drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the 34th round of the 2007 Amateur Draft, the freshman put off a chance to begin a journey to the big leagues for a chance to play college baseball at Ohio, a decision he said was partly based on a deadline issue.
I didn't get a contract offer right away
and I had already signed here in case I didn't sign a full contract Maddox said. It's been a good fit for me and my family.
The first baseman maintained he has no misgivings about passing on a chance to play minor league baseball other than the fact that he would have been playing for his favorite childhood team, the Braves.
It doesn't happen every day that you get drafted by your favorite team Maddox said. It's not really a regret because there was nothing I could do about it. I have to keep working hard here.
The Euclid native excelled at Villa Angela St. Joseph High School, batting .559 and posting a 1.200 slugging percentage. Following senior season ' the four-star recruit laughs when recalling the fateful phone call ' he learned he was selected.
You can't expect it
he said. It's not guaranteed that you get drafted. Until that phone call came
I kept playing summer ball with my team
thinking that I was going to go to college.
Ohio coach Joe Carbone said he expected Maddox to be drafted, but the chance of losing him to a professional team was not going to dissuade him from inking a player of his caliber.
He was what we considered one of the premier players in Ohio
he said. We're going to go after the best guys until they tell us 'No.'
While the jump from high school to college can often prove quite daunting to many first-year players, Maddox has quickly established himself as a key cog in the Bobcats' lineup, starting 29 of the 32 games this season.
Offensively, he has been one of the Ohio leaders, posting a .317 average and totaling six home runs, 30 RBIs and 10 doubles, all good for second on the team.
Outfielder Marc Krauss, who can relate to Maddox's situation, being the premier freshman a season ago, said the addition of Maddox to the lineup has given another dangerous hitter to an already potent hitting squad.
The sophomore added that the team took it as a sign that Maddox genuinely wanted to join the team when he put his professional plans aside and joined the Bobcats.
A lot of people didn't know if he'd come
and if he didn't
you couldn't blame him for taking that chance and playing professionally
Krauss said. Passing on that chance means a lot to the coaches and the rest of us and shows he wants to get better.
Because of NCAA guidelines, Maddox cannot become eligible again for the draft until 2010, following his junior year of college. I think I made a good decision coming here
he said. Everyone is making sure I have a backup plan
