KANSAS CITY -- Royals assistant general manager J.J. Picollo has drafted hundreds of players over the years during the Major League Baseball Draft, but it was a player selected by the Mets on Wednesday that stood out to him over any name he called: His son, Mike Picollo.
The Mets picked Mike Picollo with the No. 980 overall pick in the 33rd round. From Blue Valley North High School in Overland Park, Kan., he is a right-handed pitcher committed to play at University of North Carolina at Wilmington.
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It's obviously an honor for any parent to have their son drafted, but for someone as close to the game as Picollo, it was especially sweet.
"It was neat," Picollo said. "You sit here and you listen to 1,200 names a year. To hear your son, you can't help but be proud. Pretty cool."
Picollo was happy for his son to have realized his dreams, but he couldn't keep his analytical side away. Should Mike decide to forego his college eligibility, Picollo said his son will have to work at his game to succeed.
"He's worked hard," Picollo said. "It's always been a dream of his to play professional baseball, but it's just a step along the way. He's kind of a long-term projection type kid, so he's got a ways to go."