Pitt-Bradford's Zach Foster
Drafted by Pittsburgh Pirates
By Pat Frantz Cercone
Director of Communications and Marketing
There is much rejoicing at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford after the campus community learned that baseball pitcher/first baseman Zach Foster of Bradford was drafted on Friday by the Pittsburgh Pirates.
“This is an unbelievable accomplishment,” said Panthers Head Coach Bret Butler. “To put it in perspective, the Major League Draft has 50 rounds with each team receiving one pick per round. When the draft was complete on Friday evening, only 17 of the athletes selected were NCAA Division III athletes.”
Also, Foster is the first player in the 12-year history of the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference to be drafted by the majors. He was selected in the 49th round on Friday.
And no one is more excited than Foster, who found out Friday night at about 11 o’clock. He found 21 missed calls and about 30 messages on his cell phone, most from family and friends congratulating him on the news – news he hadn’t yet heard.
“I was in shock,” Foster said Monday afternoon. “It was probably one of the best feelings I have ever had in my entire life. I’ve been working hard for it.”
Three of those missed calls on Friday were from the area scout who signed Foster to the team on Monday morning.
Foster, a sport and recreation management major, is one of only 29 Pennsylvania natives to be selected in this year’s first-year player draft. He just finished his junior year at Pitt-Bradford with a 3-1 record and a 5.40 ERA in 10 mound appearances. He also hit .253 with 10 RBIs for the Panthers.
Foster will report to Bradenton, Fla., either Tuesday or Wednesday for rookie ball. From there, it’s all about proving himself.
Playing in the majors is a dream Foster has had for most of his life.
“Since I was 12 years old,” he said. “I’ve been praying for this for a long time. I’m really excited that this has happened.”
On campus, the excitement that started Friday hasn’t stopped.
“Friday night was very exciting for me as a coach,” Butler said. “My phone started ringing off the hook with people congratulating me and the program. There was and still is quite a stir of interest about Zach. A number of people have told me they were watching the Pirates game Friday night and they heard the announcer report that Zach Foster had been drafted. That was special to hear.”
Foster’s teammates, which include his younger brother, Nick, an infield/catcher who is heading into his sophomore year, are also happy.
“They’re really excited and very proud of him,” Butler said. “I have spoken with a number of them since Friday night. This also compliments his teammates. They helped him develop into the ballplayer that he is today. They pushed him on the field and in the weight room and that can only help a player get better.”
According to Butler, Foster is a dedicated and hard-working player.
“He is a coach’s dream. He is also an outstanding person, which complements his baseball abilities.”
Despite the excitement, Butler said he’s not surprised that Foster was drafted.
“He has always had outstanding tools that I thought were projectable to professional standards,” the coach said. “He just needed college ball to refine those skills and put them into practice every day. He has developed physically and developmentally into a fine player and young man.”
Last summer, Butler recommended Foster to the Major League Scouting Bureau, which eventually sent scouts to watch him play. However, Butler said, Foster had to perform to the league’s standards in pressure-filled situations.
According to Butler, there were more professional teams other than just the Pirates who showed interested in Foster.
Director of Communications and Marketing
There is much rejoicing at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford after the campus community learned that baseball pitcher/first baseman Zach Foster of Bradford was drafted on Friday by the Pittsburgh Pirates.“This is an unbelievable accomplishment,” said Panthers Head Coach Bret Butler. “To put it in perspective, the Major League Draft has 50 rounds with each team receiving one pick per round. When the draft was complete on Friday evening, only 17 of the athletes selected were NCAA Division III athletes.”
Also, Foster is the first player in the 12-year history of the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference to be drafted by the majors. He was selected in the 49th round on Friday.
And no one is more excited than Foster, who found out Friday night at about 11 o’clock. He found 21 missed calls and about 30 messages on his cell phone, most from family and friends congratulating him on the news – news he hadn’t yet heard.
“I was in shock,” Foster said Monday afternoon. “It was probably one of the best feelings I have ever had in my entire life. I’ve been working hard for it.”
Three of those missed calls on Friday were from the area scout who signed Foster to the team on Monday morning.
Foster, a sport and recreation management major, is one of only 29 Pennsylvania natives to be selected in this year’s first-year player draft. He just finished his junior year at Pitt-Bradford with a 3-1 record and a 5.40 ERA in 10 mound appearances. He also hit .253 with 10 RBIs for the Panthers.
Foster will report to Bradenton, Fla., either Tuesday or Wednesday for rookie ball. From there, it’s all about proving himself.
Playing in the majors is a dream Foster has had for most of his life.
“Since I was 12 years old,” he said. “I’ve been praying for this for a long time. I’m really excited that this has happened.”
On campus, the excitement that started Friday hasn’t stopped.
“Friday night was very exciting for me as a coach,” Butler said. “My phone started ringing off the hook with people congratulating me and the program. There was and still is quite a stir of interest about Zach. A number of people have told me they were watching the Pirates game Friday night and they heard the announcer report that Zach Foster had been drafted. That was special to hear.”
Foster’s teammates, which include his younger brother, Nick, an infield/catcher who is heading into his sophomore year, are also happy.
“They’re really excited and very proud of him,” Butler said. “I have spoken with a number of them since Friday night. This also compliments his teammates. They helped him develop into the ballplayer that he is today. They pushed him on the field and in the weight room and that can only help a player get better.”
According to Butler, Foster is a dedicated and hard-working player.
“He is a coach’s dream. He is also an outstanding person, which complements his baseball abilities.”
Despite the excitement, Butler said he’s not surprised that Foster was drafted.
“He has always had outstanding tools that I thought were projectable to professional standards,” the coach said. “He just needed college ball to refine those skills and put them into practice every day. He has developed physically and developmentally into a fine player and young man.”
Last summer, Butler recommended Foster to the Major League Scouting Bureau, which eventually sent scouts to watch him play. However, Butler said, Foster had to perform to the league’s standards in pressure-filled situations.
According to Butler, there were more professional teams other than just the Pirates who showed interested in Foster.
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