Just two years ago, Texas Tech pitcher Chad Bettis was drafted by the Houston Astros in the eighth round of the 2007 Major League Baseball Draft. But the Lubbock native and product of Monterey High School traded his ticket to the show for three years of college baseball at Tech,
And so far, it's paid off, albeit with a little less cash. However, the experiences are piling up for the junior right-hander.
After performing in the prestigious Cape Cod Summer League after his 2008 freshman season, Bettis joined Baylor's Logan Verrett as the only players from the Big 12 Conference selected to compete for a spot on the USA Baseball National Team at the team trials in Cary, N.C., June 15 to June 24.
"It's just unbelievable," said Bettis, who ranks third all-time in Tech history for saves in a single season. "I didn't think I'd be here for two years. It's a very great honor to have. I feel very privileged to play with guys that I will hopefully be playing with for a long time."
As a sophomore, Bettis was the driving force behind the Red Raiders' pitching staff this season, finishing with a 6-1 record, seven saves and a 3.59 ERA while leading the team with 72 2/3 innings pitched.
From starting to relieving, in 11 of Tech's 12 conference wins, Bettis contributed on the mound - highlighting his versatility. Bettis said he spoke with USA Baseball General Manager Eric Campbell on Wednesday and expects to be used similarly until more details about the final team become certain.
"It's a great honor for our baseball program and for Chad (Bettis) to earn an invite to the national trials," Tech Coach Dan Spencer said in a statement. "Our goal is to develop players and allow them to put themselves in these types of positions. The experience you get from playing with the best college baseball players in the country is invaluable."
And Bettis knows he'll have more than a baseball at his fingertips.
"You learn everything, from who your competition is for the next year in college to who you have down the line," he said. "You can tell how they act, how you react as a player around them and show what you can do to them.
"This is gonna be a great experience to have. We get to travel a lot, and it's gonna feel like a very big major league setting, and it's gonna be fun."
In hopes of taking the next step in his career, Bettis said he would like to improve on his consistency, command and develop his curve ball more during the offseason.
Bettis would be the fifth Tech player to play on the national team if he makes the cut, joining Josh Bard (1997, 1998), Monty Ward (1997), Shane Wright (1998) and Roger Kieschnick (2006, 2007).
Bettis said he plans to give Kieschnick a call in the coming days to pick his brains on what to expect from the experience.
"I'll be soaking it in off the field and competitive on the field, just like any other player probably will be there," Bettis said. "It's gonna be fun. I know I'm gonna try to make that team for sure. I'm gonna do whatever I have to to get there to that 22-man roster."
As for looking back at his decision to pass on MLB money and competition, Bettis feels right at home.
"It's amazing. I wouldn't have it any other way, now that I think about it," he said. "College was the right choice for me, and I have a lot of people to thank for it."
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