Someone wasn't drafted and that might be a good thing. | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Arts Entertainment

MLB Draft: His Name Wasn't Called

And you should be happy about that!

133
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jzg1m8qhSps
YouTube

In This Article:

Unlike in other sports, the MLB Draft isn't something that encapsulates many of the League's fans. I enjoy it so that I can look back on it when those kids make it big in the majors. I was also waiting for the day that someone younger than me gets drafted, which came two days ago with the 19th overall pick.

Other baseball fans, however, aren't as enthusiastic about the draft. While football will have a whole spectacle concerning their draft, with hundreds of thousands of fans gathering in a stadium and even more to be outside and watch the draft, the MLB Draft is much different. It's done on a sound stage in Secaucus, New Jersey, and the only people in attendance are representatives from the teams, the Commissioner of Major League Baseball, some reporters, and a few players and their families.

For the kids that get their name called, though, it's one of the biggest events in their entire lives. It's the kind of things that many people dream of from a young age, to be drafted by an MLB team and, maybe one day, make it to the majors. However, there are a lot of dreams that don't come true during those three days the draft takes place.

Just because your name wasn't called doesn't mean your future is over, though. For some people, however, their futures are determined to be over years before that. Enter a little girl who, in 2012, when she was just 6 years old, she was molested by her 16-year-old uncle. He was caught, sentenced, and forced to file as a sex offender for five years, all while the information about his case is sealed because he was a minor.

Fast forward to just about five years later, just days before the MLB Draft in 2017, and the man who pleaded guilty to doing this, Luke Heimlich, now a pitcher for Oregon State University, was set to be a top 100 draft pick, potentially even a first rounder. The Sports Illustrated found out about what he did, or, rather, what he pleaded to doing but now denies having done it. They wrote a story outing him, and the backlash was enough for him to leave the school's baseball team for the rest of the season and for him to go undrafted in last year's draft.

Fast forward again to earlier this week. A lot has changed in this past year for Luke Heimlich. He rejoined the baseball team at OSU, though he's not featured in any promotional material. The draft is coming around again, and while it wouldn't be shocking if he didn't get drafted, there are a few people in the industry that believe that he could be picked by a team in one of the later rounds.

I, for one, watched this develop as the draft went on. The MLB Draft is 40 rounds spread out over three days, with only the first round broadcast on TV and only the second through the fourth rounds live-streamed online. Like many who knew this story, I watched to see if any team was willing to cede their moral worth to draft Luke Heimlich. I can safely say, though, that at the conclusion of the 2018 MLB Draft, Luke Heimlich went undrafted. The story isn't over, though.

Luke Heimlich is still playing baseball for Oregon State and is considered to be one of their better pitchers. He can still be drafted next year, and very well could if the story doesn't surface again. He still denies having done it. He served his debt to society, yes, and though he denies having done it now he served out what a judge deemed to be a fair punishment, but he could still get himself a future many people dream of having, despite having done something that, in most other circumstances, would eliminate any kind of privileged future.

Whether or not he deserved worse or deserves worse now is not up to me. I'm just here to report. Feel free to look into this yourself and learn more about this story, I encourage it. Just know the story, please. When something like this happens the victims are hurt badly, but when people forget about it the victims are hurt even worse. Please do not forget. Please spread the word.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Entertainment

15 Times Michael Scott's Life Was Worse Than Your Life

Because have you ever had to endure grilling your foot on a George Foreman?

672
Michael Scott
NBC

Most of the time, the world's (self-proclaimed) greatest boss is just that, the greatest. I mean, come on, he's Michael Freakin' Scott after all! But every once in a while, his life hits a bit of a speed bump. (or he actually hits Meredith...) So if you personally are struggling through a hard time, you know what they say: misery loves company! Here are 15 times Michael Scott's life was worse than your life:

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

12 Midnight NYE: Fun Ideas!

This isn't just for the single Pringles out there either, folks

15638
Friends celebrating the New Years!
StableDiffusion

When the clock strikes twelve midnight on New Year's Eve, do you ever find yourself lost regarding what to do during that big moment? It's a very important moment. It is the first moment of the New Year, doesn't it seem like you should be doing something grand, something meaningful, something spontaneous? Sure, many decide to spend the moment on the lips of another, but what good is that? Take a look at these other suggestions on how to ring in the New Year that are much more spectacular and exciting than a simple little kiss.

Keep Reading...Show less
piano
Digital Trends

I am very serious about the Christmas season. It's one of my favorite things, and I love it all from gift-giving to baking to the decorations, but I especially love Christmas music. Here are 11 songs you should consider adding to your Christmas playlists.

Keep Reading...Show less
campus
CampusExplorer

New year, new semester, not the same old thing. This semester will be a semester to redeem all the mistakes made in the previous five months.

1. I will wake up (sorta) on time for class.

Let's face it, last semester you woke up with enough time to brush your teeth and get to class and even then you were about 10 minutes late and rollin' in with some pretty unfortunate bed head. This semester we will set our alarms, wake up with time to get ready, and get to class on time!

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

The 5 Painfully True Stages Of Camping Out At The Library

For those long nights that turn into mornings when the struggle is real.

3213
woman reading a book while sitting on black leather 3-seat couch
Photo by Seven Shooter on Unsplash

And so it begins.

1. Walk in motivated and ready to rock

Camping out at the library is not for the faint of heart. You need to go in as a warrior. You usually have brought supplies (laptop, chargers, and textbooks) and sustenance (water, snacks, and blanket/sweatpants) since the battle will be for an undetermined length of time. Perhaps it is one assignment or perhaps it's four. You are motivated and prepared; you don’t doubt the assignment(s) will take time, but you know it couldn’t be that long.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments