VIDALIA — The next time Vidalia native Barry Bowden steps onto a baseball mound he will be a member of the Burlington Royals, Class-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals.

“You wait your whole life to get the chance to play pro ball,” Bowden said. “It’s like a dream come true.”

When a Royals’ scout called June 8, Bowden said he didn’t have to think the offer over very long — he had talked with his family and if the opportunity presented itself for him to play baseball professionally, he’d take it.

“As soon as he said it, I was like ‘yeah, I want to play. I was just excited to get picked up, It didn’t really matter which organization signed me,” Bowden said.

Lynn Bowden, Barry’s father, said his son wasn’t too caught up in the whole draft process.

“He came home during the draft,” Lynn said. “After the first 10 rounds he went fishing and then the day after the draft Barry went to LSU to watch the Super Regional.”

Although Bowden went undrafted in the Major League Baseball draft, he said he had sort of braced himself for that possibility.

“I was a little surprised (I went undrafted),” Bowden said, “but in the back of my head I kind of knew it was coming.”

Bowden said he had talked to several teams that were interested in him leading up to the draft, but their health staffs wouldn’t let them select Bowden. Oddly enough, an organization that had not talked to him all year was the team to sign him.

Although a muscle strain in his shoulder is what Bowden attributes to his slide from the draft, he said he is close to full strength now.

Josh Hoffpauir, who is not only a family friend, but also a Royals associate scout and assistant coach at Pearl River Community College, said he was also a bit surprised Bowden was not drafted.

“He had a great career (at Southern Miss),” Hoffpauir said. “He’s been a great kid since he was 13 or 14 years old.

“I remember umpiring him and thinking ‘this kid’s going to be good.’”

Hoffpauir also said with the sort of statistics and accolades Bowden had collected his senior season, he figured he had established himself as a premier player if it weren’t for the injury.

“If he wouldn’t have had the injury, I think he would have been drafted.”

Hoffpauir said it’s hard to pin-point what Bowden’s potential is, but noted he knows how to win.

“He hasn’t pitched an inning, but Barry is the kind of kid that’s won at every level — he’s a winner,” he said.

For Bowden, it’s been a busy couple of weeks leading up to his professional debut.

The former Golden Eagle pitched in Southern Miss’ first game of the Baton Rouge Regional on May 30.

Following the MLB draft on June 5-6, the Royals called him on June 8. He flew to Burlington from Jackson June 11 and the Royals schedule begins June 15.

Not only does Bowden now know where his future lies, for the time being, in baseball, he also knows his role.

Bowden said the he was told over the phone they want him coming out of the bullpen, a task he has not had since his freshman year at Southern Miss.

Starting in Class-A as an undrafted rookie free agent, Bowden realizes the odds are not in his favor, but wants to make the most of his chances.

“Your goal is to move up every chance you get. I guess my goal is to catch someone’s eye,” Bowden said. “Coming in as a free agent I don’t think they expect a whole lot, so I hope I can surprise a few people.”

Bowden will get his chance Saturday, when the Burlington Royals kick-off their season June 15 with an exhibition game against Monroe.