Jordan Kreke is living his dream and is loving every second of it.

The former Eastern shortstop – drafted in the 13th round (388th overall) by the Atlanta Braves in the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft back in June-is currently working his way through the Braves organization, playing for the Danville Braves in Danville, Va.

For Kreke, the transition from college athlete to professional baseball player has been strange, but he’s enjoying the process.

“It’s awesome. I love it,” said Kreke, who was named the Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year last season. “Every game we have fans out there waiting for autographs, we get our own baseball cards and stuff like that. It’s fun.”

Kreke is one of three members of last season’s OVC regular season champion team with a Major League organization.

Left-hander Tyler Kehrer was drafted 48th overall by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, and center fielder Brett Nommensen was picked in the eighth round (259th overall) by the defending American League Champion Tampa Bay Rays.

Eastern head coach Jim Schmitz coached all three players during their Panther careers.

He said he has spoken to them at different times throughout the summer and gets pretty much the same sentiment.

“They’re all really enjoying it,” Schmitz said. “They all have just said all the new things they’ve learned and they talk about how they’re dealing with it day after day.”

Kreke – who has transitioned to third base with the Braves but expects to move to shortstop again in the future – said he regularly exchanges text messages with Nommensen and Kehrer and they are enjoying going through this experience together.

“We’re all enjoying a lifestyle that a lot of people don’t get to experience,” he said. “We keep in contact with each other and root each other on. It’s cool that all three of us get to go through that.”

Kreke is hitting .276 through 58 games with the Danville team.

He has two home runs and 14 RBIs with an on-base percentage of .364.

Nommensen, who was slowly recovering from a wrist injury through the beginning of the season, is playing in Wappingers Falls, NY for the Hudson Valley Renegades of the Class A Short-Season New York-Penn League. He struggled early on, but since his wrist has improved so has his hitting.

He’s batting .429 over has last 10 games to raise his overall average to .259.

He also had 13 stolen bases through 51 games.

Meanwhile, Kehrer has been pitching in Orem, Utah for the Orem Owlz of the Rookie Pioneer League. He’s made 11 starts on the season and is 3-2 with a 4.29 ERA.

He has 47 strikeouts and 13 walks in 42 innings pitched and opponents are hitting .265 against him.

Collin Whitchurch can be reached at 581-7944 or at cfwhitchurch@eiu.edu.