Chiefs McNutt Proving He Was Worth the Wait
By: Kurt Pegler - WMBD/WYZZ-TV
Updated: June 9, 2010
WMBD/WYZZ-TV - PEORIA, Ill. -- Chiefs pitcher Trey McNutt says the reason
for his success this year is simple.
"Getting ahead with my fastball and mixing my pitches," said McNutt. "My defense is outstanding behind me."
But there may be more to the fact McNutt(4-0) is unbeaten with an earned run average under two. Last June, he was drafted in the 32nd round, after some 900 other players.
"I played at a small (junior college), won state and went to the Junior College World Series," said McNutt. "That was the first time the Cubs ever saw me pitch. They drafted me on that."
After two days of waiting by the phone, McNutt thought for sure he wasn't going to be drafted. So on day three of last year's draft he went to work at a local golf course.
"I was raking bunkers and I got a call on my cell phone," said McNutt. "It was my mom -- you've been drafted. Congratulations!"
Now the 20-year-old Alabama native is out to prove he's a diamond in the rough and one the Cubs found very late in the draft.
"I want to prove to them that I wasn't a 32nd round guy. I was a top five round guy. I think I've proven it so far," said McNutt.
The Cubs agree.
"I believe we're lucky we found him. We, as an organization, have a lot of expectations," said Chiefs pitching coach David Rosario. "We hope in the next couple of years, he might be knocking on the door."
