When the San Francisco Giants took Ryan Scoma in the 36th round of the 2009 amateur draft, the perpetual underdog from the Bay Area faced yet another uphill climb.
Baseball isn't quite the National Football League or the National Basketball Association where you can start looking for that job in sales or coaching if you don't get snapped up early.
But even the pearl doesn't make an extensive habit of rewarding those kids drafted in the waning rounds of its seemingly interminable entry event.
Many observers will argue the writing's on the wall when pro scouts decide there are 1076 players more attractive than you on the big board.
Worse, they'll tell you the message it delivers ain't a pleasant one.
Fortunately for Ryan and many others like him, the Baseball Gods don't trouble themselves with logic, odds or wall writings. They follow a more Yoda-like wisdom: do or do not, and if you do?
Welcome to the Show.
Which is more good news for the San Carlos product.
The bottom-line nature of the beautiful game has served Ryan well during his ascension through its more modest ranks. With more hard work and a little luck—something that's been in short supply thus far—it might carry him right into baseball's most rarefied air.
And if he can make it all the way to the Bigs, he'll add his version of the story to the dark horses the Gents already have.
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