Tyler Krieger isn\u2019t sure if the shoulder injury that plagued him all year caused him to fall to the fourth round of the Major League Baseball Draft or not, but what he does know is the injury taught him a lot.
\n\u201cI rather not have been hurt, but you can look at it another way. It taught me a lot. It taught me how to overcome things and how to play when you are injured,\u201d he said. \u201cYou are not going to feel healthy for a hundred and fifty games a year at the professional level. That\u2019s the way it is.
\n\u201cIt has taught me a lot mentality. It has taught me how to take care of my body so in the long run I think it is going to be a positive for me. I will look back at the injury and say, \u2018That was actually a big part of my life and I learned a lot during that time.\u2019 I learned how to handle adversity and learned how to overcome obstacles that will definitely be there in pro ball.\u201d
\nKrieger, who was drafted No. 124 by the Cleveland Indians in the fourth round on Tuesday, handled the situation well as a college ballplayer, too. The Tigers\u2019 infielder never complained and spent most of the season as the designated hitter before finally moving to second base late in the year after Chase Pinder went down with a season-ending arm injury.
\nIn 2015, Krieger batted .339 with 41 RBIs and led the team in on-base percentage (.448) and steals (14) on his way to earning Second-Team All-ACC honors for the second year in a row.
\n\u201cClemson was great to me and honestly, I\u2019m excited about the opportunity I have going forward,\u201d the junior said.
\nKrieger felt he was selected right where he figured he might go in the draft. The Indians called him just a few moments before their selection to let him know they were taking him.
\n\u201cI\u2019m just excited,\u201d he said. \u201cThis is something you dream about doing as a kid and you have to understand that not many people get this opportunity and there are a lot of people that would love to be in your shoes.
\n\u201cHonestly, I\u2019m really grateful to the Indians organization for taking a chance on me. I can\u2019t wait to get going. This is something I have always dreamed about doing,\u201d Duggar said. \u201cThis is a goal that I have always wanted to reach. There are a lot more goals ahead and obstacles ahead that I can\u2019t wait to overcome and accomplish.\u201d
\nKrieger has already overcome a lot. Individually, he still had a great season despite the injury to his shoulder and all of the scuttlebutt surrounding head coach Jack Leggett and the program.
\n\u201cCoach called me yesterday and we have had a great relationship. He has helped me so much,\u201d Krieger said. \u201cI just want to thank him for everything he has done for me because he means so much to me and what he has done for me is unbelievable.
\n\u201cHe gave me an opportunity out of high school to come to a great place in Clemson to mature, get better and grow. He gave me every resource during my time there to get me where I am today. He just called and said, \u2018Thanks for everything you have done for me.\u2019 I said, \u2018Thanks for everything you have done for me.\u2019 That\u2019s basically what it was. He is a great man. I wish things went differently for him at Clemson and the way that it was handled. He is an unbelievable person which is more important than baseball. The one thing I cherish from our relationship is the friendship.\u201d<\/p>\n