For the first time since 2008, an Elon University alum is on the cusp of the big leagues.
Outfielder Cory Harrilchak (Class of 2009) will start the season with AAA Gwinnett, an affiliate of the Atlanta Braves one level below the Major League club. Harrilchak is the first former Phoenix to reach this level of professional baseball since Paul Bennett played for AAA Richmond four years ago.
Last Saturday, Harrilchak said via text message that he expected to start the season where he finished the 2011 campaign, at AA Mississippi. Later that afternoon, he got the news that his performance in the spring earned him a promotion.
"The spring training I had, the Braves might have thought I was ready to be challenged up in AAA," Harrilchak said from the team bus on the way to Durham for tomorrow's opening day. "I was seeing the ball well, taking good swings on pitches I was looking for. Looking to expand my game. Moving runners from second to third, pushing bunts down. I was playing aggressive on the basepaths and playing (good) defensively."
Harrilchak, a 14th round draft pick, said he doesn't know yet what his role will be with the team. But he is happy to be there, perhaps one good stretch of play (or an Atlanta Braves injury) away from making it to the show.
"It feels good," Harrilchak said. "This is kind of what I've been striving for. It's nice to see that I've done the right things in the offseason to get me one step closer to my ultimate goal."
Learn more about Harrilchak in a previous interview with The Pendulum.