Holly Hill standout Gardner is new 'pride of the Yankees' - CofCSports.com--Official Web site of College of Charleston Athletics
1/1/1970 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
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It only took seconds for the Holly Hill Academy graduate's team allegiances to change Wednesday after the New York Yankees selected him as their third-round choice and 109th overall pick in the 2005 Major League Draft.
Just four days removed from seeing his collegiate career end with disappointing back-to-back shutout losses in the Clemson Regionals, Gardner is looking forward to donning the famous pinstripes once worn by another Holly Hill native ?” former Yankee second baseman and current New York Mets Manager Willie Randolph.
"I've never been much of a Yankee fan, but you can't be picky about what team selects you in the draft," said Gardner in a telephone interview. "I'm a Yankee fan now. That's all that matters. I'm happy to be a part of the organization."
"I couldn't asked to have anything better happen to me (on Wednesday). It was the best day of my life. I was hoping to go fourth or fifth round. I went third round. I went higher than I thought I would go. I went to the best possible team you could possibly play for and be involved with."
In becoming the highest drafted player in College of Charleston baseball history and one of five Cougars selected over the past two days, Gardner posted some of the nation's best numbers in earning All-Southern Conference first-team honors. His .447 batting average is currently ranked third among all Division I players; he led the Southern Conference in stolen bases (38) and set a single-season conference record for hits (122) and runs scored (85). He helped the Cougars win a school and SoCon-record 48 games and advance to the NCAA Regionals for the second straight year.
The former walk-on finished his Cougar career with 53 career sacrifice bunts, the second most in NCAA Division I history, and school records for runs scored (214), hits (197) and stolen bases (97). In addition, he flashed a solid glove in committing just one error in 311 attempts over his final two seasons.
"He's an absolute flyer," said Damon Oppenheimer, the Yankees' vice president of scouting. "He's a fast runner who can really patrol center field. He can steal bases, has instincts to run and has performed with the bat.
Oppenheimer also spoke highly of Gardner's "great bat discipline" while noting his lack of power. Gardner only hit two home runs this past season.
Nevertheless, Gardner's arrival to the Yankees could not have come at a more opportune time. With the farm system depleted of talent as a result of numerous trades and the team lacking a legitimate everyday centerfielder, Gardner's speed on the basepaths and outfield and leadoff ability can potentially fill a badly needed void in New York.
"I'm just happy to be a part of the organization," Gardner said. "I couldn't have asked to be put in a better situation than the situation that I'm in right now and to be a part of the Yankee organization and to be a part of their ball club. I'm looking forward to it. Hopefully, I'll be with them for many years to come and I'm sure it's going to be a great time."
If one day playing in Yankee Stadium on the same field Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle and Reggie Jackson once roamed is not enough incentive for Gardner, there's also the prospect of starting his pro career at Joseph P. Riley Jr. Park where the Cougars played their home games. The ballpark is also the home of the Charleston RiverDogs, one of the Yankee's two Single A affiliates and where Gardner could be assigned following a summer stint with the Staten Island affiliate.
Prior to heading to Staten Island, Gardner will fly to Tampa, Fla. for a week-long minicamp at Legends Field and hopefully will sign a contract with the Yankees.
The one person most proud for Gardner is his father, Jerry Gardner, who spent five years in the Philadelphia Phillies' minor league organization. On Wednesday, he got an early "Father's Day" present in the form of his son's selection.
"He helped me through everything and I'm where I am right now because of him," the younger Gardner said. "He's probably happier for me than I was for myself. Both of my parents are thrilled to death and excited about the opportunity I'm getting."
By THOMAS GRANT JR., Orangeburg Times & Democrat Senior Sports Writer
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