Damien High School left-handed pitcher was the first local player taken in the major league baseball free agent draft when he was picked by the Pittsburgh Pirates as the 41st overall pick (Lottery round A after first round).
Lodolo went 8-2 with a 1.97 earned run average and 83 strikeouts in 65 innings, helping the Spartans to the Baseline League title and a berth in the CIF Southern Section Division 2 semifinals.
Lodolo has signed earlier with Texas Christian University but now will face the tough decision on whether to go to school or go professional.
He had indicated all along that he preferred school and was asking for a lot of money and thought that would discourage teams from taking him in the high rounds. That wasn’t the case.
He had talked to several teams recently but the Pirates were not one of them.
“I still have yet to talk to him and neither has my advisor,” Lodolo said, “It’s just been a long, strange day. I thought they knew I would be a tough sign.”
Lodolo said he watched the early picks on line, but then left to go to a his girlfriend’s graduation, never thinking his name would be called. It wasn’t long before he knew something was up.
“My phone just blew up, people calling and texting congratulations,” he said.
