Dispatches from Aaron Bray: Volume 2

Aaron Bray was the 27th round draft pick for the Astros in last June's amateur draft. He was also the winner of the Astros County Adopt-a-Player contest. Each Monday, Aaron will write a column for Astros County detailing his off-season. Click here for Post #1.

Astros County,
I hope all of you enjoyed the first week's post, I am happy to be doing this. Another week of playing catch up in school. I got tests and papers to write as I try to finish my degree. But with all that work, my dad and I found time to head to Houston and catch two games. I am in the hotel now after a 10-4 defeat, but I did enjoy my day at Minute Maid Park. It was a hot day, so the roof was closed and that made it easy to relax during the game. I got to see a teammate of mine from this summer, Jose Altuve, as they were honoring the MVPs of the Minor League affiliates. My trip will end tomorrow with a couple innings of the 1:05 game then it is back to home to Charlotte to go back to class and continue to work out. And now for my question for the week.

Can you detail the circumstances around your getting drafted by the Astros? What was it like in the leadup, what conversations did you have with the Astros (and any other teams), and what were you doing on Draft Day?

Well, to start off, I received a questionaire from the Astros area scout during the last week of April. It said "Send in immediatley", so I did. Never once did I talk to the scout, never got one phone call on draft day from houston until my name was called with 821st pick. I was at home in my town house relaxing. My girlfriend was off to work, my roomates were gone because of school being out. I'm alone in a house expecting to be drafted by the Cincy Reds. I went to the workout for them, and did well. As the second day of the draft went on I began to get frustrated, as most people probably would. As I got ready to turn of the computer my name popped up. From there on it was blur....Phone call after text after phone call. It was a great feeling and I was happy to be an Astro. That was my draft day. Besides being nervous all day, I was excited.

Thank you all and have a good week.
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Got a question for Aaron this week? Send it to astroscounty@hotmail.com