WILLIAMSPORT — Daniel Kanagy has been living his dream of playing professional baseball for the past month.

After being cut by the Williamsport Crosscutters of the Major League Baseball Draft League on Wednesday, the 22-year-old McAlisterville native and East Juniata High School product isn’t sure whether his baseball career is over or not.

At least for the time being – much like the batters the rookie righthander overpowered with one of his 94-mile-per-hour fastballs – his baseball career has struck out. Kanagy is ready to turn the page and start a new chapter in his life.

“After the game, manager (Kenny Thomas) brought me to his office and said that we had a new pitcher coming in and he had to release me,” Kanagy said.

“He said it was me because I was there for the least amount of time,” Kanagy added. “He did mention that the league may try to reassign me to another team.”

Kanagy had experienced that route once before as he originally signed by the MLB Draft League on July 1 and assigned to the West Virginia Black Bears then reassigned to the Crosscutters, who were experiencing a pitching shortage.

Kanagy made only one start for Williamsport in a 12-8 win at State College on July 27, pitching 1 1/3 innings allowing two runs on three hits and striking out one and walking three. His earned-run average was 13.50.

For West Virginia, Kanagy went 1-0 with 16 runs allowed on 20 hits, striking out 21 and walking 13. His ERA was 6.23.

“The draft league experience was incredible,” Kanagy said. “Unlike anything I’ve experienced before in my baseball career.

“It was by far the most fun I’ve had playing baseball ever,” Kanagy added. “It’s unfortunate that it’s over, but everything happens for a reason.”

The release, while unexpected, just accelerated his post-season plans of moving to North Carolina with his girlfriend and interviewing for a job with Tread Athletics, a premier baseball pitcher development training facility in Charlotte. Kanagy hopes to work there as a performance coach.

Kanagy graduated from Division II University of Virginia’s College at Wise with a degree in exercise science.

“I don’t anticipate them reaching out, and, at this point, I’m not 100 percent sure what I would choose,” he explained. “I am able to see the writing on the wall and would likely consider this the end of the road for myself.”

Like many youngsters, Kanagy dreamed of making it to the pros one day. As he ascended from youth baseball to the high school ranks then to college, he knew that fewer players were able to realize their dream at each passing level.

Kanagy is thankful to have the opportunities he had in the minor leagues.

And we enjoyed riding along on Kanagy’s journey, cheering him on during each outing and with every pitch. It was certainly fun while it lasted.