Padres select Thwaits

The San Diego Padres called Nick Thwaits to schedule a workout.

A few days later, Thwaits' name was called by the Padres in the Major League Baseball Draft.

On Wednesday, San Diego selected the right-handed pitcher from Fort Recovery with the 441th pick (15th round).

"You work so hard to get to this point, and once it happens and you hear your name called, it's a surreal feeling," said Thwaits, who worked out for the organization last Saturday.

The Padres showed the most interest in Thwaits of any major league team. The two-time Midwest Athletic Conference Player of the Year said his workout with the team went well. He talked with Padres General Manager A.J. Preller and Director of Scouting Mark Conner and returned home feeling good about his chances of being taken by them.

"They said they liked me," Thwaits said. "They just wanted to get a feel for where I was, whether I was wanting to go pro or wanting to go to college."

The Padres opened the Draft by taking a pitcher with whom Thwaits is familiar. They took left-hander Ryan Weathers from Lorett High School in Tennessee. Weathers, who has an allotted value of $5.2 million, was a teammate of Thwaits with the East Coast Pro Royals last summer.

Thwaits has until July 6 to chose whether he will sign with the Padres or honor his commitment to Kent State. He would not be eligible to re-enter his name in the Draft until after his junior year at Kent State. This summer, Thwaits will either be suiting up with the Midland Redskins or heading to Arizona to start his pro career.

"It's a great feeling to get drafted, but we'll have to wait and see what they have to offer or if it'd be a better option for me to go to Kent State," Thwaits said.