FALL RIVER — While sheltered at Nichols College in Dudley during the winter months, Josh Boria received an unexpected phone call.

The 2023 Durfee graduate took the call from his native homeland in Puerto Rico from his old coach, who relayed to him that he was eligible to get drafted for pro baseball.

Boria jetted to Puerto Rico and began practicing with a team. On the day of the draft, the former Hilltopper pitcher was selected in the first round at number 8 by the coach and owner of the Cocoteros de Loiza team.

"In that moment my emotion, hard work and dedication came together," said Boria via phone call from Puerto Rico. "A dream come true since I was 5 years old."

Read more from Steven Sanchez at heraldnews.com.