HIGH POINT, N.C. -- The state of North Carolina is known for producing high caliber baseball talent.

  • Randy Norris drafted to San Francisco Giants
  • Played center field at Winston-Salem State University
  • He is following in his father's footsteps

Almost 70 high school and college baseball players were taken in this year’s Major League Baseball draft. One of them is Randy Norris, a center fielder from Winston-Salem State.

When his name was called in the nineteenth round, he says he went blank and his family began celebrating all around him.

“I was following it on my phone,” he said. “The tears flowed.”

From hitting home runs in T-ball to being the first Winston-Salem State player drafted since 1985, Norris has accomplished two goals by being taken by the San Francisco Giants.

“That’s always been my dream,” Norris said. “That’s what I really want to do.”

The three-year-starter at WSSU is the program’s hits and stolen bases leader. He’s become the second Norris drafted by the majors. The High Point native is following in his father's footsteps. Nat Norris was drafted by the White Sox in 1989.

Coaching his son from the Little League to high school and seeing him reach his ultimate goal makes this father-son bond even stronger.

Norris will head to Arizona next week to start rookie ball, taking that strong family bond with him.

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