FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Austin Pope's baseball career will have brought him across the country. For three seasons, he took the mound at Alumni Diamond in Fairfield, Conn., and now he will start the next journey of his career with the first step of his minor league journey. His goal over the next few year, is to one day be toeing the rubber in Arizona.
 
The former Fairfield University Baseball pitcher has officially signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks after the club selected him in the 15th round of the MLB Draft. Pope will become the 28th professional Stag and the sixth in the last eight years under Head Coach Bill Currier.
 
"When I was signing I definitely had that mindset like 'Wow, this is going to be official, I'm actually going to be a professional baseball player,'" Pope said. "It was an amazing feeling. I just remember being excited to start practicing because I knew once I can start practicing then I can get on. That program and head to Missoula and start competing."
 
"We are really excited for Austin to sign a professional contract," Coach Currier said. "He's a perfect example of a kid who came in with some gifted ability who worked his tail off and became a pitcher. We're really excited for him to represent our program and continue on with our drafted kids. He's a perfect example for the young pitchers coming in that with hard work and persistence they can become a draftable pitcher by the time they leave."
 
Pope is coming off one his best seasons of his career as he was named to the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Second Team and was also honored as one of the best pitchers in New England with a Second Team NEIBA selection. He led the starting staff with a .201 batting average against and finished second on the team with four wins, 77.0 innings, and 79 strikeouts.
 
Pope became the 18th Stag selected in the MLB Draft after the Diamondbacks selected the right-hander in the 15th round. After a couple of days to review physicals and grabbing all of the information about his new organization, Pope officially put pen to paper on Monday to become the newest professional Stag.
 
In his first few days with the organization, Pope has learned about all the technology he will be able to utilize to become a more successful starting pitcher and has also learned from one of the game's all-time best. Pope and the rest of the new signees had a chance to meet with MLB Hall of Famer Randy Johnson, who spent time answering questions and giving the new professionals advice.
 
"When you have a guy like that who is so important to the organization and is one of the most famous Arizona Diamondback ever, it just shows you how much they care," Pope said. "It was definitely special to pick his brain about: mentality, what he likes to do in different counts, what does he do pre-game, how to keep the intensity through the season, all those questions were asked and he gave truthful answers."
 
Pope will finish his Fairfield career in the top-10 in program history with a 3.61 ERA and the program's all-time leader in strikeouts per nine innings with 8.87.
 
"It definitely puts it into perspective how much time and energy you put into this," Pope said. "But I wouldn't say it's a dream come true yet.  The dream is to make it to the bigs and stay there for a long time. Obviously getting drafted is that first step, but it's just that. It's just that first step. It's a great accomplishment but it's just the starting line."
 
After a two week transition period, Pope will be assigned to the Missoula Osprey, Arizona's Rookie Advanced Affiliate located in Montana. The Osprey season will run from June 14 until September 7, marking the first of his long minor league journey. But Pope is ready to take what he learned through his three seasons at Fairfield and use those skills professionally.
 
"Everyone here will tell you that not one MLB player didn't work hard," Pope said. "Every single person is going to say to work hard so that's a given. To get to the majors you have to work hard. But it's also the little things, all those extra reps in the gym. I'm a starter so I'm only going to pitch once every five days, so those other four days, what am I doing to become better. Am I just sitting around or am I working out running and throwing. Every time you throw, just don't throw, throw with a purpose."
 
And Pope's purpose is simple: Follow his Dream.