The LSU Tigers begin play today in the College World Series in Omaha. No matter the outcome for the team, senior catcher and former Southwest Mississippi Community College baseball star Kade Scivicque will continue to live the dream after it is over.
Fulfilling a lifelong dream of playing for LSU, on Tuesday Scivicque moved one step closer to realizing another lifelong dream when he was selected by the Detroit Tigers in the fourth round as the 130th overall pick of the Major League baseball draft.
Scivicque, a native of Maurepas, La., said he learned he had been drafted via a computer in LSU head coach Paul Manieri’s office. He said Manieri and hitting coach Andy Cannizaro had received a phone call from Detroit informing them that one of their players was about to be taken in the draft. The coaches then called Scivicque into the office and they watched the draft unfold on the computer.
“I was really excited,” said Scivicque. “I’ve always wanted to get the opportunity to play professional ball. Any kid that puts on cleats and a glove and picks up a bat has the dream of playing (professionally).
But, for now, Scivicque said he would just worry about Omaha. “I want to finish with the team I’m committed to now. After the World Series, then I can concentrate on Detroit.”
Scivicque said it meant a lot to him to be picked by Detroit. “They have really good catchers in their system,” he said, “and it means a lot that they think enough (of me) to pick me. It shows a lot of respect for me.”
He said Detroit is “an outstanding organization (and) they have some great players. They’re one of the top-notch teams and I look forward to being a part of the organization.”
Looking back briefly on his time at Southwest, Scivicque said playing for the Bears gave him necessary experience of playing college ball.
“The speed and talent of the game is a step up from high school,” Scivicque said. “It showed me that you can always learn more about the game and get better.”
SMCC head coach Ken Jackson said he “was excited for Kade and the opportunity he’s going to be given to move onto the next level and have the opportunity to play professional ball. I’m sure that’s a dream every kid has.”
Jackson said Scivicque’s playing at Southwest “emphasizes that sometimes your dreams have detours in them and you have to go through a different avenue and sometimes it works out better to do things a little different. Obviously, for our program it’s going to help because it shows that you can come here, improve your skills, improve your academics (and still) have an opportunity to move on to a different level.”
Because of NCAA rules, Scivicque will not be able to sign with an agent or sign a contract with Detroit until LSU completes their play in the World Series.
After he signs his contract, it is suspected that he will report to one of Tigers’ farm teams in Lakeland, Fla., to begin life as a professional.
