Taken 15th overall by his home state Orioles in 1987, Brad DuVall ultimately did not sign and returned to Virginia Tech.
He wanted to sign, he explained to The Baltimore Evening Sun, but the Orioles didn't make what he felt was a good offer.
"I have no regrets with my decision to go back to school," DuVall told The Evening Sun. "I'm happy with my decision. I feel I'm doing the right thing."
DuVall's decision didn't really end up impacting his draft position the next year. He was again taken in the first round, though 23rd overall, but the Cardinals.
DuVall's career, however, didn't pan out as a twice-selected first rounder would have hoped. DuVall played three seasons before injury ultimately brought about the end of his career.
DuVall's career began in 1988, taken by the Cardinals out of Virginia Tech. He went to Virginia Tech out of Springbrook High School in Maryland.
DuVall's gained the Orioles notice his junior year, essentially coming out of nowhere. He then kept it up his senior year, The St. Louis Post-Dispatch wrote.
"I really can't explain it; everything fell into place," DuVall told The Post-Dispatch. "It just happened, kind of storybook. I couldn't throw straight as a freshman, and I was 3-2 as a sophomore. Just playing more in the summer and getting to pitch helped."
DuVall started with the Cardinals at short-season Hamilton. He went 3-3, with a 3.54 ERA over 13 starts.
He moved to single-A Springfield for 1989. He went 2-5 there, with a 3.95 ERA over another 13 starts.
DuVall then saw just eight starts in 1990, one at high-A St. Petersburg and seven at single-A Savannah. He went 2-3, with a 2.09 ERA.
Then, to start 1991, DuVal was to undergo elbow ligament surgery. He's not recorded as playing again.
- Baltimore Evening Sun, Sept. 9, 1987: First-round draft choice Brad DuVall rejects Orioles' offer and decides to return to Virginia Tech
- St. Louis Post-Dispatch, June 2, 1988: Picks
Made the Majors:1,323-33.3%
Never Made Majors:2,647-66.7%-X
5+ Seasons in the Majors:541
10+ Seasons in the Minors:329
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