WESTBOROUGH, Ma. - The idea of playing professional baseball started becoming part of Ian Seymour’s thought process last summer. It is now reality after Seymour signed with the Tampa Bay Rays this week.

“I went to Cape last year and got the feeling that I belonged,” related the product of St. John’s Shrewsbury High School, who fanned 39 in 25.1 innings of work with only six walks in the prestigious summer league. “If I can compete with the best guys in college baseball, there’s no reason I can’t compete with the best players in baseball.”

The 23rd-rated left-handed pitcher in the 2020 Major League Baseball Draft will find out soon if that is the case after inking a deal for the second round, 57th pick slotted bonus amount of $1,243,600.

“I wasn’t sure where I would go,” Seymour said about the June 10 draft. “There were a stretch of teams interested in me in the second round in the 40-60 range … I couldn’t be happier where I ended up. The Rays are notorious for developing pitchers.”

The left-hander, a 2017 graduate of St. John’s Shrewsbury, where he also excelled as a hitter and right fielder, is coming off a 2020 shortened-season at Virginia Tech in which he posted a 3-0 record with 40 strikeouts and five walks in 20.1 innings.

“I’m not the type of guy that gets too worried about it,” Seymour said in reference to his expectations entering the draft. “If I hadn’t been picked, I would have gone back to school.”

At Virginia Tech, the 6-0 190-pound southpaw became the first freshman in school history to win a Game 1 ACC start and went on to finish his career with a top-seven finish in six categories in the program, including first all-time in strikeouts (10.77) per nine innings pitched.

“A lot went into it, there were three years of development and maturity,” explained Seymour, who played with Team Massachusetts in the 2016 Future Games. “You set a routine, throw bullpens, develop new pitches … all kinds of things play a part in your development. I credit the coaches at Virginia Tech and at home. Without their help I’m not where I’m at now.”

Like with many, the idea of playing in the majors first emerged for Seymour at a young age.

“It’s always been a dream of mine,” Seymour said. “Playing in the backyard you think about being a pro baseball player and I’m fortunate enough to make it.”

Hard work played a big part of it for Seymour, who “did a lot of sprint work and body weight stuff” after the college baseball season was cancelled due to COVID-19.

“I was back home working out throwing bullpens every week,” Seymour noted.

He was with family and friends during the draft.

“When they called my name there was a lot of celebration,” Seymour reflected. “I gave everyone hugs. It was a special moment for us.”

Dennis Healy, PBR Massachusetts Director of Scouting, was not surprised Seymour was a second-round pick.

“Ian is a grinder,” Healy said. “He loves to pitch and work at his craft. He’s put in the work and is deserving of the selection. On the field he is the aggressor in the one-on-one battle, and off the field he has a super personality.”

The start of his career comes with uncertainty.

“I haven’t faced a pro hitter yet so I’m not sure what pitches will be successful,” Seymour said. “The fastball and change are my top pitches and I have a tighter slider that generates swings and misses.

“I’ll start with the routine I’ve developed, only make a shorter schedule with it. I’ll just try to stay healthy, work hard and stay competitive.”