While former NHL star Wayne Gretzky never got to live out his dream of playing professional baseball, the Great One is living vicariously through his son Trevor, a prospect in next week’s MLB Draft.
During an interview on Hockeycentral @ Noon on Friday, Gretzky talked about his son’s draft prospects and the possibility of him being selected by Canada’s only major league team, the Toronto Blue Jays.
“We’ll see what happens,” Gretzky told Daren Millard, Nick Kypreos and Doug MacLean. “The draft is Monday and Tuesday. He really is a good athlete; he’s 6’5″ and I’m very proud of him. More importantly, he’s a really good young man.”
When asked if he’d be OK with his son being drafted by the Blue Jays, Gretzky responded: “Absolutely. And he wears No. 99 so it would be wonderful. We’re looking forward to this week. If they do draft him, I’ll be able to buy a house in Canada and go back to Toronto and watch him play a lot of baseball.”
Even if he is drafted next week, Trevor has the option to play at the collegiate level after committing to San Diego State, where former MLB player and Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn is coach.
“After he gets drafted, we’ll sit down as a family and we’ll decide what he’s going to do,” Gretzky added. “He’s got options: To either sign and turn pro or accept his scholarship that he has at San Diego State and go down and play for Tony Gwynn.
“It’s an exciting time. He’s going to go tomorrow to the Cubs at their complex in Mesa, Arizona and then Sunday, he’s going to work out with the Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. It’s an exciting time for him and we’re really proud of him.”
A first baseman at Westlake Village Oaks Christian High in California, Trevor hit .341 with two home runs and 33 RBIs last spring.
