Corey Wimberly’s ultimate dream is still a ways off.

For now, however, he’s still ecstatic over the news Tuesday when the Colorado Rockies drafted the Alcorn State second baseman in the sixth round with the 177th overall pick in the MLB amateur draft.

Yet on this memorable day, Wimberly wants it to be just a start of something much, much bigger.

&uot;It’s a lifelong dream since I was 4,&uot; Wimberly said from Torrington, Conn., Tuesday evening. &uot;Now I’ve got to play in the big leagues now, and maybe I’ll wake up.&uot;

As for the immediate future, the Jacksonville, Fla., native can start working on contract negotiations and plans to play in the Rockies’ farm system. But getting the call from the Rockies and area scout Damon Ianelli was a bit of a surprise after he was nearly convinced the Arizona Diamondbacks were going to take him.

The Diamondbacks and Orioles spoke of the later rounds, anywhere from eighth to 10th, but the Rockies came calling earlier.

&uot;I thought the Diamondbacks were going to get me,&uot; Wimberly said. &uot;I’m a little surprised. I had talked to him quite a lot, but the guy who showed the most attention was (from) the Diamondbacks. Right now I’m just playing ball right here.&uot;

The Rockies went ahead and took the leadoff man in the sixth round and like his potential. The plan will be to move him to the outfield &045; possibly center field &045; and come up as a true leadoff hitter in the organization.

Wimberly is the first player from Alcorn drafted since Keiver Campbell went in the 12th round in 1991.

&uot;What we like about him is his speed and his ability to make contact,&uot; Ianelli said. &uot;He’s a contact hitter with tremendous speed. Even though we are the Colorado Rockies and are know for power, we have drafted Juan Pierre and Chone Figgins. We think he fits in that mold.

&uot;We were probably planning on taking him a little later, but our people looked on the board and said they wanted the best athletes left in the draft. That was him. We’re really glad to get him.&uot;

The speedy Wimberly showed signs of his potential with the Braves this spring with only five strikeouts in only 132 at-bats and 42 steals out of 47 chances. The 5-8 leadoff hitter also bats from both sides of the plate and mastered the bunt from the left side of the box.

Numbers like that are uncommon finds at the big level with the Rockies in their hitter’s haven of a ball park, but Wimberly likes his potential fit into the organization.

&uot;I know they’re normally a power-hitting team, but maybe they need somebody to get on,&uot; Wimberly said. &uot;Their shortstop just got hurt. I guess they need somebody to get on base. I’m pretty sure if I get (hitting leadoff) down to an art form, I can keep working at what I do and not get out of myself. Don’t try to change and keep doing what I’m doing, and hopefully everything will work out.&uot;

That’s what the Rockies hope to get out of him. Wimberly showed he can not only be tough to strike out but can drive it in the gaps or be a slap hitter. His speed allowed him to beat out slow rollers to the left side, and he turned in well-executed bunts when the situation arose.

He hit .472 over the course of the regular season and finished with a NCAA-best .462 average. He earned a spot on the Louisville Slugger All-America first team while finishing in the running for several other awards honor the top players in college baseball.

&uot;Coach McGowan and his staff, I think they did a great job with him,&uot; Ianelli said. &uot;They did a great job of teaching him the slap-and-run game. A lot of guys with speed can’t figure it out, and he already knows how to do it. To get a guy that can be a true leadoff guy, they’re hard to find.

&uot;He’s still got some things to learn, but he’s got other things down. He’s a black Ichiro. We’re just really happy to have him.&uot;

The Rockies plan to have Wimberly start out in Casper, Wyo., with the club’s rookie league affiliate.