June 18, 2009

ARLINGTON, Texas - Two UT Arlington right-handed pitchers were drafted on the final two days of the 2009 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft, as Nathan Long was taken by the Oakland Athletics in the 26th round (#783 overall pick) and Rett Varner was selected by the Chicago Cubs in the 34th round (#1,040 overall pick). UT Arlington sports information caught up with the two most recent draft picks from the UT Arlington baseball program that has produced 85 MLB draft or free agent selections.

Long, who just finished his senior season, has signed a contract with the A's and just finished a mini-camp in Arizona while leaving today for Vancouver to join the A's short-season Single-A Vancouver Canadians, who start their season on Saturday, June 20.

Varner, a redshirt sophomore this past season, has until the middle of August to negotiate with the Chicago Cubs while playing with the Coppell Copperheads in the Texas Collegiate League before deciding if he will return for his junior season or sign a professional contract.

UTA: What were your hopes and expectations entering draft day?

Nathan Long: I knew I wasn't going to be a real high draft pick. I knew I would be in the middle rounds. I was just hoping that someone would give me a chance.

Rett Varner: I obviously wanted to get drafted because that is a great step in anyone's career. It is a great opportunity and not very many people are able to say they got drafted. I wanted to get drafted and then thought it might be high enough to go into pro ball.

UTA: Who were some of the scouts and organizations that told you prior to the draft you were going to be on their radar and that they were going to try and pick you during the draft?

RV: Actually, the top three were the Kansas City Royals, Toronto Blue Jays and the Milwaukee Brewers. The Blue Jays called me in the 11th round to see if I would take the slot money for the next couple of rounds, but I told them I didn't want to. The Cubs kind of came out of nowhere. On Thursday morning Trey Forkerway, who is the Cubs scout that I talked to throughout the year, called and asked me where I was playing this summer. Then about 10 minutes later I got a call from him and he said, "Hey, welcome to the Cubs family," and that was pretty cool.

UTA: Where were you and what were you doing during the draft?

NL: I did a little workout just before the draft. I was over at Preston McCoy and Jeff Storms' house during the draft watching on a computer.

RV: I was actually on the computer at home watching the draft and then I got up for like five minutes to make a snack and then I got the call right when I got up. I actually didn't see my name pop up on the computer.

UTA: What was the phone conversation like when you got the phone call?

NL: The scout that drafted me, Armann Brown, is the guy that called me. I kind of knew when it was going to happen because he called me two rounds earlier and said they were going to pick me up. Right when it was their pick I got the phone call before my name was even announced, saying they were going to draft me. I was so excited that it was going to happen.

RV: He just said, "Welcome to the Cubs family," and I was pretty excited. He then explained to me what would be happening next and stuff like that.

UTA: Who was the first person outside of your immediate family you told the news to after you found out you were drafted?

NL: I told Jeff Storms and Preston McCoy when they got back to the house. They both congratulated me on all that I have accomplished.

RV: I called my girlfriend, and she was pretty excited. We both thought after day two that I might not even get drafted this year, so she was excited.

UTA: What is the next step for you now?

NL: After the draft, the scout came back on Friday and we met and talked about the contract and we signed the contract on that day. I had a little get together with my family and friends and then I was sent out on Monday to the mini-camp I'm at now in Phoenix. I'm with all of the A's draft picks and signees practicing and scrimmaging. Then I leave on Thursday for Vancouver to start playing.

RV: I'm going to work hard this summer and play the best that I can and they will come out and watch me. The Cubs will watch my progress and we will see what happens.