Finally, the call.
The Bee's 2008 Player of the Year, Max Stassi of Yuba City High School, sweated out the first day of the Major League Draft on Tuesday as three rounds came and went and no selection. Then the A's picked the catcher deemed the finest prep pure hitter in the country by Baseball America this morning, in the fourth round, No. 123 overall.
Relief. Joy and myriad of emotions. Stassi is on his way.
"It feels great, especially since it's the A's, and it's a relief," Stassi said.
Stassi was projected by a number of publications - in print and on the Internet - to be a first-round pick. He has power, experience as a four-year varsity starter, a leadership sense about him and bloodlines that can't be ignored as a host of family played professionally. Stassi thought it might be the Boston Red Sox, in need of a catcher, who might pick him. He worked out only for the Diamondbacks and the Red Sox, with his Boston session coming on the eve of the draft.
Stassi said he felt great in the workouts and liked his chances of being a first-round pick. But he also played the business aspect of the game as well, his own stance of hard ball, making it clear he wanted a certain signing bonus if picked so high. For now, there is elation, a dream come true, as he grew up around baseball.
He has until Aug. 17 to sign a pro deal, with his UCLA scholarship tour set to start the following day. At the moment, he's not sure what will happen. But he does know one thing. If it's UCLA, that's hardly a downer.
"It's a win-win situation," Stassi said.
He plays his final prep game on Saturday in the 38th Optimist All-Star game at American River College.
Read Thursday's Bee to see if Stassi repeats as Bee Player of the Year, and to see if he becomes the first area prep to be a four-time All-City baseball performer. All in all, a terrific career and a terrific young man.
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