By RYAN ARENA

L’Observateur

After finishing his prep career as the anchor of East St. John’s rotation, pitcher Bryton Trepagnier was selected in Major League Baseball’s amateur draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates in June.

Trepagnier, a 6’5, hard-throwing right hander who hits 91 on the radar gun, had to decide whether he would immediately accept a contract offer or first attend school — he had signed to play at Bossier Parish Community College.

But on July 5, Trepagnier signed with the Pirates organization, marking the official beginning to his professional baseball career. He has been playing in the Gulfcoast League and has made three relief appearances so far, two of them scoreless.

This week, L’Observateur caught up with the 18-year-old, and he shared his recent experiences with us.

Q: Last time we spoke, you were still awaiting a contract offer and weighing going pro against going to college. Talk about that process.

A: Well, the Pirates people told me it would be a little while before they made an offer. I went back with my summer league team and in early July, they came with their first offer. I didn’t accept it. But they offered more money and more money for me to attend school later on, so I decided to take it. They offered about $50,000 worth of school money, so I know I still have that to fall back on.

Q: How has the minor league experience been so far?

A: It’s been good. I’ve been playing in the Gulfcoast League. I’ve had three appearances so far, and I’ve felt pretty good.

Q: What has the jump from high school and summer ball to the pros been like?

A: It’s a tremendous jump. You’re not just facing three or four really good people anymore, it’s everyone. You really have to step your game up. You’ve got to come to work every single day and keep pushing.

Q: What made up your mind once and for all to go pro?

A: I had really wanted to from the start. When they offered me the money to go to school later on, that went a long way.

Q: Talk about how you feel now that you’re officially a pro?

A: It feels a little different, but not as much as you’d think. You definitely are going out there and playing on better fields, against top competition, but I don’t think it’s completely hit me yet. But when I go back home, I think that’s when it’ll really wash over me. I think I’ll finally feel different at that point.

Q: How have you gotten along with your teammates so far?

A: Well, most of my teammates are Dominican, so I had to learn Spanish. It’s been a good thing. Everyone’s just working toward the same thing, to get to the next level.

Q: How about the coaches. Taught you anything?

A: They’ve taught me a lot already, in just two weeks. Whether it’s on the field or just the right things to eat … I’m learning all I can, but I still have a long way to go.

Q: Finally, what are your goals for the rest of the season?

A: Just to continue to improve, so that when I go into spring training next year, I’ll be ready to move to the next level.