Trevor Gretzky drafted by Chicago Cubs
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}As Major League Baseball conducts its annual player draft from June 6-8 this year, any hockey fans monitoring the news may have noticed a familiar name come off the board Tuesday, when Trevor Gretzky, son of all-time scoring leader Wayne Gretzky, was selected by the Chicago Cubs.
Gretzky, a first base prospect out of Oaks Christian High School in Westlake Village, Calif., was taken with the eighth pick of the seventh round (No. 219).
A left-handed fielder and hitter, Gretzky is listed at 6-foot-4 and 190 pounds.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"I was introduced to it, probably, in New York," Gretzky told MLB.com in February when asked why he opted to play baseball. "Growing up, my dad was with the Rangers and I remember him taking me to a Yankee game and ever since then I've wanted to play (baseball). It's been my dream to play in the major leagues ever since then."
Last year Trevor announced his commitment to play college baseball at San Diego State, a program managed by Hall of Fame outfielder Tony Gwynn and which recently produced Washington Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg, the first pick of the 2009 MLB draft. Trevor's legendary father had said in February that if Trevor was to be drafted, it would force a decision to be made.
"When you're going to be my son or the son of a professional athlete, the pressure is a little bit -- even greater for those kids," Wayne Gretzky said. "After the draft takes place and we find out where he's going to go and what situation he's in, then we'll sit down and talk about it as a family."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The deadline for Trevor to decide whether he will sign a pro contract with the Cubs or attend San Diego State is Aug. 15.