BLOOMINGTON -- Steve Schilsky's chance at playing professional baseball this summer could easily have ended when he suffered a broken leg April 4.
Schilsky, the Illinois Wesleyan junior, was drafted by the Oakland Athletics in the 25th round.
Schilsky is the third IWU player ever to be drafted in the major league draft. IWU Players in Pro Baseball
"I was pretty happy with it. I was told I was going to go at some point," Schilsky said. "It's nice to get picked up that early considering the circumstances."
Schilsky was 8-3 with a 1.82 ERA and a school-record 107 strikeouts in 2001 before a spectacular summer with the Twin City Stars netted him Central Illinois Collegiate League Pitcher of the Year honors.
He was 1-1 with a 2.38 ERA and 34 strikeouts in 22 1/3 innings before breaking his right fibula in practice.
Schilsky hopes to return to the mound with Twin City in two weeks and reach full strength by the end of the month.
"They (Oakland) told me they are looking to follow me through the summer. They said to take my time and go at my own pace," said Schilsky. "They're going to want to see me throw. The better I do the better offer I'm going to get.
"If I come back and show them I'm the same pitcher I was before the injury, then I think I could pull a pretty good bonus."
If Schilsky and Oakland do not agree on a contract, he could return to IWU for his senior season and re-enter the draft next June.
 

A's draft SHG grad Schilsky
By Todd Merchant
Staff Writer, Springfield (Ill.) State Journal Register

Sacred Heart-Griffin High School graduate Steve Schilsky was selected by the Oakland Athletics in the 25th round of Wednesday's Major League Baseball amateur draft.
Schilsky, who recently completed his junior season at Illinois Wesleyan University, was the 758th overall pick.
"Of course it feels pretty good. It's pretty cool," Schilsky said. "It's nice considering what happened to me."
Schilsky was 1-1 with a 2.38 earned run average for the Titans. He was well on his way to breaking his own school record of 107 strikeouts before breaking his leg during practice early in the spring.
Schilsky said the injury is not something that will affect him in the future, but he was still a little surprised about how soon he was drafted.
"I'd been told I'd be picked, and the A's called me (Tuesday) night and told me they were interested in me," Schilsky said. "My coach was a little surprised. He thought I might go around the 30th round."
While leading his team to the Division III World Series in 2001, Schilsky earned College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Player of the Year honors and was named a second team Division III All-American. He also was a starting defensive end on the Titans football team, something he probably will give up to focus on baseball.
"Most likely the smartest thing to do, especially with the injury, is to concentrate on baseball," Schilsky said. "But I haven't made a final decision yet."
Oakland is going to follow the right-handed pitcher throughout the summer as he spends another season with the Twin City Stars of the Central Illinois Collegiate League and then probably offer him a contract after the season ends.
Schilsky was named the CICL Pitcher of the Year last season after posting an 8-0 record to go along with an 0.54 earned run average.
"(Oakland's) being pretty patient with me," Schilsky said. "They don't want to rush anything and told me to take my time."
The Stars begin their season tonight when they travel to Danville to take on the Dans at 6:30. Schilsky is still rehabbing his leg and probably will be back in the Twin City rotation in about three weeks.

Todd Merchant can be reached at 788-1550 or todd.merchant@sj-r.com.