From Red Devil To Bulldog To Cardinal

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It might have been appropriate that Dodson McPherson was on the baseball field at Wingate when his name was called in the amateur draft Wednesday.

McPherson, a Graham graduate who went on to a standout four-year college career for Wingate, was selected in the 28th round by the St. Louis Cardinals.

“I didn’t want to be sitting in front of a computer watching the draft,” McPherson said. “So that was pretty cool that I was out there.”

McPherson, a lefty-swinging outfielder, was showing a recruit around on the Wingate campus. They had made their way to the baseball field when word came that the Cardinals picked him with the 870th overall selection.

McPherson, who turns 22 in August, has been told that his first assignment is expected to come in western New York with the Batavia Muckdogs, a Class A team in the short-season New York-Penn League. He’ll depart next week.

As a senior, McPherson batted .330 with 12 home runs in 55 games. While those numbers were a decline from 2011, McPherson said he was a more mature player and that he was pitched around at times.

“I might not have been ready last year (to turn pro),” he said. “I felt like I was ready this year. It all works out. There’s a plan for everything.

“It’s awesome. It’s something all guys dream about when you’re growing up. It’s awesome to accomplish this for my family and my college team who’ve all be part of the journey.”

 To read the entire Times-News article, click HERE

***Note-June 12th has been named "Dodson McPherson Day" at Graham, NC.!!