Looking at the screen again, I saw the countdown had begun for the Carolina Crushers, an expansion team like the Seawolves,which would be starting its third season this year. They were also one of the teams Marcos had mentioned was showing a lot of interest in me. At the forty-second mark, my phone rang.
I fumbled to grab it and barely managed a shaky “Hello?”
“Is this Dylan Statler?” the man on the other end of the line asked.
“Yes, sir.”
“This is Shane Reynolds, the general manager of the Carolina Crushers. We’d like to welcome you to our organization.”
For a split second, it felt as if I had forgotten how to speak, but I eventually found the words. “Thank you so much for the opportunity.”
“You’ve earned it,” he said. “Now go watch the announcement with your family. I’m sending all the information you’ll need to your agent right now.”
We hung up just as the commissioner announced, “With the fourth pick in the first round, the Carolina Crushers select Dylan Statler, an outfielder from UCLA.”
A picture of me flashed on the screen, and the room erupted.
Jamie screamed so loudly that I was pretty sure half of Portland heard her.
“That’s my boy!” Dad shouted, then pulled me into a bear hug that nearly cracked my ribs.
“Fuck yeah,” Jase yelled, clapping me on the back.
Chase, Cammie, Tony, and Marcos all came over for congratulatory hugs. The excitement was indescribable. Ever since I was a little kid, I’d imagined playing in the majors, and now it was happening.
The idea hadn’t settled in my mind when Jase’s phone rang. Everyone fell silent again.
“Yes, sir. I’d be honored,” he said, sounding a bit more composed than I had been.
He’d barely ended his call before the commissioner started saying, “With the fifth pick of the first round, the Boston Red Sox select Jase Matthewson, shortstop from UCLA.”
Jamie shrieked even louder this time, and Tony pumped both fists in the air. We all crowded around Jase, congratulating him on a job well done.
Once we backed up a little, Chase cupped the side of Jase’s neck with one hand and leaned his forehead to his. “I knew you could do it, Son.”
“Too bad they didn’t pick a better picture of you,” Cammie joked, but the smile on her face showed just how happy she was for her brother.
Both of our phones buzzed again, this time with a message from Tyler:
Congrats little bros!
I barked out a laugh. Tyler may have been older, but Jase and I both had a couple of inches on him.
Thanks. You can buy us drinks to celebrate when we’re in Cape Cod for Fallon’s wedding
You got it
A second later, another message came through:
Faye: I knew you’d get picked early. So happy for you two
My phone buzzed again:
Faye: Don’t forget to send a selfie
Jase typed out a response faster than me:
Send us one first :)
