It was a typical Tuesday night in June for incoming Penn freshman Nick Francona.
After working out during the day, he was out to dinner with some friends and enjoying his summer, when a phone call came from a family friend.
That friend happens to be Boston Red Sox General Manager Theo Epstein, who called to inform Nick that the Red Sox had selected him with their 40th pick in the Major League Baseball draft.
"When [Epstein] called, he started messing with me and stuff," the younger Francona said. "I was excited, it was a lot of fun."
The phone call did not alter Nick's plans for the coming year, however.
"I knew I was going to go to Penn either way," he explained.
Indeed, the 6-foot-3 170-pound southpaw pitcher will be on the Quakers baseball roster this season.
"It was classy people that did a classy thing," Nick's father and Boston Red Sox Manager Terry Francona said.
The elder Francona - a former Major Leaguer himself - heard his son be drafted over the Internet. While he knew Nick would be going to Penn regardless, he nonetheless relished the news.
"I'm proud of Nick for making that decision," he said. "At 18, he's smart enough to appreciate the value of a Penn education."
When asked why he chose Penn, the Lawrenceville School graduate quickly offered a one-word answer: "Wharton."
Nick hopes to go to Penn for three years, strengthen his pitching, and be drafted again. Should he be drafted a second time, he still plans to complete his degree.
Penn baseball coach Bob Seddon views Francona as one of Penn's top up-and-coming pitchers.
"He will be a very fine Ivy League baseball player," Seddon said. "He's got really good upside."
Seddon noted that Nick has been fortunate to be around a lot of baseball throughout his life. At a Phillies-Sox game he attended in Clearwater, Seddon saw Nick fielding fly balls in the outfield.
"He's going to fill out, he's a big, tough kid," Seddon said. "He's got a grit to him on the field."
Seddon watched Nick play in his final game of the season at Lawrenceville against Notre Dame in May. Seddon came away impressed by Nick, who threw three hard innings.
Seddon believes Nick could come in and help the club right away - should he be healthy. Nick apparently "had a tired arm" and had been laying off of it, Seddon noted.
"He could be a real impact player," he said. "He can play first base and he's an outstanding defensive outfielder."
Seddon recruited several outfielders, in preparation for losing three outfielders to graduation this coming year, among them all-Ivy League senior Nate Moffie.
The elder Francona has met Seddon before, but he entrusts his son with his own career.
"I leave it up to Nick," he said. "I'm his parent, not a coach.
"Plus, I've got enough going on here."
Seddon joked that he has not spoken with Terry lately because he's "an intense Yankees fan."
The Red Sox also drafted third baseman Beau Mills, the son of bench coach Brad Mills, in the 44th round, and pitcher Tyler Latham, the son of Red Sox scout Bill Latham, in the 43rd.
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