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by seagull
Pannone is a Rhode Island kid.
CRANSTON — A year ago about this time, Tom Pannone was standing on the field at McCoy Stadium savoring the moment of being the star of the big game on a big field.
Now the former Hendricken baseball All-Stater can realistically dream about someday being the star in a big game on an even bigger field — like Cleveland’s Progressive Field.
Pannone, who was the MVP of last year’s Interscholastic League Division I state title series while pitching and playing outfield, saw his childhood dreams of some day becoming a professional baseball player come a step closer Friday when he was selected by the Cleveland Indians in the ninth round of the MLB First-Year Player Draft.
“I am definitely pleased. It’s what I’ve wanted since I started playing Little League,” said Pannone, who began his baseball career in the Cranston American Little League.
A 6-foot-1, 195-pound left-handed pitcher and hitter, Pannone had signed a letter of intent to attend the University of Miami in the fall of his senior year at Hendricken in 2012.
But when he was drafted in his senior season last spring, in the 33rd round by the Chicago Cubs, Pannone starting thinking about beginning his professional career earlier than spending three years playing at a four-year college.
“After it [being drafted) happened last year in high school, I started thinking maybe I could do it in a year rather three,” Pannone offered about beginning his professional career.
So rather than attend Miami, he enrolled at the College of Southern Nevada, a junior college, in hopes of improving his ranking in this year’s draft. Under major-league rules, while players attending four-year colleges cannot be drafted until after their junior year, junior college players can be drafted after only one year of competition.
Pannone’s gamble definitely paid off.
He was the fifth player selected in the ninth round of this year’s draft, the 261st overall selection. He moved up 743 spots from last year’s draft, in which he was the 1,004th player selected.
While Chicago selected him last year more on his athleticism and hitting as an outfielder, Cleveland definitely drafted Pannone as a pitcher.
This season at Southern Nevada, he pitched 64 innings and posted a 6-2 record with a 1.84 ERA. He had an almost five-to-one strikeout-to-walk ratio recording 93 strikeouts while allowing only 21 walks. Scouting reports have his fastball averaging 92-93 mph.
He returned home to Cranston a few days ago after spending a couple of weeks working out for professional teams. Cleveland was one of 19 teams Pannone had talked to and/or worked out for over the past few months.
“They all told me somewhere between the 7th and 10th round, so I was right in the middle of what they said. I’m very pleased.” said Pannone.
Under major-league rules, teams have until the middle of July to sign this year’s drafted players or the player goes back into next year’s draft.
But Pannone left little doubt that he is now ready to begin his professional career.
“I definitely want to start playing as soon as possible,” said Pannone.
The draft continues Saturday with the final 30 rounds.