Jared Young香蕉视频直播檚 lifelong baseball dream is a step closer to reality.

The former Okanagan Athletics香蕉视频直播� infielder was chosen by the Chicago Cubs in the 15th round香蕉视频直播�465th overall香蕉视频直播攊n last week香蕉视频直播檚 Major League Baseball draft.

Young, who played this season at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, is excited to get his pro career underway.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 fantastic, honestly,香蕉视频直播� said Young. 香蕉视频直播淭o be drafted by an organization like the Cubs, the defending World Series champs, I couldn香蕉视频直播檛 ask for anything better.香蕉视频直播�

Young moved from his native Prince George to Kelowna in high school where he played two seasons with the A香蕉视频直播檚, before graduating from KSS and the B.C. Premier Baseball League in 2014.

After two seasons of junior college ball, split between North Dakota and Oklahoma, Young jumped to the NCAA Div. 1 level last fall at Old Dominion and made an immediate impact.

The 21-year-old this season with a .367 average and was named an All-American at second base.

The path Young香蕉视频直播檚 baseball career has taken aligns precisely with what he hoped and trusted would happen.

香蕉视频直播淚 always believed I had a chance (to play pro), I think I convinced myself of that pretty early and I was going to do whatever I had to,香蕉视频直播� said Young. 香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 pretty exciting to be getting it all started. I香蕉视频直播檓 just going to take it as it comes and try make the most of it.香蕉视频直播�

Young香蕉视频直播檚 success to date comes as no surprise to Okanagan Athletics head coach Evan Bailey. Between Young香蕉视频直播檚 natural abilities, strength of character and passion for the game, Bailey believes he has all the tools to thrive at the professional level.

香蕉视频直播淭he way I describe it is, Jared could wake up, get out of bed and be the best hitter out there,香蕉视频直播� said Bailey. 香蕉视频直播淏ut one of the greatest things about him is that he香蕉视频直播檚 a great person, too.

香蕉视频直播淭he character qualities he has come into play in that he香蕉视频直播檚 built for the grind of the minor leagues, he loves every day he香蕉视频直播檚 out there, and he brings the long hours and hard work along with it,香蕉视频直播� added Bailey. 香蕉视频直播淗e香蕉视频直播檚 a stand-up guy, very resilient and I believe he香蕉视频直播檒l take himself really far in the game.香蕉视频直播�

Young will leave Sunday for Mesa, Arizona where he香蕉视频直播檒l report to the Cubs. He香蕉视频直播檒l then transfer to Eugene, Oregon where he香蕉视频直播檒l play this summer for Chicago香蕉视频直播檚 class A affiliate club.