DUBOIS, Pa. – Through plenty of hard work and dedication, Justin Miknis has an opportunity many dream of but only few achieve.
On Tuesday, the Pittsburgh Pirates made Miknis, a 2019 DuBois Central Catholic graduate, their 16th round selection in the Major League Baseball draft.
Miknis grew up a Pirates fan, and the opportunity to go to the organization he has cheered for since he was young is a dream come true.
“I told my dad before the draft started on Day 3, because there are a lot of teams in play on Day 3, I just told him I really hope it’s the Pirates,” Miknis said via telephone. “Obviously it worked out. There were a number of teams interested and there were some top teams I knew of and the Pirates were one of them.”
From DuBois Central Catholic, Miknis went on to a stellar college career for Kent State. Miknis, a catcher, started all 58 games for the Golden Flashes this past season and was a first team all Mid-American Conference selection in 2023 and was also a MAC All-Defensive Team selection (for the second year in a row). He hit .318 this season for the Golden Flashes (who went 42-16) with eight home runs, 15 doubles and 46 RBIs.
It was just a matter of when, not if, he was drafted, but he didn’t find out that the Pirates took him in what would be considered normal fashion.
“Actually, I got drafted before I got the call (from the Pirates),” Miknis said. “It usually doesn’t work that way. I didn’t even know I was drafted until my phone started going off. I had to ask my buddy that I was with. I got a call from the area scout and they’re going to let me know more. I assume over the next couple of days I’ll be going down to Florida, sign my contract and go from there.”
This is the second time Miknis has been drafted, as he was a 35th round selection of the Baltimore Orioles after his senior season at DCC.
He decided to go to school in 2019, but this time there was no doubt.
“It’s a little different,” Miknis said. “There’s still a lot of anticipation and stuff. I knew that it was my time to go (play professional baseball) for a while. There was no question as to whether I was going to take something or not.”
It’s just over 100 miles from DuBois to home plate at PNC Park, a place Miknis dreams one day could become his regular home. For now, he’s ready to embrace the grind of minor league baseball, thankful for all the support he has received along the way.
“I’ve had a lot of support from people from DuBois,” Miknis said. “Obviously coach (Adam) Fox, Devin Mesoraco, guys I’ve played with, all my coaches. They just told me how happy they were for me and to trust my gut. Obviously, my parents as well, they’ve been great with all of their love and support. Honestly, there’s nothing better than that.
Fox was Miknis’ coach at DuBois Central Catholic and knows what it’s like to play at the professional level, reaching as high as AAA, while Mesorcao was a first-round draft pick by the Cincinnati Reds in 2007 and spent eight seasons in the big leagues and was a National League All-Star in 2014.
Baseball has taken Miknis a lot of places, and he’s ready to embrace the next chapter.
“There have been a lot of ups and downs, that’s usually how it goes in baseball,” Miknis said. “There are injuries, COVID, all that stuff. But it’s been a great journey so far and hopefully I can keep it going as long as I can. I’m really excited. Obviously, it’s a dream. It’s a great opportunity.”
