CJ Beatty from N.C. A&T gets the call

CARDINALS DRAFT BEATTY

Beatty is three-time first-team All-MEAC selection

GREENSBORO, – Surrounded by family members and well wishers, North Carolina A&T junior outfielder Christian “CJ” Beatty heard the phone ring at his Winston-Salem home on Wednesday.

It was the long-awaited phone call the 20-year old has been waiting to receive for 15 years because on the other end of the line was a representative of a major league baseball team. Beatty was informed that he was about to be drafted. Minutes later, the St. Louis Cardinals made Beatty the 789th overall pick in the 2009 Major League Baseball Draft. His selection came on the second day, in the 26th round, of the draft. Beatty is the third Aggie in the last four years selected in the MLB draft joining Jeremy Jones (2006) and Charlie Gamble (2007).

“He said they really wanted me to come play ball for them,’’ said Beatty, about his exciting phone call. “I was overwhelmed with joy and I feel blessed to have the opportunity. I’ve been waiting for this moment since I was 5. I knew if I continued to play hard this opportunity would come.”

Baseball was introduced to Beatty because his mother didn’t want him to play a contact sport. His mother’s concern led him to fall in love with baseball and ironically led him to make plenty of contact – with baseballs. Beatty eventually played the contact sport of football, but stopped playing in the 10th grade.

“I just stopped because I knew the sport for me was baseball,’’ said Beatty. “I understood baseball was my ticket.’’

The decision earned him an opportunity to become a scholarship athlete at N.C. A&T. Beatty earned first-team All-MEAC honors three consecutive seasons. In 2007, he was named MEAC Rookie of the Year after hitting .313 with 38 RBIs and a league-leading 10 home runs. A season later, he led the MEAC in home runs again as he finished the season with 13.

In April at N.C. A&T’s annual All-Sports Banquet, Beatty was named N.C. A&T Male Athlete of the Year for the second straight year. He finishes his career as a .339 hitter with 31 home runs and 135 RBIs. Beatty also recorded 47 doubles and scored 145 runs. Pitchers also found it convenient to pitch around him as he walked 89 times during his three-year career.

“I enjoyed every minute that I played for North Carolina A&T,’’ said Beatty. “(Head coach) Keith Shumate always told me I had the ability to play at the next level. He was more concerned about preparing me for this moment by teaching me how important it is to pay attention to the little things. He made sure I showed up on time. He refined my work ethic and taught me how important it is to do things the right way.”

It is likely Beatty will be a minor league baseball player very soon. He is set to report to a short-season minor league ballclub later this month.

from www.ncataggies.com