Power Pros Forum

Today was the big day for me. Draft Day 2010. Me and my family were in our cozy two story house in San Francisco, California awaiting the results of the draft. The Houston Astros said that I was a shoo-in to be their draft pick. They had interviewed me and I told them I would be happy to be drafted into their association. All I could do now was wait.

The Astros were due to come up seventh. Five picks went by until they got to them.

"With the seventh pick in the 2012 MLB Draft, the Houston Astros select Jason De La Cruz from the University of California."

I couldn't believe it. Me and my family started jumping up and down and cheering with excitement. We were all as happy as we could be. They were giving me high fives, hugs, kisses, pats on the back. We cheered for about for a long while, when the T.V. started saying my name.

"Jason De La Cruz, the seventh pick in the 2010 MLB Draft, has just been traded to the Washington Nationals for money and two players to be named later."

I was speechless. This came out of nowhere. I didn't know if I was happy or not. I would get to be starting for an up and coming organization. They just drafted Bryce Harper and they have Strasburg, two great young players. I'll just have to wait and see.

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Yes I'm deciding to join in on the bandwagon of Road to the Show.
Jason De La Cruz
Built on - Stamina, Control, and a Dominating Pitch
Throws - 4 Seam Fast Ball, Knuckleball, Sweeping Curve
Starting Pitcher
L/L
Will Play For - Harrisburg Senators

You don't play in the futures game until you get drafted...

Not ANOTHER knuckleballer.

Way to give him support AgentP...

Happy AgentP?

Yes, I am.

And, you know, WHO IN THEIR RIGHT MIND WOULD MAKE THAT TRADE

What does it matter? Just read the log and stop complaining about all the imperfections. I think it was really good and I'm excited to read

First person to respond gets to be his agent.

Consider this my response. I am agent!

State
Name:
Age:
How Jason Knows You:
Style of Negotiating:

Name: Smitty Werbenjagermanjansen
Age: 1
How Jason Knows You: He stole a soda drinking hat that said number one from my grave.
Style of Negotiating: Getting all the other skeletons in the grave yard to attack the GM.



In all seriousness,
Name: Rip Dreyfus
Age: 39
How He Knows Jason: He sat next to him at a movie theater and they argued over who got the arm rest. Jason got it, but Rip said, "If you ever become a baseball player I get to be your agent" and Jason was like "Yeah, right." Well, Rip held him to his promise and here we are.
Style of Negotiating: Timid.

This made my day.
I would have accepted it

Mine too.
Really? That would have been excellent!

I just realized that Bryce Harper isn't in 2011...

After the draft and the big trade, it was revealed that the Astros in fact only got a heaping amount of money that was used to sign free agents. The day after, my agent Rip had the responsibility of getting me a new contract. We headed down to the Nationals Park owners booth where, GM Mike Rizzo was awaiting us.

Mike: Hey Jason, hey Rip. Pull up a chair. Jason if you want Strasburg is down on the field on a rehab assignment. You could play a little catch with him.

Me: Sure. I'd love to meet him.

Rip: I'll call you when we're done in here Jason.

I went down to the field to see Strasburg throwing. I didn't know who he was throwing too, but I saw a man in brown pants and a Washington Nationals sweater.

Stephen: Hey Jason.

Me: Hey Steven, how's it going?

Stephen: Trying to get a little work in for the season. I don't know when I'll be back.

Me: Can I play catch?

Stephen: Sure. Tyler let Jason throw with me.

I grabbed Tyler's glove. It was a little sweaty from him using it. I stretched out my arm and started to throw.

Stephen: You know if where you're going to start off at?

Me: I think I'm going to start off down in Double AA.

Stephen: Double AA. That's where almost all the new draft picks reside.

Me: I can't wait to face them. If I'm lucky I'll get up to the show this year.

Stephen: Maybe. Baby steps.

Me: Was it hard to transition from college to professional?

Stephen: When you're throwing 100+, people fear you all the same.

We exchanged laughs.

Me: Well when I'm throwing my knuckler, I think they'll fear me all the same.

Stephen: Throw it to me.

I throw me knuckleball. Right when I released it I knew it was a great one. It stood in the air, danced, and then ended up anywhere by Stephen's glove.

Stephen: Geez that's good! That's a deadly tool.

*brzzzzzzzz* *brzzzzzzzzzzzz*
It was Rip

Me: Hey Rip.

Rip: Good Jason. Get up here. There's a contract you need to sign.

Me: Okay I'll be there. (To Stephen) I gotta go meet Mike. I'll see you later man.

I went back up to the owners box to see a happy Mike and Rip. Rip gave me a pen to sign. I read over the contract. I was getting a cool $3,500,000 a year, plus a $15,000 signing bonus. I signed the contract happily. I was officially a National.

April (Date Unknown)

Today I had my first appearance out of the bullpen, facing off against New Britian. I entered the game with a 6-0 deficit, so it took off some of the stress of giving up runs. Before I pitched my catcher, Sean Watson, came up to me.
Sean: Don't be nervous man. We're losing six to nothing and our offence has been shut down today. Don't be afraid to pitch how you pitch.
Turns out I did better than I expected. I pitched four and two-thirds of one hit ball while striking out three. I was only in one potential jam, which was when I entered the game. My manager congratulated me after the game on doing extremely well out of the bullpen. After the game, Ross Detwiler came up to me.

4.2 IP, 3 K's, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER

Ross: Hey man, good pitching today.

Jason: Thanks Ross. I was a little nervous, but when I got it going it just started flowing.

Ross: Hey me and a couple guys want to take you out to dinner for your first game. You in?

Jason: Sure Ross. Who's coming?

Ross: Me, Garret (Mock), and Sean.

Jason: Sure!

Ross: Alright. Meet me and the guys in the parking lot. After you're done changing.

Jason, Ross, Garret, and Sean went out to dinner and had an awesome time.

Season Stats:
4.2 IP, 3 K's, 1 H, 0 BB, 0.00 ERA