Ben Bengtson sat inside his family’s summer home overlooking Lake Winnipesaukee and waited for the call.
“I was just sitting there kind of waiting with my family and hanging out with my best friends,” Bengtson said. “The area guy (Eddie Charles) called me the round before and said the number and everything and told me, ‘We’re looking to take you the next round. Are you ready?’ ”
It was a question the Concord native had been waiting to hear for nearly three days, 22 rounds and 687 picks. But it finally came when the Pittsburgh Pirates made Bengtson, the University of Hartford product, their 23rd round pick (No. 688 overall) during the final day of the MLB Draft on Wednesday.
“I was just overwhelmed with joy,” said Bengtson, a three-year starter at shortstop for the Hawks who projects as a third baseman at the pro level. “I was sitting on the couch with my family listening to (the draft) and then they just called my name and I started tearing up. Dreams are becoming reality right now and I’m just so stoked and thankful for the opportunity.”
Despite being projected to land inside the top 20 rounds, Bengston was forced to wait a little bit longer on Wednesday afternoon.
He’d spent the morning fishing with one of his best friends, Michael Manoogian, another Concord native and a sophomore infielder for the Catawba College baseball team in North Carolina. But as the two returned and more and more names flew off the board in front of Bengtson, it became harder and harder to stay relaxed.
“I was told I was going to go earlier, but as I said (Tuesday), the draft is very unpredictable … We came back around 12:30 when it started up and kind of just hung out and tried not to panic,” Bengtson said.
“Just very antsy and once I got my name called it was just a huge sigh of relief.”
Bengtson now has the option of signing with the Pirates, or returning to Hartford for his senior season. But his MLBPA certified agent, Joshua Kusnick, told the Monitor that Bengtson and the Pirates had agreed to terms on a deal. Details of the contact were not given.
Kusnick represents current major leaguers such as Texas reliever Jeremy Jeffress and New York Mets pitcher Seth Lugo, and said he views the Pirates as a great landing spot for Bengtson.
“I think it’s a great fit for Ben,” Kusnick said. “I know the player development people pretty well and I’ve had guys play there. The major league city is unbelievable, the minor league player development historically has been quite good, and so I do feel they are an organization that will give a kid from the Northeast maybe more of a look, and more of a chance than some other clubs.”
Bengtson was one of three players from the University of Hartford to be selected in this year’s draft. The Tampa Bay Rays picked catcher Erik Ostberg in the 13th round (No. 379 overall), and the Los Angeles Angels made first baseman David MacKinnon their 32nd-round selection (No. 955 overall).
“For kids out there who think that these northern schools don’t provide talent, it’s such a lie,” Bengtson said. “There’s so much talent up here and especially at Hartford, obviously. … It just goes to show what kind of coach (Justin Blood) and his staff are and I’m so thankful for them.”
For Blood and the University of Hartford program, the loss of players such as Bengtson cuts two ways.
“It’s satisfying but it’s kind of a double-edged sword,” Blood said. “You lose a guy who has another year left to compete for you, but on the flip side, it’s what we have sold to them from the start.”
Now begins the whirlwind for Bengtson – and the start of his pro career.
Bengtson could be on a plane to Bradenton, Fla. – the location of the Pirates’ minor league complex – as soon as Thursday.
“I’d imagine he’ll be going to Bradenton for a physical and all that good stuff,” Kusnick said. “And if it’s my guess, based on where they took him, how old he is and what they paid him, I would imagine he’d be going to short season.”
Class A Short Season provides recently-drafted players with their first taste of professional baseball. Pittsburgh’s short-season team is the West Virginia Black Bears of the New York-Penn League.
“From here on out I’m never going to stop working,” Bengtson said. “I’m going to work as hard as possible and the next journey is to make it to the bigs. So step-by-step, I’m doing the best I can to accomplish my dreams and I’m just going to keep working hard.”
(Jay McAree can be reached at 369-3371, jmcaree@cmonitor.com or on Twitter @JayMcAree.)