Dominic Battista, a graduate of Oswego East, faced uncertainty after sustaining a hamate injury earlier in the baseball season. He worried it might affect his chances in the Major League Baseball (MLB) draft. As the season went on, Battista became increasingly excited about the possibility of being drafted. In his own words, “It was in the back of my mind. But I also thought if you asked me a couple years ago if I would have my name called out of high school, I wouldn’t have even thought about it.”
The tide turned on Saturday, as Battista was selected by the Kansas City Royals in the fourth round, drafted 119th overall. Although he hasn’t signed yet, signs indicate he will soon join the professional ranks. Battista expressed readiness, saying, “More than likely I will sign. I know that I would be able to put myself in a position to go to college and sign again, but I’m ready to go into the system.”
Dominic Battista was one of three baseball players drafted from the Aurora-Elgin area this weekend. Alongside him, St. Charles North’s Jayden Lobliner was picked by the St. Louis Cardinals in the ninth round, and Ryan Niedzwiedz from West Aurora was chosen in the 15th round by the Colorado Rockies.
Battista’s profile has been steadily increasing over the past two years due to impressive performances at high-profile showcases and travel tournaments. His ability caught the attention of scouts, especially after returning from his injury. He noted, “I feel like that’s something that caught my attention for sure. I was trying to take it for what it was, but I just tried to play baseball honestly.”
On the brink of a professional career, Battista shared his excitement, saying, “It’s definitely a unique opportunity. I’m not going to take it for granted.”
Jayden Lobliner, known for his strong defensive skills, had one goal since childhood: to play in the majors. After stints at Kansas State and San Diego, his dream edged closer to reality. He explained, “It’s been a long time coming. It’s been a dream of mine, and it’s an important step toward the ultimate dreams I have.” Recognized as the West Coast Conference’s defensive player of the year, he takes pride in his defensive contributions. Lobliner remarked, “For sure, that’s my thing. That’s the thing I bring to the ballpark every single day.”
Lobliner recently traveled to St. Louis’ spring training facility in Jupiter, Florida, eager to start his professional journey. He reflected on the rapid pace of the process, saying, “It’s a fast process. You don’t want to wait around anymore. You’re ready to go play baseball. This is something I’ve had written on paper my entire life and I talk about it daily. It’s an important step, but it’s only the beginning.”
Ryan Niedzwiedz, who played at SIU-Edwardsville, prepared diligently for the draft. Surrounded by family and friends, he realized his dream as his name was called. He soon reports to the Colorado spring training facility in Scottsdale, Arizona. “I knew this was going to be how it was going to go,” Niedzwiedz said. “Now, I have this professional job. I can’t wait for my whole day to be baseball.”
The support and encouragement of loved ones meant a lot to Niedzwiedz during draft weekend. He shared, “It was really cool just to see how much everyone cares. I’m just the one playing baseball. I appreciate them.” Entering professional baseball, Niedzwiedz maintains flexibility, noting, “There’s no set position. I’m a utility guy. I can do whatever they need me to do and just keep hitting.”