Walker: Rhythmically named Earl Burl III, a New Orleans native, was thrilled to hear his name called in the MLB draft

COURTESY ALCORN STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS

NEW ORLEANS -- The name that Earl Burl III got teased about so much as a kid finally scrolled across the bottom of his iPad screen Wednesday.

All the jokes he grew up hearing, stuff like “Earl Burl the Girl” and “Earl Burl with the Curl,” didn’t matter anymore.

The only thing that mattered for the 21-year-old from Marrero was this: Earl Burl III, 30th-round draft pick by the Toronto Blue Jays.

“It was a relieving feeling, and everybody went crazy in my house,” said the outfielder, who just completed his third season at Alcorn State. “I knew there was a chance I’d get picked, but you just never know.”

Burl is the first member of the New Orleans Urban Youth Academy to be drafted. He could have returned and played his final year of eligibility at Alcorn, but there really was no use in doing that. He has earned a degree in business administration and plans to go to law school eventually.

“Hopefully I can build some great relationships in baseball and eventually work in the front office,” he said.

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