PHILADELPHIA - A former West Noble High School baseball standout is realizing the dream of becoming a professional ball player.
Waylon Richardson was drafted in the 40th round by the Philadelphia Phillies during the Major League Baseball Draft in June.
"It's a dream come true," Richardson, a right-handed pitcher from Cromwell, tells ParkviewSportsMedicine.com. "When I heard my name on the draft tracker, it was literally breath-taking."
After a few weeks of deciding whether he wanted to go pro or return to college baseball, Richardson elected to sign an offer with the Phillies organization.
"They have a lot of veterans on that team," Richardson adds. "I'm excited to get to Spring Training in March."
Richardson, a 2015 West Noble graduate, pitched the final out for Kankakee Community College in their junior college national championship this past season.
After he was drafted, the Phillies assigned Richardson to the Gulf Coast League Phillies West affiliate. Earlier this month, he left for the Florida Instructional League earlier in September.
While at West Noble, Richardson was an All-Northeast Corner Conference pitcher in baseball and All-NECC quarterback for the Chargers football team.