Then, he quit. He walked away, The Palm Beach Post wrote.
"A lot of people will probably say I'm nuts, but I really felt like I wasn't being productive as a baseball player," Drell told The Post that July. "I wasn't really happy playing the game. That's the most important reason."
Drell's career began in 1990, taken by the Tigers in the 17th round of the draft out of Florida Southern College in Lakeland.
Drell played his high school ball at Florida's Jupiter Christian. He picked up two hits in one win for them, while also striking out 10 on the mound.
Drell then signed with Florida Southern for college. He told The Post in May 1987 that he was drawn by the school's facilities.
"They have a great tradition of winning," Drell told The Post then. "I liked the area and the school."
At Florida Southern, Drell set down 18 of the last 21 batters in one April 1990 win. He went 10-3 on the year and threw nine complete games, while posting a 2.24 ERA.
With the Tigers, Drell started at short-season Niagara Falls. He went 2-7, with a 4.01 ERA. That July, he spoke to The Tampa Tribune about the nerves he felt starting his pro career.
"I was pretty nervous my first time out, but now it's a lot better," Drell told The Tribune. "I've gotten past that initial shock of being here."
Drell moved to high-A Lakeland, where he played his college ball, for 1991. He went 6-10, with a 2.91 ERA over 28 outings, 21 starts. He then returned to Lakeland, where he went 1-0 over 10 outings, one start, turned in that 0.53 ERA and ended his career.
- Palm Beach Post, May 1, 1987: Drell signs with Florida Southern
- Tampa Tribune, July 28, 1990: Ex-Moc Drell simulates Falls' thunder in debut
- Palm Beach Post, July 17, 1992: Braves' No. 1 pick Arnold taking the right approach
Players/Coaches Featured:3,368
Made the Majors:1,195-35.5%
Never Made Majors:2,173-64.5%-X
5+ Seasons in the Majors: 497
10+ Seasons in the Minors:289
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