Ben Broussard -- By Greg Gray

Standing on a little league field in Sour Lake, Texas a nine year old boy dreamed of one day making it to The Show.  Today, that same young man is half way to Cincinnati and in record time.  Just three short months ago, the senior season of sweet swinging left hander Ben Broussard was coming to an end at Louisiana's McNeese State University and what a senior season it was!

He set school records for Batting Average (.427), Homeruns (27) and RBI (91).  He also scored 74 runs and swiped 10 bags.  Those numbers were good enough to earn him the seventeenth best average in the nation, he was fourth in the nation in RBI per game and fifth in the nation in homers per game.  He was also a First Team Louisiana Sports Writers Association All-American, a third team Louisville Slugger All-American and a GTE Academic All-American.  

Undrafted as a junior, Ben felt he had something to prove his senior season.  “My goal that I set half way through the season, was that I just wanted to be drafted in the top ten rounds,” said Broussard. “Being a senior and having never been drafted, that was a pretty big goal.”  The offensive numbers continued to pile up for the Texas native and the pro scouts began to take serious notice.  

Then draft day rolled around and the 6’3”, 215 pounder waited but not calmly.  “That was incredible.  Just to be in that position. I didn’t think I would go that high,” Broussard said with a huge smile.  With their second round pick, the 65th overall, the Cincinnati Reds chose Ben Broussard; the second college senior selected in the draft.  “To get the opportunity to go in the top two (rounds), that doesn’t happen very often, especially for seniors.  I hope that this will give other seniors hope after college.  I remember what it felt like to be a junior and not be drafted, and I thought man, I might not get drafted (this year).”