Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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irish in the pros home helped guide his decision. Ultimately, though, Mancini left South Bend because he had accomplished all he could in the college ranks after three straight years of being an allconference first baseman for the Irish. "I had no idea what to do at first," he said. "I don't think the scouts were really going to see any more of me than they already have. I thought it was time for me to take the next step." Mancini said he reported to Baltimore for his physical before signing a deal and heading to Aberdeen. He broke into the starting lineup at first base the day after he signed his contract and had played in 30 games since then, and led the team in both hits (37) and batting average through July 21. Jagielo had an easier decision to make than his teammate after the New York Yankees used their first pick of the draft — the 26th overall — to take the Irish third baseman. The selection made Jagielo the fifth-highest draft pick in Notre Dame history and guaranteed him a seven-figure contract if he signed with the Yankees. He watched the draft with family and close friends in the Chicago suburbs, but reported to New York a few days later to sign his contract and get his career started. "The goal was to have a fit where I can sign quickly and just get in the organization and start working my way up and trying to make it to the end goal, which is playing at Yankee Stadium," he said. "I don't think it's going to be too hard for me to fit right into their system. The parallels with Notre Dame, they just have such a rich history in baseball. "There's so much tradition there. It's such a different standard when you're a Yankee." Jagielo shipped out to Staten Island, home of the Yankees' short-season Class A affiliate, where most freshly drafted college students spend their first summer. He immediately started living up to his billing as a first-round prospect when he took over at third base in mid-June. Jagielo led the team in batting average and on-base plus slugging percentage (.899) through July 21. He injured his hamstring in late June and went to Tampa Bay for rehab. His time away from Staten Island made him miss two series with Aberdeen, where his old teammate Mancini has since signed. The pair, who owned the third and fourth slots in Notre Dame's batting order since their freshman season, will get their first chance to square off against one another July 28-29. The short-season league wraps up by Labor Day weekend when both Mancini and Jagielo will likely be invited to their teams' instructional leagues in the fall. Mancini said he doesn't know yet where he will land in the future or how soon the Orioles hope to move him higher in the farm system, but he's had good reviews from his coaches in the past month. He said he plans on trying to improve his defense during the fall instructional league session. "There are a few things I'd like to do better, just little things around the bag, reading bunts better and just my overall defense," he said. "That's pretty