BASEBALL: Hallock drafted by Phillies

PERKINS TWP. — Better late than never.

That proved to be true Wed-nesday for Kent State junior Kyle Hallock, a 2007 Perkins graduate. 

After receiving a phone call from the Philadelphia Phillies Tuesday during the 13th round of the 2010 MLB First-Year Player Draft, Hallock hoped to hear his name called soon after what he described as a positive conversation.

It took much longer, however, than Hallock had hoped to hear his name over the internet broadcast. The Phillies called back a day after the first conversation, making him the 1,491th selection, the 28th pick in the 49th round.

“I’ve felt the worst and the best that baseball can bring this year,” Hallock said. “And it’s good to end with the best. When they called me yesterday and threw out a dollar figure they were looking at, I felt it was a comfortable number.

“I told them if they were ready to make a selection, I was ready to go. But when the guy joked with me when I got the final word about it being later than expected, I just said it was better late than never.”

Hallock’s status is considered a ‘draft and follow,’ meaning the Phillies will monitor his progress this summer while pitching for the Stark County Terriers of the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League in Canton.

The Terriers’ season ends July 31, and from there Hallock and the Phillies have two weeks to come to terms on a contract although for all Hallock knows, he could be offered a contract after his first summer start. 

If Hallock doesn’t sign, he will go back to Kent State for his senior year.

“I hope to come to terms on something we’re both comfortable with,” Hallock said. “Philadelphia is a great organization. They are winners, and any time you have the possibility to enter a situation like that, you can’t complain whatever round you got taken.

“That’s what I’m excited about ... I’m looking forward to having a big decision to make here pretty soon. It’s good to know someone like that wants you.”

Perkins coach Ray Neill, Hallock’s coach for the Pirates and for Sandusky American Legion Post 83, said it was a great day for both programs.

“It’s a great day for Kyle, his family and the Perkins and Post 83 programs,” Neill said. “For Kyle and Brennan to get drafted on the same day is pretty special.

“Kyle was blessed with a lot of talent, but he worked extremely hard too.”

Hallock was considered the possible No. 1 starter for Kent State entering the season, but a rough start quickly derailed that and he was briefly moved to the bullpen before closing out the regular season with a solid performance as the No. 3 starter.

In looking for the best matchup, Kent State coach Scott Stricklin moved Hallock up to start the Mid-American Conference tournament opener against Eastern Michigan, and Hallock struggled, giving up six runs in three innings of a 12-4 loss.

“After a month into the season, the MLB draft wouldn’t have been said around me,” Hallock said. “You can’t think about June before March, April, and May. I don’t think it was my mindset necessarily, but I put pressure on myself to perform at higher level.”

In the end, Hallock was the hero for the Golden Flashes, picking up a win over EMU in the tournament semifinals, pitching a scoreless 10th inning in a 9-8 win that put Kent State in the MAC title game against Central Michigan.

Just 45 minutes later, Hallock got the start against the the top-seeded Chippewas, holding CMU to two runs on five hits in seven innings of work in the Flashes’ 5-3 title victory, his second win in just over three hours.

“Sprinting from first base to the mound and tackling my roommate Justin Gill when the game ended was something I’ll never forget,” Hallock said. “It was the best feeling I’ve experienced on a baseball field, jumping on that pile.”

The reality of his three years at Kent State coming to an end started to sink in for Hallock on Monday during his exit meeting with the coaching staff.

“When I made that 90-minute trip back to Sandusky, I had a lot of thinking to do,” he said. “If it does happen, that was possibly my last conversation with them as a player. They are great people on and off the field, and I couldn’t ask for a better school. I made the right decision to go to Kent State.”

But Hallock is in no way hesitant to go back to Kent State should the situation arise.

“If I go back to Kent, we got a lot coming back and it’s a win-win situation for me,” he said. “The only (downside) of leaving is I’d be leaving a lot of people I care about behind. 

“It’s decision I’ll make this summer, but it’s win-win and I’m definitely excited to hear from Phillies. I’m looking forward to possibly starting my professional career, which has been my ultimate goal.”