July 2, 2009

(WVLT) -- You could forgive people for overlooking Blake Lalli.

Every Major League team passed up on the Smokies' first baseman during the 2005 first-year player draft -- all thirty teams, all fifty rounds.

But ever since Lalli signed with the Cubs in 2006, he's proved his detractors drastically wrong. And on July 13, Lalli will join four other Tennessee Smokies in the Southern League All-star Game.

Lalli credits his success to hard work and believing he belongs on the same field with even the highest of draft picks. He is hitting .299 with three home runs and twenty RBI's.

Manager Ryne Sandberg says Lalli's maturity and age (26 years) make him seem almost like another coach. The hall-of-famer praised Lalli's work ethic and said he has potential to make it all the way to the big leagues.