JERSEY BOY

On Monday, Josh Ludy played with a trip to the College World Series on the line.
Tuesday he signed his first professional baseball contract.
And Wednesday, he was named an All-American, again.
That would seem to be enough excitement for a year, let alone one week. Not for Ludy.
On Wednesday evening, he proposed to his girlfriend. (She said yes.)
Ludy’s wild ride won’t stop any time soon as he is now preparing to start his professional career with the Lakewood BlueClaws, the Class A affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies.
“It definitely is a whirlwind,” said Ludy, who the Phillies selected in the eighth round of the Major League Baseball Draft. “It’s weird to think I’m done here at Baylor. I love this place. … But at the same time it’s kind of exciting to start a new chapter.”
Ludy said he’ll fly to Philadelphia either Friday or Monday to take a team physical. After that he’s been told he’ll join the BlueClaws (23-42), who play in the South Atlantic League with teams from Kentucky (the Lexington Legends), West Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia.
An official with Lakewood squad said the team’s management and coaching staff could not talk about Ludy until he officially joins the team, but Phillies scout Brian Kohlscheen said he expects the 2008 Jay County High School graduate to get playing time right away.
“I just want to play well and advance,” said Ludy. “I think once you get into pro ball, that’s kind of the deal. … You just try to do everything you can to get better.”
Ludy secured the opportunity to be chosen in the first 10 rounds of the draft thanks to a breakout senior season — he hit .362 with 71 RBIs, 41 runs and 16 home runs in 63 games.  Those numbers helped earn him yet another award Wednesday when the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association named him a second-team All-American.
Collegiate Baseball Newspaper had already selected him as a third-team All American, and he was voted the Big 12 Player of the Year. He earned the Louisville Slugger National Player of the Week Award in April, and is a semifinalist for the Dick Howser Trophy and the Johnny Bench Award.
Ludy’s goal of playing in the College World Series came up one victory short Monday as his Baylor Bears fell 1-0 in 10 innings to Arkansas in the deciding game of the Waco Super Regional. But his professional aspirations are about to become a reality.
“Getting this opportunity is a dream come true,” Ludy said. “For as long as I can remember all I’ve ever wanted to do is play professional baseball. I have that opportunity. I just want to do everything I can to make it to the Big Leagues. That’s the ultimate goal, just to be on that Big League roster. That’s a lot of kids’ dreams. Not many people get to do it. I’m fortunate to have the chance.”[[In-content Ad]]