By Pete Borkowski

DUNEDIN, Fla. – Toronto Blue Jays pitching prospect Josh Hiatt needed just one word to describe his emotions entering his first major-league training camp.

Excitement.

After two years of college ball, the 21-year-old reliever is looking to take the first step towards a major league career in 2019 and has clear feelings about his first spring training.

“Just really excitement for the most part getting out on the field,” Hiatt said, “because I didn't play last year so I would just say mostly excitement. Not really nervousness or anything. Just excitement to be out here.”

He got the invite after being drafted in the 16th round, 476th overall, by the Blue Jays last June. The former University of North Carolina closer, 7-4 with 19 saves in 63 games over two seasons, did not get to play with the Jays organization last year.

Now he feels poised to find a place with one of the team’s minor-league affiliates. The Charlotte, N.C., native does not yet know where he will play, although “by the end of the season, I want to be at least in high-A if not in Double-A.”

Despite not knowing where he will be playing or what his role will be, he knows that “you have to be willing to do about anything because, if you want to make your way up as quickly as possible, you want to set yourself up for success.”

Hiatt is not letting the uncertainty affect his ability to enjoy his first spring training. Working major leaguers has helped ease the transition from college to pro.

“College is not really a camp,” he said. “It’s just ‘Day One you’re automatically practicing and doing all the stuff,’ and here its more ‘ease into stuff, slow down everything, walk through things right away and then start to get going.’”.

Hiatt got to have some training sessions with fellow pitcher Matt Dermody and chatted with reliever Danny Barnes, both of whom were on the Blue Jays roster the past couple of seasons. “Pretty cool,” he said.

With the Jays, it’s a fresh start for Hiatt, whose 2018 season with UNC was marred by an April 26-May 8 suspension for conduct detrimental to the team.

He said it taught him not to “take the game for granted. And don't take your teammates for granted because more than anything you miss that more than the game.”