NEW BRAUNFELS, Texas — Baseball was seemingly Jordan Westburg’s destiny from an early age.

“My parents would tell stories of me in the grocery cart in Walmart swinging sausage links like a baseball bat,” Westburg says.

His fascination for the game never disappeared. Westburg went on to be an all-state baseball player at New Braunfels High School. From there he signed to play in college at one of the premier programs in the country, Mississippi State University.

“It was definitely the best decision I’ve ever made in life,” says Westburg about choosing MSU. “That’s what I needed to do out of high school was go to college and develop.” 

That’s exactly what Westburg did. He struggled a little during his freshman year at Mississippi State but eventually earned a starting spot with the Bulldogs team. Westburg’s moment came when his team played North Carolina in the 2018 College World Series. The freshman hit a grand slam and drove in seven runs that game, tying a CWS record. 

“That kind of put me on the map for Mississippi State fans,” says Westburg. 

He came back in 2019 as a sophomore and had a really solid season, hitting .294 with six home runs and 39 RBI’s. Once again, Westburg was a part of a team that made it to the College World Series. He followed that up by playing really well in the Cape Cod League last summer. Everything built up for him and his team to have another big year in 2020. Then during the middle of the season, the coronavirus hit and everything was canceled. 

“Breaks your heart because it’s something you’ve worked so hard for the past year,” says Westburg. 

While that was an abrupt end to his time at Mississippi State, there is still plenty of baseball left for Westburg. He became one of the top prospects in the country leading into last week’s MLB Draft, and late on the first night of the draft he heard his name called. Westburg was the 30th overall pick in the draft and was taken by the Baltimore Orioles. 

“The 30th pick came around and I saw my name flash up. It was so special,” says Westburg. “Something you’ve been working for your whole life and to see that happen, it was just awesome.” 

He’s not sure when he’ll report to the team and begin his pro career, but the little boy swinging sausages at the grocery store has fulfilled a lifelong dream. 

“That passion and fire to be the best and play professionally and to someday be an all-star and a hall-of-famer is something I’ve always had.”