Moments soon after the Astros emblem popped up on the display screen, cheers adopted — from Yankees supporters.
Houston could possibly have acquired some supporters from The Bronx on Thursday. At least, the Astros gave Alex Santos’ good friends and loved ones associates one thing to think about just after selecting the fireballing right-hander in the payment portion of the next round (72nd all round) of the 2020 MLB Draft.
“I’ve been a Yankees supporter my whole daily life, but I’m likely to have to deal with it now,” the Mount St. Michael Large Faculty star, who grew up a five-minute travel from the Stadium, reported in a cell phone job interview. “They went with some other guy. Every thing operates out for a reason, and I’m delighted I’m in the situation I am in now.”
The approach is for Santos to indicator and bypass his scholarship to Maryland, he and his father, Alex Santos Sr., said. The signing reward slot dollars exactly where he was drafted is $870,700.
In the time because he was selected, Santos read from a large amount of relatives customers, coaches and close friends. The determination about which workforce they will now root for was mixed. The Astros eliminated the Yankees from the postseason in 2017 — the year they gained the Globe Sequence but have been identified to have cheated by thieving indications — and 2019.
“A few of them are Astros enthusiasts. A few of them explained it’s really hard to get away from the Yankees, but they’re Alex Santos supporters,” he explained.
“I was really psyched, tremendous psychological,” reported Santos, who grew to become the 1st Mount St. Michael player to be chosen specifically out of large school given that Collin Mahoney (48th round) in 2001. “I obtained to spend it with relatives, coaches, buddies. Most effective time ever. It is something I will in no way forget.”
Santos, ranked 45th by Baseball America and 56th by MLB Pipeline moving into the draft, results in being the first decide built by new Astros general supervisor James Simply click — Houston did not have any options in the first two rounds because of to punishment for the electronic sign-thieving scandal. The selection was a compensatory pick from the Yankees in exchange for getting rid of absolutely free-agent pitcher Gerrit Cole.
If the household experienced its preference, Santos would be taking part in for the hometown Yankees or Mets. But the Astros are not so terrible, both. They are recognized, after all, for getting the most out of pitchers, and will ultimately require to replenish their rotation with Justin Verlander and Zack Greinke acquiring up in age.
“I’m going to go out there and display most people what I’ve obtained,” the 6-foot-3, 185-pound Santos mentioned. “I strongly believe the key leagues are going to arrive my way.”
Questioned if the relatives now pulls for the Astros, Alex Santos Sr. joked he would have to rest on it. He nevertheless plans to root for the Yankees.
“It’s likely to be hard when he will come to Yankee Stadium 3 many years from now and he’s obtained to pitch towards my team, you know,” the elder Santos said jokingly. “But I guess I’ll be carrying a Houston Astros jersey.”
