Switching to the mound was a career changing decision for Ryan Magdic. 

The 24-year-old Beamsville native put away his bat this season to concentrate on pitching full time at the University of Missouri and the results were impressive.

The Blessed Trinity Catholic Secondary School graduate worked out of the bullpen and showed enough potential to be selected by the Oakland A’s in the 14th round (406th overall) of the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft this week.

“I was getting some calls from teams on Day 2 and there was little bit of talk so I had a little bit of an idea,” Magdic said. “Just kind of sat around the phone, that’s what they told me to do, just listen up. We sat in the living room and hung out.”

When the big moment finally arrived, Magdic celebrated with parents, Mark and Michelle, and younger brother Kyle.

“It was crazy. I didn’t get a call beforehand. It just came up,” he said.

Magdic gave the Tigers a lift on the mound in his lone season with Mizzou, making 14 appearances — including four starts — and limiting the opposition to a .229 batting average. He also struck out 37 hitters in 35 innings, logging a 1-3 record, 4.63 earned run average and two saves.

Click here to read the full article in BP Sports Niagara.