After 761 minor league games and 2,929 plate appearances in seven seasons in the Padres minor league system, Cody Decker reached the Major Leagues Monday night.
It has been a long journey since the now 27-year-old Decker was drafted in the 22nd round out of UCLA in 2009. He was not your prototypical draft pick. The right-handed hitting infielder was 5-foot-11 and 225 poouds.
As a senior, Decker led the Pac-10 in home runs and was an all-conference selection. But there was the rub. He was a senior. Most legitimate college prospects come out after their junior seasons.