James Madison pitcher James Triantos selected by Chicago Cubs in MLB Draft after near perfect end to prep career
VIENNA, Va. (BVM) — It鈥檇 be hard for a high school baseball player to top the past month James Madison High School senior shortstop/pitcher James Triantos has had. In fact, Triantos was only two outs away from making the past few weeks read like a Hollywood movie script.
On June 26, Triantos took the mound for his Warhawks in the Virginia Class 6 state championship game against Colgan and he was nearly flawless. The senior would deliver six and a third perfect innings for James Madison, only surrendering a 7th inning solo home run. Adding to the magic, Triantos would score both Warhawks runs, one as a baserunner and the other on a solo homer, in the team鈥檚 2-1 championship victory, earning the team鈥檚 first state championship since 2015 and the program鈥檚 fifth overall.
鈥淭here鈥檚 really no better way to go out,鈥� Triantos said. 鈥淚 was playing with all of my best friends that I had been playing with since I was 7 years old. We had been talking about this for years and we finally did it so it was a great feeling.鈥�
As if that weren鈥檛 enough to make for a tremendous month, the 6-foot-1, 195-pound infielder was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the second round (56th overall) on July 12. The news was life changing for the star athlete as it cemented a childhood dream into reality for the star player.
鈥淚 mean it was really nerve-racking, I tried to keep calm and I did a good job of that but I was very jumpy,鈥� Triantos said of draft night. 鈥淸When the call came] all I could do was smile honestly. I gave both my parents big hugs and thanked them for everything they鈥檝e done for me. I gave my three best friends hugs afterwards and all I could do was smile for the rest of the day.鈥�
2 (56): select James Madison HS (VA) 3B James Triantos.
— MLB Draft Tracker (@MLBDraftTracker)
The championship game was only the cherry on top for the Madison senior as his whole season was spectacular. On the mound, Triantos went a perfect 9-0 with 62 strikeouts and an ERA of 1.18 over 47 innings pitched. Arguably better at the plate, the infielder finished the season with a batting average over .700 with a team-high eleven home runs, 27 RBIs, and 23 stolen bases. Though he was great within the base paths, Triantos feels it was the connection with his team that really brought his game up a level.
鈥淚 really think I developed as a person and as a leader,鈥� Triantos said. 鈥淧eople looked up to me on the team and I did a very good job filling that role. The year before I wasn鈥檛 as much of a vocal leader and I became one this year and that really helped the team.鈥�
In the MLB, many project the shortstop to switch to another part of the infield, likely at third base where other former shortstops such as Alex Bregman and David Wright have excelled in the past. For Triantos, he doesn鈥檛 mind the challenge the hot corner may provide him and he welcomes the opportunity.
鈥淚t honestly doesn鈥檛 matter to me as long as I鈥檓 benefiting the team,鈥� Triantos said. 鈥淚t does not matter to me. I鈥檓 just happy to be playing.鈥�
Signed to play at the University of North Carolina, the draft day selection unsurprisingly put the star player鈥檚 future in flux. While being selected in the draft straight out of high school does not guarantee a player will sign with the team, Triantos has made his decision to put on the red, white and blue of the Windy City.
鈥淚 feel confident in my decision, but the work doesn鈥檛 stop,鈥� Trainatos said. 鈥淚鈥檓 just going to keep working hard and hopefully that will help me move up in the minor leagues and hopefully to the major leagues sometime in the next few years.鈥�
Officially a Cubs family….time to go to work!
— Michele Triantos (@mtriantos7)
For the Cubs, they will be receiving a highly-touted utility style infielder with a high upside who can slot into the team鈥檚 left side of the infield (or elsewhere as the team likes to move players all over the diamond). For Triantos, he not only gets to make his MLB dreams a reality, but he also gets to do so with one of the most historic and recognizable franchises in the league.
鈥淚t鈥檚 an amazing feeling,鈥� Triantos said. 鈥淚鈥檓 looking forward to hopefully being a part of the history of that team. That鈥檚 my goal, that鈥檚 what I want to do. I have amazing people around me supporting me so I鈥檓 really excited.鈥�
Though the last month wasn鈥檛 perfect for Traintos, he was only a couple outs away from it. As he looks forward to his new career on the North Side, fans in Wrigleyville will be excited to see what the young star from Virginia can bring to the Cubbies for years to come.
鈥淚t鈥檚 really exciting,鈥� Traintos said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 the start of my dream so I鈥檓 ecstatic about it. 鈥� [Making it to the majors] has been my dream since I was 3 years old. That鈥檇 be me fulfilling my dreams and all my hard work would鈥檝e paid off. That would be the best moment of my life I鈥檓 sure.鈥�
