Fourth time the charm for Cashner on draft day

Players tend to reflect on their draft day experiences as the process unfolds again for the next wave of high school and college athletes. It can come naturally or be pried loose from another reporter searching for a story.

Alex Cobb, who starts tonight against the Mets at Citi Field, went through it only once as the Rays chose him in the fourth round in 2006 out of Vero Beach High School. He reached the majors five years later.

Cobb was an amateur in multiple ways. Void of any professional experience, of course, but also excluded from the multiple-draft class that could use Andrew Cashner as its valedictorian.

Chosen by the Braves in the 20th round in 2005. By the Rockies in the 18th round in 2006. By the Cubs in the 29th round in 2007. By the Cubs again in the first round in 2008.

The sport doesn't frown upon a player who bets on himself, at least in this manner.

Cashner wasn't going to dive into minor league competition out of Conroe High School. Or about 100 miles away at Angelina College in Lufkin, Texas, where he spent two seasons. He only knew for certain, as did the industry, after enrolling at Texas Christian University.

"I think a lot comes down to what you want to do, whether you think chasing your dream is logical for where you're at in your life," he said.

"As I look back I never really sat down and was like, 'I'm not ready.' I was just more so kind of taking it as it came. I never really pitched until my senior year in high school. I threw maybe 15-18 innings and I got drafted, and so for me it kind of came out of nowhere. To say that I was going to get drafted, at the start of the season that wasn't even a thought. So when it happened, it was like, 'Oh, that was really cool, but what do I do now?'

"I didn't really plan on going to college and then I had some junior colleges offer me and I went to school and played. Each year, I thought I got better and better, but I still think I made the right decision. I think if I had signed out of high school, I don't know if I would have made it."

The Cubs gave Cashner a $1.54 million signing bonus after making him the 19th overall pick in 2008. He transitioned from starting pitcher to closer at TCU and registered nine wins and nine saves with a 2.32 ERA and 80 strikeouts in 54 1/3 innings. Opponents batted .122 against him.

(The Cubs used their second selection on infielder Ryan Flaherty, later a Rule 5 pick with the Orioles.)

Cashner turned down the first Cubs offer in 2007 while continuing to refine his delivery, improve his secondary pitches and gain more maturity at TCU. He conferred with his family, friends and agent Peter Vescovo, who advised him through all four drafts.

"I've always gambled on myself," Cashner said. "I think the biggest thing is believing in yourself. Believing in the work you put in, believing in people's opinions around you and trusting the people that you really trust. Getting good advice.

"My mom had cancer at that time. When I was a sophomore, I had told the Cubs I was done, I was going home, I was staying with my family. That day came and they only came to see me throw once and we couldn't come to terms. At that point, I was ready to sign. I just wanted a certain amount of money and I wasn't going to take any less than that.

"I went to TCU, but the last month of junior college I learned a really good breaking ball and that's kind of what took off for me from there."

Trey Mancini went through the process one time, with the Orioles selecting him in the eighth round in 2013 out of Notre Dame.

"It was honestly one of the most stressful days of my life," he said. "You have an idea where you might get drafted. I thought I was going to be a little earlier than where I ended up getting drafted, to be honest, so it was kind of a stressful day looking back.

"I know most people would probably say it was the best day ever, and after you get drafted, it's a huge relief. It's what you work your whole life toward, but it can be stressful, especially if you're a junior in college and you don't know whether to go back to school for one more year and finish your degree or play professional baseball, which you've been trying to do your whole life. And it's tough leaving your friends in college and leaving that whole life behind.

"It took me a little while to decide what to do and I'm extremely, extremely happy I decided to leave and come to the Orioles."

Richard Bleier also signed after the Rangers chose him in the sixth round in 2008 out of Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers.

"The draft was really a great experience for me," he said. "Kind of being a nobody in college, going to a small school, to actually getting an opportunity and having a chance to get drafted.

"I remember in '08 it was the first six rounds on the first day and then whatever on the second day, and I was drafted in the sixth round. As the rounds kept going, I had everybody there hoping I was going to go on the first day and I ended up getting picked in the sixth round, so I got nervous there at the end. I was like, 'Uh-oh, guys, we're going to have another party tomorrow because it's not happening,' but it ended up working out."

Kevin Gausman turned down the Dodgers after they selected him out of Grandview (Colo.) High School in the sixth round in 2010 and the Orioles made him the fourth overall pick in 2012 out of Louisiana State University.

"LSU kind of put together a nice thing for my family and the team in our team room," he said. "I remember my first thought was, 'I know nothing about Baltimore,' so there was a lot I needed to learn."

Tune into MASN on Wednesday afternoon for more interviews during the series finale against the Mets.