Well-traveled Cavan drafted by San Francisco

"This is one of the best days of my life," Cavan said.

Cavan was selected in the 16th round out of U.C. Santa Barbara by the Giants, the team for which he grew up rooting. It's a long-awaited homecoming as Cavan has attended three colleges in four years. He wasn't a troublemaker. It was just a matter of working his way back to the West Coast after a misplaced freshman year in Texas.

Born in 1987 -- he turns 22 in less than three weeks -- Cavan joked that he is literally an original "Humm Baby." For those not raised in the orange-and-black, that is the term used for the baseball culture that former Giants manager Roger Craig brought to San Francisco. In an age where the Internet allows access to the live announcement of 1,500-plus draft picks in a given year, Cavan received the news he was drafted the old-school way, via phone call from a former coach Wednesday morning.

"I was too nervous to watch (the draft)," Cavan said.

Once the phone rang though, he knew it was good news.

"I said: 'I must have got drafted', but I didn't know by who."

The news wasn't just good. It was a dream come true. By Wednesday afternoon, Cavan sounded like he was ready to fly to Arizona for last night's Giants-Diamondbacks match-up and get the game-winning hit. With the Giants' Rookie Class team in Scottsdale, that is where he will likely soon be heading. Arizona League games begin June 21.

"I want to get out there. I can't wait," Cavan said. "I'm hungry to get out there and start playing."

In 2005, Cavan graduated from Menlo with All-League honors and a Central Coast Section championship to his credit. He went on to play for two Division III powerhouses in as many years. In 2006, he hit .382 en route to a conference championship at Trinity University in San Antonio, Tx. In 2007, he hit .398 en route to a regional championship at Chapman University in Orange, California.

With his draft-eligible junior year on deck, Cavan stepped into the Division I world at UCSB based on the recommendation of former Menlo teammate and UCSB pitcher Chuck Huggins. Cavan had to sit out a year per NCAA transfer rules. While he didn't play in any college games during the 2008 season, he practiced as a redshirt.

He also played his second summer in the wooden-bat Northwoods League. He played for the Green Bay Bullfrogs under manager Elliott Strankman, who was drafted by the Giants in 2000. Cavan said Strankman is the one who made him realize his potential.

"He told me, 'Professional baseball. This is you. You can do it,'" Cavan said.

The redshirt season also fueled the fire.

"I certainly thought he was hungry, and when he finally got his opportunity, he took off," UCSB manager Bob Brontsema said.

He certainly did. Playing mostly as a third baseman this season, Cavan hit .341 while striking out just 22 times in 173 at bats, with 31 walks. The Giants drafted him as a shortstop though, his natural position. He has also played some second base over the past two years. Cavan is also a natural switch hitter, which he has done since tee ball.

"It's such an advantage having the ball break in to you and never breaking away from you," said Cavan. "That's a really big reason for my success."

The 2009 MLB Draft concludes today. The signing deadline is Aug. 17. Cavan has his sights set on pro ball, but it isn't yet a done deal.

"[One can] get caught up in the dream instead of the business aspect of it," Brontsema said. "He has to make sure to get the deal he wants. You have to get the deal you want before you get out and play."

Also drafted Wednesday: Santa Clara University and former Serra shortstop Jon Karcich was selected by the Angels in the seventh round. U.C. Davis and former Menlo lefty Andy Suiter was selected by the Dodgers in the 10th round. Right-handed pitcher Chris Balcolm-Miller of West Valley College -- in the same Golden Gate Division as College of San Mateo -- was selected in the sixth round by the Rockies.

More local Day Two draftees: Stanford -- RHP Brandt Walker, selected in the eighth round by Houston; RHP Jeff Inman, selected by Pittsburgh in the 12th round; OF Joey August, selected by the Mets in the 20th round; OF Wande Olabisi, selected by the Padres in the 30th round. Cal -- LHP Michael Bugary, selected by Boston in the 15th round; IF Michael Brady was selected by Florida in the 24th round. University of San Francisco -- SS Luke Poppert was selected by Cincinnati in the 28th round.