Back in July of 2005, before this site really got on its feet, AlwaysADawg.com had the chance to interview former Diamond Dawg Jonathan Papelbon. At the time, "Paps" was in AAA Pawtucket and appeared to be on track to make a MLB appearance very soon. And indeed, that was the case. Papelbon appeared in 17 games late last season, compiling a 3-1 record and 2.65 ERA.

But that success pales in comparison to the numbers the Jacksonville, FL native has put up thus far in 2006. In 17 games, he has put together a miniscule 0.50 ERA, allowing just a single run in 18 innings of work. He has convered on all 12 of his save attempts while striking out 17 batters and walking just two.

With the following Paps has gathered in recent months, we thought it would be the perfect time to re-print that story from a summer ago. Below is what was written almost 10 months ago, literally days before Papelbon made his MLB debut on July 31, 2005.

PAPS ONE STEP CLOSER TO "THE PAYCHECKS"

With his second full pro baseball season at the halfway mark, AlwaysADawg.com took the chance to spend a few minutes with former Bulldog baseball star Jonathan Papelbon. Since leaving MSU after his junior season in 2003, "Paps" has worked his way up to triple-A Pawtucket (RI) in the Boston Red Sox organization.

After being selected with the 114th overall pick of the 2003 MLB Draft, Papelbon chose to move his baseball career forward by signing with the Red Sox. It's a decision he is glad he made and one that has taken him within just one step of the major leagues.

"I wanted to play pro ball and leave college life behind," Papelbon says. "I have no regrets."

After signing with the Sox, the Jacksonville, FL native finished out 2003 at Lowell (MA) in the New York-Penn League. Though his 6.34 ERA was not overly impressive, he was promoted to the High A squad in Sarasota, FL in time for the 2004 season and made huge improvements a year ago.

Papelbon was named the Red Sox Minor League Pitcher of the Month in both April and July of 2004. In two dozen starting appearances last summer, he threw 129 innings, compiled a 2.64 ERA, and struck out 153 batters while walking just 43. In fact, Papelbon ranked second in the Florida State League in terms of both strikeouts and ERA, and Baseball America tabbed him as one of that league's top twenty pro prospects. What made the difference from one year to the next?

"Learning how to pitch instead of just throw was what I worked on....the mental phase of my game is how I improved."

A good 2004 campaign meant another promotion in 2005. Papelbon started out this season on roster for the Portland (ME) Sea Dogs and again put together a very nice stat sheet. In fourteen starts for the Sea Dogs, he put together a 5-2 record and 2.48 ERA. In 87.0 innings, the 6'4" righty struck out 83 and walked just 23. Prior to his promotion to Pawtucket, his ERA ranked second in the Eastern League, while his strikeout total was among the top seven.

But the minor leagues is just the latest step in his baseball career. Looking back on his time at Mississippi State, the team had many accomplishments while he was on campus. In 2001, his redshirt freshman campaign, the Bulldogs won the SEC Tournament and the Columbus Regional. Though the squad missed out on NCAA play in 2002, the Bulldogs won eight of their last twelve regular season games in 2003 and hosted the Starkville Regional.

But it's not so much the actual games Papelbon remembers most. "My favorite memories are the Friday night SEC games with the left field lounge smoke hovering over the field. No (minor league) ballpark has compared yet. I think about the fans that love MSU. Sometimes if we won or lost, I would sit in left field until 2 or 3 in the morning and have a good time soaking up the moment," Papelbon recalls.

But Paps wasn't always a Bulldog; in fact, he wasn't even always strictly a pitcher. At Bishop Kenny High School in Jacksonville, he compiled the stellar pitching stats you would expect for a highly-recruited senior: 8-2 record, 3.41 ERA, and a pair of no-hitters. But he was also a tough out at the plate. In his final season at BKHS, Papelbon hit .336 with five homeruns and 27 RBI.

After putting his offense on the backburner his first year in Starkville, though, he finally gave it up in 2002. "My sophomore year in college I quit hitting. I miss hitting, but I am more successful pitching so I stuck with it."

So successful on the mound in high school that a number of colleges came calling during his senior season. State's top contender was an in-state school, but when it came down to decision time, Papelbon chose to wear the maroon and white.

"I highly considered going to Central Florida to play football and baseball. (But) I ultimately chose MSU for its baseball atmosphere."

And Papelbon gave the fans plenty to cheer about during his three seasons on campus. He realized early on that being successful at MSU and in the SEC would not be easy. "It is a very competitive atmosphere and conference, so (I knew) if I didn't get better, I wasn’t going to play. I realized that if I wanted something, I was the only one who could make myself go out and get it."

By the time his junior season rolled around in 2003, he had become one of the best relief pitchers in the SEC. In 25 appearances that spring, he compiled a 6-2 record and a 2.28 ERA while also picking up seven saves. In 47 total innings that season, Papelbon struck out 54 batters, walked just 14, and allowed only a dozen runners to cross the plate while he was on the hill.

Now a couple of years down the road, Papelbon is on the path to the Major Leagues but still finds some time for MSU. "I go back for Alumni Weekend every couple of years and enjoy golf and baseball for the weekend," he says.

But it's mid-summer and mid-season now, which means Jonathan Papelbon, former Bulldog, recent Sea Dog, and future Major Leaguer, is thinking big...as in the Big Show. "Hopefully my next move will be to the Big Leagues," Papelbon says.

And when that day comes, what is he most looking forward to? "The competition," he says. "And I can't lie...the paychecks."

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