Sam Mongelli was in his bedroom at his family’s Marlboro home stressing out when the call came through.

His parents were downstairs in the living room watching the Major League Baseball Draft. When he came down, it was confirmed.

With the 310th pick in the draft, Mongelli, a shortstop from Sacred Heart University and a Marlboro High School graduate, was selected by the Los Angeles Dodgers.

“I freaked out, of course,” Mongelli said. “Just a ton of emotion hit me at once, and once I knew it was a done deal, I went and just hugged my parents. It was a special moment, for sure, one I’ll never forget.”

It was a moment that had changed the course of his immediate future, as Mongelli had, within two weeks before the July 9-11 draft, committed to Auburn University for a post-graduate season.

Instead, he’s on his way to the Dodgers’ rookie-level affiliate in the Arizona Complex League.

“As much of a blessing as it was in the end and as much as I’ve always wanted to compete in the Southeast Conference, that’s been a dream of mine as well,” Mongelli said. “I’m super thankful for the Auburn coaching staff for giving that opportunity. It’s kind of bittersweet that I won’t ever be able to compete in the SEC, but professional baseball is number one for me. I’m ready to go.”

Mongelli is the first Sacred Heart University player to be selected in the MLB Draft since 2016 when Kingston native Zack Short was picked in the 17th round. Short is currently playing for the Detroit Tigers.

Mongelli is the highest SHU draft pick since Kody Kerski was taken in the eighth round (231 overall) by Seattle in 2014. He is the fourth-highest draft pick in program history.

He’s also the third Sacred Heart player chosen by the Dodgers. John Cosmos was selected in the 15th round in 1970 but didn’t sign, and Michael Drowne was picked in the 28th round in 2010.

“I’ve just heard absolutely amazing things from people that have had a friend go through (the Dodgers) organization,” Mongelli said. “I couldn’t be more excited to get to Arizona and get to work. It’s going to be an absolute blast and something I wouldn’t trade for the world.”

The first SHU baseball player to earn All-America honors in more than 30 years, Mongelli posted a slash line of .402/.495/.743 over 55 games this spring, which was good for a 1.238 OPS over 241 at-bats (97-for-241) and earned him Northeast Conference Player of the Year honors. He led the NEC in on-base percentage, slugging percentage and OPS, in addition to runs scored (81), hits (97), home runs (20) and total bases (179). The 81 runs scored are a new NEC single-season record, while the 20 home runs tied the conference’s high-water mark.

At the national level, Mongelli finished second in the country in runs per game (1.47), third in hits per game (1.76) and fifth in runs scored. He was also among the top 20 in the nation in batting average, hits, slugging percentage and total bases.

“I am incredibly proud of Sam and couldn’t be happier for him and his family,” said Sacred Heart coach Pat Egan, himself a two-time draftee of the Baltimore Orioles, in 2005 and 2006. “He has worked his entire life for this opportunity, and nobody deserves this more than him.”

Before college, Mongelli posted a .517 batting average with 10 doubles, four triples and five home runs as a junior in Marlboro, and in 2018, he helped lead the Iron Dukes to the Section 9 Class B championship.

Now, he’s going to take his first steps toward fulfilling the dream of every Little Leaguer to pick up a bat, ball and glove. He’s on the road to the Major Leagues.

“I’ve been saying to people that it doesn’t feel real yet,” Mongelli said. “When I’m hanging around the house doing nothing, I’ll just say to myself, ‘I’m a Dodger.’ It makes it feel real.”