The Tucson Toros delivered a surprise to Matt McCune at his job at the UPS Store — the opportunity to play professional baseball.
The Toros selected McCune, a 22-year-old Catalina Foothills High School product, for a roster spot reserved for a local player.
Manager Tim Johnson and other front office staff delivered the news to McCune on Tuesday afternoon during his shift at the store near North Kolb Road and East Sunrise Drive. They congratulated him and handed him a white jersey. He will officially sign today.
"It's very special to me," said McCune, a right-handed pitcher. "I've worked so hard to have the opportunity, and it's definitely paid off."
The Golden Baseball League team, which opens its season May 21, preferred to pick a local who would be starting his professional career. McCune meets the criteria — he has never played professionally and has never been drafted. He played at Foothills, Gateway College in Phoenix and with a local league team. He also has attended the University of Arizona and has been training at Centerfield Baseball Academy for the past four years.
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"He was the right guy," Johnson said. "He's worked hard, and he's got good stuff, and this is the greatest opportunity in the world for a young guy."
McCune said he worked out with the Toros for a couple of weeks before he participated in a public tryout Saturday at Hi Corbett Field. The team also looked at pitchers Jason Hanna, Tom Wilhelmsen and Britt Echols, the Rincon/University High School baseball coach, for the roster spot reserved for a local. Those three have played in minor-league organizations, unlike McCune.
McCune throws in the mid- to high-80s but focuses on pitch location.
"I can spot up and hit my spots," he said. "I didn't light up the (radar) gun at all. I just wanted to see what happens."
The Toros will bring about 30 players to their spring training Monday. Hanna and Wilhelmsen are invited to the camp. The team will start the season with a 22-man roster.
"I want to pitch, hopefully get looked at and get drafted," McCune said.
McCune's dad, Matt, knew he had made the team, but kept the news a secret for a couple of days.
"That's been hard. (He) came home and (said), 'No one's talking to me. I don't know what's going on,'" McCune's dad said. "We said, 'Just keep working.'"
The Toros also signed outfielder Lino Garcia, who reached Triple-A in the Rockies system. The team is looking to sign utility player Mayobanex Santana, who reached Double-A in the Arizona Diamondbacks system.
