After going in the 18th round of the MLB Draft on Saturday, Gainesville High graduate Skyler Weber will forgo his senior season at the University of Georgia to turn pro with the Oakland Athletics organization.

With that life-changing decision made, the Bulldogs’ outfielder and catcher said Monday he is headed to Arizona to sign his contract, then on to join its short-season Single-A Vermont Lake Monsters team in Burlington, Vermont.

Through feedback from scouts, Weber said he was anticipating his name called earlier than it was with the 532nd pick overall. However, he’s grateful for the opportunity now in hand to climb the rungs as a professional player in the Oakland organization.

“(My parents) were crying when I got my named called,” said Weber, who hit .314 with a team-high 77 hits for the Bulldogs in 2016. “They have sacrificed so much time and money to get me to this point.”

Weber said he was surprised it was the Athletics to call his name. His first contact with the club wasn’t until the night before he was selected in the middle portion of the draft.

Weber started all 57 games his junior year at Georgia with 42 in right field, 14 at catcher and one as a designated hitter. He led the Bulldogs this season with 21 multi-hit games, along with a career-best 13-game hitting streak.

Now Weber’s going to be facing the best, looking for a spot in the majors.

“I’ve been working hard all my life to get to this point,” Weber said.