Curtis Petersen’s arm has already landed him a full scholarship to the University of Nebraska, but now it has a chance to land him a career.

Curtis Petersen

The Ryan senior pitcher and his family will find out for sure either today or Friday during the Major League Baseball Draft, where Petersen figures to go as high as the third round.

Petersen said he intends on honoring his commitment to Nebraska, but if he is selected high enough, he will consider going to play professional baseball.

The draft begins at 1 p.m. today on ESPN and will continue on Friday.

“If the money is there, there’s a chance I will forgo my scholarship and play in the minor leagues,” he said. “If it’s beyond that, we’ll just have to talk to some people. If not, I’ll just go to Nebraska and try again in three years.”

Petersen has a chance to be the highest Raider ever selected, just ahead of Luis Guerra, who was selected in the fourth round of the 2005 draft. If selected, Petersen would be the 10th Raider ever selected in the MLB draft and the first since 2005.

In 2005, Ryan had four players taken in the draft – Guerra, Austin Jackson (eighth round), Cody Railsback (20th round) and Ryan Saldivar (49th round). Other Ryan alums drafted are Jason Taylor (1997, 24th round), Patrick Burns (1996, fifth round), Derrick Peoples (1996, 13th round) and Jeffrey Peck (1993, 55th round).

Petersen would be the first Denton-area player selected since Denton’s Aaron Baker, who was taken in the 37th round in 2006. He is now playing for Oklahoma.

The senior has the prototypical frame baseball scouts look for in pitchers, standing tall at 6-4.

The power pitcher amassed an area-leading 127 strikeouts in the 2008 season, going 12-2 with a 1.03 ERA.

He was named the District 5-4A co-MVP along with teammate Cord Jezek. In 2007, he was selected as the 5-4A Pitcher of the Year. In both years, Petersen helped the Raiders reach the regional quarterfinals.

JEFF ANDREWS can be reached at 940-566-6873. His e-mail address is jandrews@dentonrc.com .