Shallotte’s Markel Jones is thankful for his shot to play pro baseball

SHALLOTTTE, NC (WWAY) — Markel Jones was a three sport athlete at West Brunswick High School. He played basketball, baseball and football, but baseball without a doubt was his passion.

The 2013 West Brunswick High grad was selected last Saturday by the Baltimore Orioles in the 33rd round of the Major League Baseball Draft. Jones recently played for the Brunswick Community College Dolphins. He was a huge part of BCC’s run to the national juco baseball tourney, but Jones will be putting college baseball in his rear view mirror in order to pursue his pro baseball dream with the Baltimore Orioles organization.

Markel Jones didn’t grow up a Baltimore fan. He wore his new cap proudly on Wednesday in Wilmington prior to his departure for Florida. “I was nervous,” Jones told WWAY. “I received a phone call that morning saying they were not going to take more outfielders and I was kinda bummed for the rest of the day and they called me back that afternoon to say they would take me with the next pick in the 33rd round.”