Chapel Hill Pitcher Pat Day Competes At National Showcase in Florida

The Major League Baseball season may be winding down, but the season is just beginning for Chapel Hill senior left-handed pitcher Pat Day.

Day returned home Tuesday after spending a week in Florida, competing at the Perfect Game WWBA World Championships. The showcase event features dozen of select teams from across the country competing before hundreds of MLB scouts and college coaches.

"It was just crazy with all the talent down there," Day told ETSN.fm Wednesday afternoon. "I really had a chance to see good how I was. It just gives me more out of an outlook on how good the competition is out there. It was fun. It was definitely the best thing I've been to --- baseball-wise and from a fun aspect."

Hundreds of current MLB players have participated at the event in past years, including three of the game's brightest young stars -- Baltimore Orioles third baseman Manny Machado, Washington Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper and Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout.

Day was the only Texan on GBG Marucci, a team based out of Southern California. He said a scout saw him pitch a while back and called L.A.-based MLB scout Mike Garciaparra -- the younger brother of former MLB all-star Nomar Garciaparra -- and got Day a spot on the roster and a trip to Jupiter, Fla., for the event.

The Chapel HIll lefty got into one game during the four-day tournament.

"I did good," he said. "The first inning, I was three-up, three-down with a strikeout and two popups. The next inning, I gave up three hits in a row and they took me out. We had three-run lead with no outs, so they had to pull me. I was supposed to start the next game, but we ended up losing (in the consolation game)."

Day (6-2, 195), who has committed to play college at Houston and has additional Division I offers from Texas Tech, Kansas State and Ohio, said he spoke with representatives form the Blue Jays, Rangers, Angels and Diamondbacks while in Florida.

"(The scouts) said I had good control, I threw all first-pitch strikes and only threw four balls to seven hitters," he said. "They liked my control, speed and composure."

While firm in his college commitment to Houston, Day has not ruled out the possibility of turning pro  if whichever team selects him in June's draft makes a big enough monetary offer.

"It's early, but I'm projected between the fifth and eighth round," said Day who added his fastball consistently hovers between 88-90 mph but can reach 92-94 in relief. "The Blue Jays have shown a lot of interest lately, they've been contacted me a lot throughout the summer."

Day said that he will travel with GBG Marcucci again for another showcase tournament in Phoenix in January.