Chad Durakis was ready for life after baseball.
The former Terrapin catcher already had landed a job this summer, Terp coach Terry Rupp said. But he may not need to give up his gear just yet.
The Baltimore Orioles picked Durakis in the 37th round of the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft on Friday, making him the only Terrapin baseball player among the 1,504 draftees in the two-day process. Durakis will begin playing with the Aberdeen IronBirds-an Orioles Class-A affiliate.
“Basically, being drafted was always a dream of mine,” Durakis said. “I wasn’t going to believe it until I saw it.”
Durakis was a four-year starter for the Terps. He made his mark, placing in the program’s all-time top 10 in hits, runs, RBI and several other categories. Durakis hit .289 with 10 home runs and 114 RBI as a Terp.
But it was durability where the 6-foot, 215-pound catcher made his mark.
“I don’t think he missed a game in four years,” Rupp said.
Rupp also praised Durakis for his leadership and work ethic, noting that the senior often encouraged his teammates both in the classroom and on the field.
Recently, several catchers drafted in late rounds have made big contributions on the major-league level. For instance, former 62nd-round pick Mike Piazza is a lock for the Hall of Fame when he becomes eligible. Rupp said he believes Durakis is the kind of player whose abilities will translate to the next level.
“He’s very coachable, and he’s very astute for making adjustments,” Rupp said. “You need somebody like that behind the plate.”
Durakis may go down for something else in Terp history, though. He currently holds the Terp record for hits-by-pitch at 45. “That, right there, is an indication of what type of player he is,” Rupp said. “He’s willing to do whatever it takes to get on base and help our team.”
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