WVU's Gyorko is close to touching his dream
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Jedd Gyorko had 19 home runs and 57 RBIs for West Virginia this season.
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Evenness defines Jedd Gyorko.
It is in his powerful right-handed swing.
In his overall approach.
Trickles right down to the way he carries on a conversation.
"It is just me, just the way I am, I guess," the West Virginia junior shortstop said in a calm, composed tone. "You can't be too up or too down when you play this game. You can go 0 for 4 and you have to remember that there's a chance that fifth at-bat could be to win a game. You have to be level-headed, take the ups and downs the same."
Truth is, there haven't been too many downs -- at least in an individual sense -- for Gyorko this season.
Because he's stayed away from those downs, the consensus is that Gyorko is on track to be selected in the late-first or second round of the upcoming Major League Baseball first-year player draft, which begins Monday.
He has one year of eligibility remaining in Morgantown, but that will go by the wayside because, as he said, "it has always been my dream to play professionally. I'm going to go and play for a living after this year."
Those around him understand Gyorko, a Morgantown native who hit .381 with 57 RBIs and 19 home runs this season, became one of these top-of-the-line prospects probably more with diligence than he did with God-given capabilities.
A look at players and stories that figure prominently for the Pirates and the area in this week's draft:
Thursday: More room for Pomeranz?
Friday: Texas pitcher makes his name
Saturday: Machado compared to Rodriguez
Today: Pitt's Joe Leonard of Connellsville and WVU's Jedd Gyorko.
Monday: The Pirates' approach to the draft.
• Event: Round 1 of Major League Baseball first-year player draft.
• When: 7 p.m.
• TV: MLB Network.
• Of note: The Washington Nationals have the first pick and are expected to take Bryce Harper. The Pirates pick No. 2.
Since the time he was about 5, his father Randall and former West Virginia player Jerry Mahoney, who works in operations at the university and helps coach the local American Legion team, would put Gyorko through instructional sessions.
When the weather was cold, they would utilize Mahoney's access to the university's indoor facility, the WVU Shell Building, and go at it in there.
First Published June 6, 2010 12:00 am
