Atlanta selects Central Islip's E.J. Exposito in MLB Draft

E.J. Exposito wanted to be surrounded by his family when he hopefully received a life-changing call. And that’s exactly what happened.

Exposito, 21, was selected 485th overall by Atlanta with the 19th pick in the 16th round of the MLB Draft on Tuesday.

The versatile infielder played all 58 games at shortstop for LIU this season. Exposito, from Central Islip and a 2019 graduate of St. John the Baptist High School, received a call from his adviser on Tuesday that Atlanta was interested in selecting him. Shortly after, Exposito saw his name called from the couch surrounded by family.
“This means everything to me,” Esposito told Newsday. “This means the world to me. I’ve been waiting for this day since I was 8, 9 years old. I’ve been working toward this my whole life and just to hear my name called means the world.”

Exposito hit .275 with 22 home runs, 81 RBIs, 85 runs scored and 13 stolen bases over 106 games spanning three college seasons (two at LIU and one at New York Tech). He also possesses a quality glove and strong arm as a middle infielder.

Exposito, a lifelong Yankees fan, has an aunt who moved to Georgia and became an Atlanta fan. He said his aunt was ecstatic to hear her nephew would be joining Atlanta's system.

And although Exposito is soaking in the moment of being a drafted professional baseball player, he knows there’s plenty of work ahead of him.

“I’d like to say that it’s finally over, all the stress and the problems are finally over but it’s not. It’s the beginning of something new,” Exposito said. “Yeah, it’s fun but it’s not the finish line. Getting drafted isn’t the finish line. I’m ready to work and go at it 100 percent and see where it takes me.”