Drafted in Round 9 by the Orioles, Kevin Magee acknowledges gratitude towards St. John's coach for his assistance.

Kevin Magee, Southpaw from Pompton Lakes, Drafted by Baltimore Orioles

Kevin Magee, a 6-2, 210-pound left-handed pitcher from Pompton Lakes, New Jersey, has had a remarkable journey in the world of baseball. The southpaw was selected by the Baltimore Orioles in the ninth round (265th overall) of the 2018 MLB Draft.

Magee's path to the major leagues began at St. John's University, where he was one of six players from the team taken in this year's draft. His impressive performances for the Red Storm earned him second-team All-Big East honors.

Before being drafted, Magee had applied for a job with U.S. Customs and Border Protection. However, his plans to pursue a career with the agency have been put on hold as he embarks on his professional baseball journey.

Magee finished his senior season with 92 strikeouts, a tally that places him 10th on the program's all-time single-season list. Over his last season-plus with the Red Storm, Magee made 23 starts, pitching to an 11-4 record and a commendable 2.59 ERA.

Magee's draft year was not without a competitive field. He was taken in the same draft as righthander Michael Lopresti (Pittsburgh Pirates), second baseman Josh Shaw (St. Louis Cardinals), third baseman John Valente (Detroit Tigers), outfielder Jamie Galazin (Chicago Cubs), and catcher Robert Boselli (Cincinnati Reds).

Magee's journey to the major leagues was not an easy one. He was not highly recruited coming out of Pompton Lakes High School. However, his hard work and dedication paid off, as he led his high school team to back-to-back Passaic County championships, posting a 27-4 record and a stellar 1.26 ERA.

Magee credits the St. John's coaching staff for instilling a disciplined, well-organized, fun, and competitive approach to workouts. Coach Ed Blankmeyer, a Hall of Fame coach at St. John's University, is particularly acknowledged for his inspiration and guidance.

Magee has expressed that he always envisioned having a chance of playing professional baseball, and he is now living that dream. He has reported to the Baltimore Orioles' rookie camp in Sarasota, Florida, and is likely to begin his professional career with either the franchise's Gulf Coast League affiliate or Aberdeen in the New York-Penn League.

Despite his newfound success, Magee remains humble and grateful. He is a member of the school's prestigious President's Society, an honour for academic achievement. Magee believes that St. John's helped him get to the next level, and he is eager to see where his baseball career takes him.

Drafted in Round 9 by the Orioles, Kevin Magee acknowledges gratitude towards St. John's coach for his assistance.