Three weeks ago, Billy Sullivan was sitting in the stands at Citizens Bank Park watching the Phillies, his favorite team, on a perfect early summer day.
On Wednesday, the Phillies became entwined withhisbaseball dream.
Not only was Sullivan chosen in the Major League Baseball Draft,achieving a long-time goal, but the St. Mark's right-hander and University of Delaware signee was drafted by his hometown Phillies in the 28th round.
Sullivan's family often traveled to Clearwater, Fla. and attended Philliesspring traininggames when he was a kid. It was there that a 10-year-old Sullivan got Plácido Polanco to sign a baseball. From then on, Polanco became Sullivan's favorite Phillie and his love of the team grew.
"I used to always get guys autographs so it's pretty cool to be a Phillie now," Sullivan said.
Sullivan wasn't the only Delaware-connected player to be drafted.University of Delaware right-handerRon Marinaccio was selected by the New York Yankees in the 19th round.
"It definitely gives me a little chip on my shoulder to represent Delaware and New Castle," Sullivan said. "It means a lot to me. A humbling experience being a kid from Delaware getting drafted by the Phillies. Very humbling."
After spending the morning at Delaware's Blue-Gold football practice for this weekend's annual game, Sullivan waited patiently for his name appear on MLB.com's draft tracker. He was downstairs on the couch when he heard a big scream from his mom, Patty.
Thecongratulations quickly poured in. Phillies scout Paul Murphy called Sullivan shortly after his name was announced and plenty of well wishes from friends and family flooded Sullivan's phone and Twitter account.
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The Phillies' director of amateur scouting Johnny Almaraz likes Sullivan's potential. He believes Sullivan has the delivery and arm action to be a starting pitcher in the majors, noting that's why the Phillies valued him.
"He's a young projectable high school pitcher," Almaraz said."He's got a really loose arm. We like his size, his frame, his projectability. He's going to throw hard one day. He's an average Major Leaguefastball right now so we thought it was a very good draft."
Sullivan now has a difficult decision. He must decide to either sign with the Phillies and forgo playing for the Blue Hens or attend Delaware, which would requireplaying three seasons before he's eligible to be drafted again.
The fact that it was the Phillies who drafted him complicates the situation.
"I've got to sit down with my family and talk about it," Sullivan said. "Going into the draft I said I wanted to be in the top 20 to 25 rounds so the Phillies drafted me in the 28th, the hometown team, my favorite team. It does make it a little tougher."
Asked if the Phillies are confident they can sign Sullivan, Almaraz said, "Yes, we believe so. Things are very positive."
A first team All-State pitcher, Sullivan posted a 3-3 record and 1.26 ERA, recording 73 strikeouts while walking only 15 batters in 50 innings pitched duringhis senior season. He helped St. Mark's reach the semifinals of the 2017Delaware Interscholastic Athletic Association state tournament.
Sullivan, armed with a fastball that hits 93 mph, describes himself as an energetic, fast-paced pitcher.
"I have that bulldog mentality," Sullivan said.
Sullivan participated in a 1 1/2 hour workout at Citizens Bank Park on Saturday. After warming up in the bullpen, Sullivan threw 20 pitches in front of the Phillies' scouts and personnel, using his entire repertoire (fastball, curveball and changeup).
The Phillies, the only team he worked out for, told Sullivan they were eyeing him between Rounds 15 through 30.
"I had never been on the Phillies' field before so stepping on there was pretty awesome," Sullivan said. "At first I was a little nervous, but I've pitched so many games in my life I just thought of it as another game. I saw Charlie Manuel there, which was pretty cool so that was a little nerve-wracking."
Marinaccio, a redshirt junior, appeared in 22 games (eight starts) for the Blue Hens with a2.09 ERA, which ranked 28th among all NCAA Division I pitchers. The right-handerstruck out 68 batters in 64⅔innings.
Marinaccio is the Blue Hens' 44th MLB Draft pick in the program's history andthe 10thto be chosen by the Yankees.
"Today is a dream come true," Marinaccio said."Since I was a kid, I've wanted to play professional baseball, and today I am one step closer to achieving that dream. ...I will always consider myself a Blue Hen and will continue to follow the program."
Contact Meghan Montemurro atmmontemurro@delawareonline.com. Follow her on Twitter at @M_Montemurro.
