SLIPPERY ROCK — The second day of the MLB First-Year Player Draft turned into a long one for Slippery Rock University pitcher Lou Trivino.

The 6-foot-5, 235-pound right-hander was hoping to find a home in professional baseball by the time Friday’s 10th round concluded, but was left to wrestle with his thoughts as the suspense stretched into Saturday.

“I was told a lot of things and one of them was that I’ll probably get drafted between the sixth and 10th round,” Trivino said. “Sitting through all those rounds and all those names being called ... it wasn’t fun.”

Once the draft resumed, the moment he was waiting for proved to be a pleasant surprise.

“I talked to a lot of teams earlier that morning and late the previous night and they all said, ‘Before we pick you, we’re going to give you a call,’” explained Trivino. “No one called me and all of sudden my name was announced.”

The Oakland Athletics selected Trivino in the 11th round as the 341st overall pick.

“It came as a complete, utter shock. ... Nothing can describe how awesome that felt,” Trivino said. “To have to sit through that all again on the third day would have been rough. I’m just so thankful that I didn’t have to wait more than 15 minutes before my name was called.

“It was like a weight got lifted off my shoulders. All that stress from the night before and that previous morning was just gone,” he elaborated. “The night before I couldn’t sleep ... and I’ll tell you what, I had a great night of sleep (Saturday).”

Trivino — a native of Green Lane, located in eastern Pennsylvania — spent the day with family and friends. His loved ones hesitated to react when his name was unexpectedly announced.

“Everyone just kind of stared at the TV. ... I wasn’t sure if what we were hearing was actually correct,” Trivino explained. “Then all of a sudden, everybody was screaming and yelling. About three minutes later, I got a call from the A’s saying, ‘Congratulations and we’ll keep in touch.’”

Trivino said his phone battery died within three hours of being drafted from countless calls and text messages to congratulate him.

A scout from the Oakland Athletics will visit Trivino today and the right-hander will likely be on his way to Arizona to sign a contract and start mini-camp later this week.

“I actually belong to an organization and soon I’ll be their employee. Everything is starting to sink in,” Trivino said. “You kind of realize more and more as the hours pass that this is real life. It’s not one of those dreams you have as a kid — this is actually for real and it’s just amazing.”

He credited his three years at Slippery Rock and time playing in summer leagues for developing from a high-velocity hurler into a well-rounded pitcher.

“I know coming in, I was one of those kids who threw hard, but had no idea where the ball was going,” he explained. “My mindset was, ‘Hopefully I’ll throw a strike this time.’ Now, I’m trying to throw a strike, get movement on it and hit a spot.”

Trivino pitched in the Coastal Plain league for the Florence RedWolves during the summer of 2012 and went 5-1 with a 2.98 ERA. He used the experience with other top-notch players to further his baseball knowledge.

“Just about everyone you’re playing with is a very good pitcher. There’s no slouches in that league,” he said. “I was able to have a decent summer and translated it into a pretty good spring my junior year.

“I know my time at Slippery Rock has definitely helped out,” Trivino added. “We were all able to work with each other and help each other get better.”

The Upper Bucks Christian High School graduate was 7-5 with a 1.83 ERA for The Rock and set SRU single-season and career strikeout records with 92 and 297, respectively.

Trivino is far from satisfied, though.

“It’s a work in progress and I know I have a ton more to get better at,” he explained. “I’m hoping in three years, I can talk about how I entered pro ball and got so much better.

“I just need to continue to work hard and perfect my craft,” he added. “You can never be good enough.”