MSU right fielder Travis Gulick and catcher Erik Morris, both juniors, were selected in the 2004 Major League Baseball draft on June 8.
Gulick decided to leave and is playing for the Missoula Osprey of the Pioneer League in Missoula, Mont.
For Gulick, the two days of sitting in front of his computer listening to the draft online seemed endless until his name was finally called that afternoon.
Gulick was drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 23rd round, 686th overall.
"It's been a long process," Gulick said. "I was real disappointed that I didn't go (the first day of the draft), but it's not a big deal because the opportunity presented itself (the following day)."
Morris was drafted in the 44th round by the Philadelphia Phillies as the 1,319th pick overall. He is the son of former major league pitcher Jack Morris.
Gulick and Morris were two of 22 Big Ten players taken in the draft, the league's largest total in the last four years. They are also the first Spartans to be drafted since 2002, when five players were taken.
The excitement of being drafted showed in Gulick's broad smile, but now the Spartans star faces a difficult decision.
Under draft rules, Gulick has the option of signing with the Diamondbacks and forgoing his final year of eligibility, or coming back for his senior year and putting his name back in for the 2005 draft.
"The Arizona Diamondbacks have my rights until the next draft," Gulick said. "I can return for my senior season and have the opportunity to be drafted again next year."
MSU head coach Ted Mahan has known Gulick for more than 10 years since the time the local standout started attending MSU's camps and watching Spartans games from the stands. Mahan was excited with the news of the player whose dream has always been to make it to the pros.
"Travis grew up only a couple of miles from here which makes it even more fun," Mahan said. "I remember watching Travis on the soccer fields throwing and catching with his dad about eight or nine years ago."
"You knew that you really had a guy that loved baseball when he was doing those things between innings."
Having local roots has created a strong fan base that has been very special to Gulick over the past three years.
"I have a lot of supporters around this area and it's great to see them at the home games," Gulick said. "They're all real happy to see my advancement and things going well for me at MSU."
The All-Big Ten First Team honoree finished the season with a .310 batting average, 11 home runs and a team high 52 RBI. Mahan said Gulick didn't have his best season the past season, but his improvement has steadily increased.
"Each year, Travis has gotten better even if his stats don't show it this year," Mahan said. "He's the kind of player who plays extremely hard, works hard at the game and he has a lot of God-given talent which when you add all those together, I think you can go very far in professional baseball.
A few days after the draft, Gulick decided he would forego his senior season.
Mahan hoped that Gulick would stay to work on finishing his degree, and help the Spartans to another strong season, while possibly improving his draft position.
"If Travis would have came back, we'd a had seven of our nine position players back and a chance to have a really, really good team," Mahan said. "He would also have had the opportunity to improve his draft position."
Dan Gulick, Travis' father, was excited by his son's selection and happy with the Diamondbacks' organization.
"Travis loves the students at MSU, playing for the Spartans and his whole experience there," Gulick said. "But he is also excited about moving forward in baseball."
Gulick spent his summer with the Diamondbacks short-season club. He was hitting .250 through 34 games with 28 hits, 6 home runs and 25 RBI as of August 13.
