OLDSMAR, FL — A few weeks ago, a lifelong dream came true for Trevor Harrison. 

“It was a pretty surreal feeling. I didn’t quite know what to think. It’s always been a dream of mine to be there one day.” 

His goal to play professional baseball became a reality. 

“I started playing when I was 4 years old, ever since then I fell in love with the game,” Harrison reflected. “I knew this is what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.” 

Harrison was selected in the MLB Draft and not just by any team. 

The right-hander got the call from the Tampa Bay Rays, his hometown team. 

“When I heard my name it was super surreal. I couldn’t quite think straight when it happened. I was sort of, at a loss for words, I couldn’t really talk, I was just kind of happy,” Harrison said. “Super excited, super surreal feeling.” 

Harrison grew up in Tampa Bay, attending Rays games as a young fan. 

“It was super fun. I was always a big fan of Evan Longoria growing up,” Harrison said. “I’ve been to countless games. I couldn’t even tell you how many I’ve been to.” 

His goal was to play for the Rays one day, but he wasn’t always considered major league material. 

“It’s been a very long road,” his father Jim Harrison recounted. “He hasn’t always been on the best team, but he’s always been a competitor, and then the maturity level kicked in and he figured it all out.” 

Harrison changed positions his junior year, becoming a pitcher. His dad said that’s when his potential became undeniable. 

“His junior year, he started progressing and his numbers just started jumping off the charts,” he said. “It was an eye opener, like he actually has the potential to make this happen, to make his dream come true.” 

Now he joins the Rays, an organization built on pitching and defense, known for developing young talent like Harrison. 

“Super exciting to be a part of that because everything I’ve seen about young guys going in there and leaving there or being there for a long time, they’ve always been really good and one of the best in the MLB so it’s really good to be a part of that soon,” Harrison said. 

He brings a powerful arm and a strong mindset. 

“I’m a good competitor, you know. I want to compete, I wasn’t always the best, I wasn’t always the go-to guy, so having that drive to be good, to be that guy, it’s huge, you gotta have that especially at the next level.”