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Nola: 'It's All Of Our Dreams' To Get Big-League Phone Call

By Matt Leon

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Right-hander Aaron Nola makes his third Triple-A start tonight for the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs as they welcome Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to Allentown.

It has been a fun ride for the 22-year-old Nola, the No. 7 overall pick in the 2014 MLB Draft out of LSU, this season. First, he dominated at Double-A Reading, going 7-3 in 12 starts for the Fightin Phils with a 1.88 ERA. He hasn't missed a beat since his promotion to the Iron Pigs, going 2-0 in his two starts with a 2.13 earned run average. In 89 1/3 combined innings this season, Nola has struck out 73 batters, while walking just 11.

"I felt ready (for the promotion to Lehigh Valley), I really did," Nola tells KYW Newsradio. "They called me into the office one day after the game and they told me the news and I was happy. I was ready to make some new changes and meet some new guys and play against some new competition."

Listen: Aaron Nola with KYW's Matt Leon

The transition to Triple-A for Nola has looked like his transition every other time he has moved up a level since turning pro - smooth. But he says it is a challenge.

"They're a little more selective at the plate," Nola says. "Yeah, they're better, you know there's a lot of guys at Triple-A, throughout all of Triple-A and the International League that's had big league time and have been in the big leagues for awhile. It's pretty cool to face those challenges and it helps my focus."

Nola has looked like a polished prospect since the day he made his first appearance in the organization last year and given the state of the starting rotation in Philadelphia, there is a good chance that Aaron Nola will be a Phillie very, very soon. But for now, Nola says his focus is on what's in front of him.

"It's all of our dreams to get that one phone call and to get moved up to the major leagues," Nola says. "It's definitely been my dream for a very long time to play in the major leagues. But right now my focus is here, and my next start (Monday) and my other starts."

Lehigh Valley and the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders get underway at 7:05 tonight.

You can follow Matt on Twitter @mattleonkyw.

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