Cards take UCI’s Gorgen in 4th round

Though it was, arguably the biggest phone call of Scott Gorgen’s life, the flight attendant working the UC Irvine baseball team’s flight to Baton Rouge, La., was unmoved Thursday evening.

So, the Anteaters’ junior All-American pitcher, knowing he could receive word any moment on when he was selected in the Major League First-Year Player Draft, said he was just about to turn his cell phone off, per pre-flight instructions, when a representative of the St. Louis Cardinals called.

The news — that Gorgen had been picked in the fourth round, 125th overall, by the Cardinals — was joyous, rewarding, and very, very brief.

“I told him ‘Thank you!, And ‘I’ve got to go, because the stewardess is telling me to get off the phone,’ ” Gorgen said.

Gorgen said the phone call alleviated hours of anxiety, as he awaited word on his professional future.

“I hadn’t gotten a call from my advisor, so I was waiting to hear what was going on,” Gorgen said. “I was really, really anxious.”

Gorgen said Thursday night that UCI’s travel schedule had prevented him from sharing the news with his father, Chris. But he had talked by phone to his mother, Sue, as well as twin brother Matt, a junior closer at Cal.

Gorgen, who will start for the Anteaters in the best-of-three Super Regional opener against host LSU on Saturday, is 11-3 with a 2.31 earned-run average this season. He has 115 strikeouts in 109 innings and has helped UCI rank No. 2 in the nation in team ERA.

Gorgen, who shared Big West Conference Pitcher of the Year laurels with two others this season, is the Anteaters’ career leader with 319 strikeouts.

He said he will wait to talk contract until after the UCI season is complete. But, he said, “My gut instinct is, I will sign.”

In three seasons with the Anteaters, the 5-foot-10, 190-pound right-hander is 31-11 with a 2.58 ERA. He has allowed just 277 hits in 355 2/3 innings, while walking 110. He has seven complete games and four shutouts.

Gorgen becomes the UCI player picked third-highest in the draft, since the Anteaters restored their baseball program before the 2002 season after a nine-season hiatus.

Pitcher Brett Smith was picked 42nd overall by the New York Yankees in 2004, while pitcher Chris Nicoll was picked 82nd overall by the Kansas City Royals in 2005.

Gorgen relied primarily on a devastating changeup, considered one of the best in college baseball, and a fastball in the 92 mph range his first two seasons.

He has mixed in a curveball this season.

A first-team All-American choice by Collegiate Baseball this season, Gorgen is a semifinalist for the Golden Spikes Award, given to the top player in college baseball, as well as the Roger Clemens Award given to the top collegiate pitcher.

He is also a finalist for the Brooks Wallace Player of the Year award.

He is a two-time first-team All-Big West performer who was also the conference’s Freshman Pitcher of the Year and was a freshman All-American.

Gorgen, who received congratulations from UCI teammates and coaches after getting the word, said he was anxious for some of his teammates to be drafted today.

The draft, which went six rounds Thursday, resumes this morning.

UCI junior center fielder Ollie Linton and redshirt sophomore pitcher Bryce Stowell are expected to be selected today.

Anteaters junior shortstop Ben Orloff is another potential draftee.

BARRY FAULKNER may be reached at (714) 966-4615 or at barry.faulkner@latimes.com.