Jordan Herr is proof that perseverance, dedication, and hard work can pay off in big, rewarding ways.

Herr, 23, was signed by the Chicago White Sox last fall for the upcoming season and will leave for spring training in Arizona with the team March 8. This opportunity comes less than a year after the former Hempfield outfielder played a limited schedule with the Lancaster Barnstormers, hitting .210 before being released late in the year.

"I didn't expect the call to come in. I was sitting at home around my pool when my phone rang," Herr said. "The scout said he was congratulating me on playing with the White Sox. I don't have an agent and knew nothing about this until the call."

Chicago's minor-league coordinator, Buddy Bell, had seen Herr play in the Atlantic League and was impressed.

"I can't even explain how grateful I am to be given this chance," Herr said.

He is not part of the team's 40-man roster and is already penciled in to start the season in rookie league ball in Montana, but Herr said he hopes he makes enough of an impression to get promoted to short-season Class A.

Baseball has been part of Herr's life since he was a child watching his father, Barnstormers coach Tom Herr, play in the major leagues with the St. Louis Cardinals. He graduated from Hempfield in 2005, but wanted to play both football and baseball at the next level, thus losing interest from many schools. He finally decided to play baseball at the University of Delaware.

Herr was redshirted in his first season at Delaware. He looked to leave the school after that year and was contacted by the University of Pittsburgh, saying they needed a pure outfielder with speed to play centerfield. Herr started nearly every game he was healthy for during the next two seasons.

The Chicago Cubs drafted Herr in 2007 in the 41st round. He turned them down to return to school and improve his draft position. This backfired at first, though, when he did not get drafted after the 2008 season.

"My hope was to be considered a better prospect, but it didn't happen. At the time, it was the right choice," said Herr, who now works out three days a week at Universal and six days a week at B2B Baseball and Softball Academy in Manheim to prepare for his professional career.

His daily routine to prepare for the grind ahead includes two workouts on Monday, Wednesday and Friday and one workout three other days. He works on hitting and throwing at B2B, but does some of his most intense work with Troy Steffy, Director of Parisi Speed School at Universal Gym.

While he was at home last year, the Barnstormers contacted him and asked him to try out, as they knew he could hit and play the outfield.

"He did not guarantee me a roster spot or playing time, but I went for it," Herr said. "I had a great workout and batting practice and (Manager) Von Hayes said he liked what he saw and offered me a contract."

Herr accepted and joined the team two weeks before the All-Star break. He then played for Lancaster the next two months as the youngest player in the league. "I got more playing time than a lot of people expected and I was playing good," said Herr. "I earned the respect of all my teammates."

Despite the low average, he did connect for 10 doubles and four home runs in his short time with the Barnstormers. He was released so the team could sign a more experienced player.

Herr said the call from the White Sox helped alleviate his dismal state of mind after his release.

"I had been drafted, but then went back to school to take a chance. My only goal was to get picked up by a team, and I really thought I would be going back to college just as a student," he said. "I am now happy something good came from my risk. It all means something from now on and the rest is up to me."

He has cut four percent of his body fat and lost nine pounds and is now in what he says is the best shape of his life.

"Jordan is an animal working out. He has the work ethic and desire needed for the next level. The sky is the limit for him and he definitely has a bright future," Steffy said.

Herr said he hopes to be invited to the fall instructional league, which is reserved for prospects or those injured the year before. If not, he hopes to at least play winter ball in Mexico.

Either way, he plans to return to Lancaster after the season, one step closer to the major leagues.