Hours after being selected in the Major League Baseball Draft, Doug Domnarski was still stunned about the good news.

"I worked so hard for this," Domnarski said. "I'm speechless. I didn't think this day would ever come."

Domnarski will begin his professional baseball career with the Miami Marlins, who picked him in the 27th round on Wednesday.

He took the local route to his dream destination, playing for Stonington High School, UConn-Avery Point and UConn as well as spending three summers with the Mystic Schooners of the New England Collegiate Baseball League.

The draft news came earlier than Domnarski, a 5-foot-11, 185-pound left-handed pitcher, expected. When he heard his name called in the 27th round while watching the draft online at home in Pawcatuck, he couldn't believe it.

"I was shocked," Domnarski said. "I jumped up."

He credits Roger Bidwell, his coach at Avery Point, for getting him on Miami's radar. Bidwell invited Marlins scout Steve Payne to watch Domnarski throw a bullpen session about two weeks ago.

Apparently, Payne liked what he saw.

Domnarski will leave in less than a week for Marlins rookie camp in West Palm Beach, Fla. He was one of four Huskies to be drafted, joining third baseman Willy Yahn (25th round, Baltimore), Wills Montgomerie (sixth round, Los Angeles Dodgers) and pitcher John Russell (16th round, San Francisco), who played one season at Avery Point.

Some of his ex-baseball coaches will be rooting for Domnarski.

"Doug is someone that once you meet him and see his work ethic and how much he's gotten out of his ability, he's someone that you absolutely root for," Mystic manager Phil Orbe said. "Just to see his name pop up on the (MLB Draft) tracker, it made me smile for quite a long time. Very, very happy for him and his family.

"Another kid from southeastern Connecticut who was a good high school player and made himself into a major league draft pick. It really is an amazing story."

Dennis Long, the Schooners' pitching coach, has worked with Domnarski for years. He called Domnarski to congratulate him.

"I couldn't have been happier for him," Long said. "Personally, I've known him and worked with him since he was 12. To see how far he's progressed ... let's face it, he had to kind of battle the naysayers. Not impressive physically, his stature, but his makeup is maybe the best of anyone that I've ever worked with. I think that showed in his pre-draft workouts.

"His command has always been there. Just the way he approaches his craft is very professional. I think that's what impressed the scouts."

It was a productive draft for a number of current and former Schooners.

Catcher Brett Bond (Missouri), third baseman Richard Slenker (Yale) and catcher Martin Figueroa (Rhode Island) all were selected by the Houston Astros in the 23rd, 28th and 32nd rounds, respectively. All three were teammates of Domnarski's on the 2016 NECBL championship team.

"It's exciting to see all those guys go," Domnarski said.

Bond, pitcher Billy Lescher (Penn), who went in the 17th round to Detroit, and pitcher Gavin Wallace (Fairfield), a 15th round pick of the Pittsburgh Pirates, are on this year's Mystic team. So they'll have to decide between beginning a pro career or returning to school.

"I was hoping to go sooner than later," Bond said Wednesday before Mystic's game against Vermont at Fitch High School. "Once it finally happened, I was really excited it did. Just really happy for myself and proud."

While five or six players elected to wait to decide about joining the Schooners until learning their draft status, Bond began the season with Mystic.

"I love it here and it's a lot of fun here in Mystic," Bond said. "I did want to play some baseball but I also got to come back and hang out with some guys who were on the team last year. And I like coach Orbe and coach Long.

"It's been a good time here; we won it last year. I thought might as well come back and have some fun and keep my mind off everything."

Other former Schooners drafted include: pitcher Jesse Lepore, 24th round, Colorado; outfielder Jake Meyers, 13th, Houston; infielder Jesse Berardi, 10th, Cleveland; and Carson Teel, 37th round, Boston.

g.keefe@theday.com