MONTPELIER, Vt. - Becoming a professional baseball player is an uncommon occurrence when growing up in Vermont. But that is what has happened to Owen Kellington.

The U-32 High School graduate has signed a contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates after being selected in the fourth round with the 102nd pick of the Major League Baseball Draft in July.

“My agent said before the draft I was in a good spot to be drafted in the third or fourth round,” Kellington said. “A good amount of teams liked me.”

None more than the Pirates, which made the 6-2 193-pound right-handed pitcher their fifth selection of the draft.

“I was with my parents and some friends sitting in my living room watching,” reflected the 21st-rated 2021 RHP in the nation. “I heard from some teams I’d be picked in the third round, the Braves were one of them. Then in between the third and fourth rounds the Pirates called my agent and said they wanted to take me with the first pick of the fourth round.”

It was not surprising for the 67th-ranked 2021 player in the country,

“The Pirates were one of the teams on my radar,” Kellington noted. “My agent used to be a scout for the Pirates so they were definitely one of the teams I thought that could take me.”

A deal was worked out prior to being selected and Kellington was about to become a pro rather than a college student at Connecticut.

“They were super supportive of me during the draft,” Kellington said of the Big East Conference school. “Sure, they’d like me to come play at UConn but I wanted what was best for me. I talked to them before and after the draft.”

A physical along with testing took place for Kellington before training at Pirate City began a little more than a week ago.

“I really like the atmosphere here,” Kellington said. “I’m going to be here for two more months. After that I’ll be doing some instruction stuff in the winter and spring. I’m in the acclimation phase now, working out and getting to know my plan for development.”

What Kellington does know is what his goals are for the future.

“I want to get better, progressing along the way in the minors and then going on to play in the majors,” Kellington pointed out. “That’s the goal. I’m working to improve to be able to make that a reality.”

Kellington understands the task in front of him.

“It’s going to be a lot of hard work,” Kellington said. “I’ll have a better idea when I see what the plans are. I just need to keep working hard and improving. It’s going to be nice to have good coaching, that’s something that wasn’t available for me too much in Vermont.”

Making the jump from baseball in Vermont to professional ball is certainly a blessing, according to Kellington.

“Any time you’re able to do something that not a lot of people get to do, it’s a cool feeling,” Kellington related. “The whole state’s rooting for you.

“It took a lot of hard work to go along with some natural talent,” Kellington continued. “Not being content with being the best player in the area or in Vermont, I always wanted more and my parents wanted more.”

That has proven to be the case for Prep Baseball Report’s 2021 Vermont High School Player of the Year.