(Major League Baseball’s annual draft starts on Thursday, and a handful of players from Arizona’s high school are expecting to get selected, fulfilling a dream of many young baseball players.

More than 400 in-state players have been drafted since 1965-2012. On Friday, aia365.com started running a list of the players who were drafted in the 1960s along with a story on a player who was drafted in that decade.

To view the list of the players drafted in the 1970s go here.

Below is a story on a player drafted in 1980s, Sahuaro’s Wes Kent. Below the story is the list of Arizona high school players drafted in the 1970s.)

                  (Former Sahuaro high standout Wes Kent, with black shirt, is standing next to his son, John, and wife, Alana. Photo courtesy of Wes Kent.)

Wes Kent celebrated his 51st birthday on Saturday with his family as well as friends from all walks of life. 

His baseball buddies from his Sahuaro High days were at his house, so too were the friends he made when he was an Arizona Department of Public Safety officer. Oh, and can’t forget about his friends at IBM, where he is currently employed as an engineer.

Kent was obviously blessed with strength and smarts, but this renaissance man didn’t intent to don different hats during his professional career. At first it seemed that the former second round draft choice was headed toward a prosperous professional baseball career.

But that didn’t pan out for different reasons. Kent isn’t complaining about the way his life has played out so far, however.

And boy does he have some stories to tell.

“I’ve had an interesting life,” Kent said. “I’ve had three careers and experienced life in ways you never thought you would get to experience. I consider myself lucky and blessed.”

The giant awakens

Kent was born in the same hospital room as NBA great Bill Walton and graduated from one of Arizona’s high school baseball factories, Sahuaro, in 1980.

As a tall and gangly high school freshman, Kent saw himself more as a basketball player. But he gravitated toward the baseball field as he grew into his 6-foot-8, 220-pound frame.

One of Arizona’s high school baseball coaching legends, Hal Eustice, was managing Sahuaro when Kent attended the school. Beside teaching him some valuable life and baseball lessons, Eustice also gave Kent a book, The Science of Hitting, written by Boston Red Sox great Ted Williams, who Kent eventually met during a important moment in Kent’s baseball career.

As a high school junior, Kent hit 10 homers in his first 10 games. When word spread about the giant at Sahuaro with raw power, teams began pitching around Kent.

Kent was even intentionally walked with the bases loaded during a game. But in high school and in the minors Kent didn’t adjust to teams’ pitching plans against him, something his brother, Lewis, did a better job of during Lewis’ playing career, Kent said.

Lewis was two years younger than Kent and reached the major leagues.  

“I wish I would have become a better student of the game,” he said.

But the White Sox saw enough great things in Kent, drafting him in second round with the No. 34 overall pick in 1980.

His signing bonus was $80,000. During his six-year career, Kent never hit higher than .277 in the minor leagues, but he did flash that Clark Kent power.

He did so in 1982, when he led the entire White Sox organization in home runs (27), RBIs (93), and slugging percentage (.545). That season, Kent also got the call to play in the majors, a brief yet memorable trip.

Kent’s locker room was between Hall of Fame catcher Carlton Fisk and another slugger, Greg “The Bull” Luzinski. Fisk gave Kent a pair of cleats, and Luzinski gave him a couple of bats.

Kent repaid his locker mates by beating them in a home run competition. But the notable aspect of the competition for Kent was that Luzinski launched a ball out of the White Sox’s old home, Comiskey Park.

“That’s what fired me up,” Kent said.

What also caught Kent’s eye while with the White Sox was Fisk’s professionalism.

Before a game, Fisk was behind home plate and asked somebody to throw balls in the dirt to practice blocking pitches instead of taking batting practice.

“What Fisk did, that’s what baseball was all about to me,” Kent said. “It was pure.”

More indelible moments with baseball legends awaited Kent.

After hitting two home runs in a minor league game that Ted Williams attended, Williams asked to speak with Kent, not to congratulate Kent for his performance, but to give him some valuable advice.

“Mr. Williams told me that I would become one hell of a player when I learned to have fun,” said Kent, who was about 19 when he met Williams. “After he told me that he just walked away. I was like ‘Huh?”

It wasn’t until a trip back home that Kent understood Williams' message. 

Sahuaro’s former players used to return in the summer to help Eustice’s summer teams. During a pick-up basketball game, Kent hit a hook shot from midcourt.

He was having fun on the court, the lesson Williams was trying to impart.

“I was placing too much pressure on myself,” Kent said.

A more relaxed and better player emerged.

Kent was one of only four minor league players who hit home runs off Dwight Gooden. But something happened to Kent that he says kept him from continuing to play after the 1986 season.

He declined to talk about the incident, but it revolved around the politics of baseball, he said. Kent's exit from minor league baseball was memorable.

When he told his hitting coach and former American League MVP Dick Allen that Kent was given his walking papers, Allen marched to his team’s front office to demand that Kent remain with the team. Allen was fired on the spot for doing so.

Kent tried out for a couple of more teams, once even as a pitcher, and was offered a contract, but the incident that happened with his former team kept other teams from signing Kent, he said

“It (baseball) was a lot of fun,” Kent said. “I met a lot of great guys and wouldn’t trade it in the world.”

A different uniform

During one of his summer trips back home Kent spotted a motor officer and talked to him about his job.

Kent first learned about his second calling on that day, which also allowed him to adjust to life back in his hometown. Kent's wife, Alana, is a doctor, and he has a son, John, from a previous marriage.

“I’ve always followed the straight and narrow path,” Kent said. “That’s probably why I went into law enforcement.”

During his 8-year career as an officer, Kent worked with a drug enforcement unit and was also a motor officer.

At 6-8, he certainly heard his share of jokes about travelling on a motorcycle, but how his law enforcement career ended when he was 34 was no laughing matter. Kent was on his way to a burglary call when he was hit by a truck, launching him about 70 feet.

The damage to his body was substantial. Eight broken ribs. A shattered right shoulder. Collapsed lungs. Partial paralysis to his right arm.

What saved him was his fitness and barrel-sized chest.

“(Former major leaguer) Dave Righetti hit me in the face with the pitch, and (former Pittsburg Pirate) Willie Stargell hit me in my (sports) cup,” Kent said. “I would rather take those hits again then what happened to me on that day.”

Kent was forced to medically retire.

During his retirement party, he was lauded by colleagues and lawyers for his detailed reports and professionalism. But you can’t keep a good man down for long.

After recovering from some of his injuries, Kent went back to school. He always enjoyed working with computers.

When Kent was in the minor leagues and lived in a Florida condo, he wrote a computer reservation program for the owner of the condo. His love for computers led him to his third career as a product field engineer for IBM’s high-end products in Tucson.

“I have no regrets,” he said. “I’ve met life head on and wrestled with a few challenges. I’ve lost some battles and won others.”

Arizona high school players drafted in the 1980s

1980

Wes Kent, 2^nd round, No. 34 overall, 1B, Sahuaro High, White Sox

Jim Pettibone, 2^nd round, No. 43 overall, RHP, Saguaro High, Reds

David Page, 10^th round, No. 249 overall, 3B/RHP, Sunnyside High, Cardinals

Jim Jefferson, 19^th round, No. 483 overall, RHP, Marcos de Niza, Cardinals

Steve Marlin, 29^th round, No. 710 overall, RHP, Miami High, Angels

Kendall Carter, 32^nd round, No. 755 overall, RHP, Coronado High, Expos

Todd Schulz, 35^th round, No. 787 overall, Tombstone High, Cardinals

Hal Nurkka, 35^th round, No. 790 overall, LHP, Chaparral High, Pirates

1981

John Kanter, 5^th round, No. 123 overall, SS/2B, Camelback High, Phillies

Jim Olander, 7^th round, No. 175 overall, OF, Sahuaro High, Phillies

Mark Carreon, 8^th round, No. 185 overall, OF, Salpointe High, Mets

Rudy Torres, 9^th round, No. 219 overall, RHP, Catalina High, Braves

Jeff Roberts, 15^th round, No. 388 overall, RHP, Lake Havasu, Orioles

Bob Fingers, 29^th round, No. 717 overall, RHP, Saguaro High, Cardinals

1982

Sam Khalifa, 1^st round, No. 7 overall, SS, Sahuaro High, Pirates

Bill Shamblin, 5^th round, No. 131 overall, RHP, Mohave High, Brewers

Neil Lautaret, 23^rd round, 23^rd round, No. 586 overall, 3B, Sahuaro High, Astros

1983

Brian Householder, 10^th round, No. 258 overall, LHP, Yuma High, Phillies

Shawn Gilbert, 21^st round, No. 536 overall, SS, Agua Fria High, Dodgers

Arned Hernandez, 26^th round, No. 654 overall, OF, Sunnyside High, Braves

Dan Ducusin, 34^th round, No. 787 overall, OF, Chaparral High, Mariners

1984

Brian Dodd, 25^th round, No. 623 overall, LHP, Greenway High, Indians

Bob Dombrowski, 27^th round, No. 664 overall, SS, Coronado High, Indians

1985

Mike Miller, 3^rd round, No. 78 overall, C, Paradise Valley, Cubs

Matt Lagunas, 28^th round, No. 707 overall, SS, Mesa High, White Sox

1986

Tim Salmon, 18^th round, No. 450 overall, OF, Greenway, Braves

Randy Maville, 23^rd round, No. 588 overall, C, Apollo High, Expos

Greg Jackson, 28^th round, No. 695 overall, OF, Tucson, Cubs

1987

Nathan LaDuke, 25^th round, No. 640 overall, OF, Alhambra High, Padres

Kelly Boyer, 28^th round, No. 717 overall, RHP, Shadow Mountain High, Royals

Odel Stewart, 29^th round, No. 747 overall, OF, Buena High, Brewers

Anthony Manahan, 32^nd round, No. 834 overall, 2B, Horizon High, Astros

Justin Mitton, 33^rd round, No. 838 overall, SS, Trevor Browne High, Mariners

Peter LeBlond, 38^th round, No. 967 overall, OF, Mesa High, Expos

Mike Seda, 40^th round, No. 1,010 overall, OF, Shadow Mountain, Expos

David Horine, 45^th round, No. 1,099 overall, SS/2B, Chandler High, Expos

1988

Austin Manahan, 1^st round, No. 13 overall, SS, Horizon High, Pirates

Matt Witkowski, 9^th round, No. 214 overall, SS, Deer Valley High, Padres

Billy Paynter, 11^th round, No. 274 overall, C, Coronado High, Cubs

Mason Rudolph, 17^th round, No. 442 overall, C, Dobson High, Mets

Ron Hazl, 27^th round, No. 684 overall, OF, Alhambra High, Braves

Craig Pueschner, 32^nd round, No. 812 overall, OF, Sahuaro High, Padres

Brad Erdman, 42^nd round, No. 1,086 overall, 3B, Douglas, Expos

Michael Scialo, 43^rd round, No. 1,108 overall, SS, Saguaro High, Giants

Robert Welch, 48^th round, No. 1,222 overall, C, Horizon High, Tigers

Doug Kimball, 52^nd round, No. 1,269 overall, SS/RHP, Shadow Mountain, Braves

Craig Triplett, 55^th round, No. 1,309 overall, C/1B, Paradise Valley, Braves

Roy Gamez, 60^th round, No. 1,371 overall, C, Casa Grande, Braves

1989

Geoff Grenert, 27^th round, No. 698 overall, RHP, Coronado High, Astros

Jeffrey Huber, 27^th round, No. 702 overall, LHP, Chaparral High, Padres

Chris Gump, 35^th round, No. 901 overall, 3B, Westwood High, White Sox

Richard Paschal, 37^th round, No. 953 overall, LHP, Coronado High, White Sox

Shawn Gift, 44^th round, No. 1,133 overall, OF, Gilbert High

Jason Grabosch, 44^th round, No. 1,141 overall, INF, Coronado High, Brewers

Brian Banks, 46^th round, No. 1,173 overall, C, Mesa Mountain View, Orioles

Albie Lopez, 46^th round, No. 1,185 overall, RHP, Westwood High, Giants

Alfred Kermode, 61^st round, No. 1,427 overall, RHP, Chandler High, Astros