Good morning, Chicago.

Neither injuries nor a position change could slow down former Brother Rice star Zion Rose on his way to professional baseball.

Rose, who played three seasons for the Crusaders before transferring to IMG Academy in Florida for his senior year and then finding college success at Louisville, had his MLB hopes fulfilled earlier than anticipated Saturday.

“It’s been my dream for a long time, so to be able to see it come to fruition was amazing,” Rose said in a press conference. “I got to share it with my family and the people who supported me my whole life, so I’m just grateful to be here.”

Rose was taken by the Kansas City Royals with the sixth overall pick in the first round of the MLB draft in Philadelphia.

A 21-year-old outfielder who was the 2022 Daily Southtown Baseball Player of the Year, Rose was widely projected to be chosen toward the end of the first round. Instead, the Royals shocked the baseball community by taking him off the board much earlier than expected. Going into the draft, Rose felt ready for anything.

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