Kean College baseball coach Neil Ioviero slipped out of church on June 8, 2013, to check his phone.
It was the third and final day of the MLB draft, and Ioviero knew recent Kean graduate and pitcher Kevin Herget had a shot at being picked. When Ioviero checked, the draft was almost over – somewhere near round 35 of 40 – and Herget’s name hadn’t been called. Ioviero’s heart sank.
After church, Ioviero ’s phone buzzed. Herget had been picked by the Cardinals in the 39th round.
Ioviero burst into tears.
“I was literally crying like a baby at that point,” Ioviero said.