It might not be as far from Parma, Ohio, to Georgia Tech as one might think, at least if you've got connections like Derek Dietrich's.

When the Yellow Jackets host Georgia Wednesday, Dietrich, who was projected by some to be making a living in baseball by now, instead will hit cleanup for Tech.

Mikki K. Harris/MIKKI K. HARRIS / AJC (ENLARGE)

Derek Dietrich leads Georgia Tech with 10 homers and 33 RBIs heading into Wednesday's game against visiting Georgia.

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Dietrich leads the Jackets with 10 home runs and 33 RBIs, and despite a slump (one hit in the past four games), the would-be Houston Astros player is hitting .336.

After his senior season at St. Ignatius High in Cleveland, Dietrich was drafted by Houston in the third round. But he ended up at Tech. So how did this happen?

Grandpa called Tech coach Danny Hall.

Dietrich's grandfather, Steve Demeter, spent more than a half-century in pro baseball as a player, scout, front-office official and more before retiring. Along the way, he did more than meet Hall. He helped him get the Tech job.

"When I coached at Kent State, Steve Demeter was the area scout for the Pittsburgh Pirates," Hall said. "When [the Tech] job opened, I sent a résumé."

It was 1994, when former Tech baseball and football player Cam Bonifay was general manager of the Pirates. A member of Tech's search committee, Randy Carroll, called Bonifay for background on the coach from Kent.

"I ended up getting an interview because Steve Demeter gave Cam Bonifay a high recommendation," Hall said.

Also in '94, Dietrich began playing baseball with help from Gramps, whose major league playing career lasted 15 games with Detroit in 1959 and Cleveland in '60. His claim to fame was being traded by the Tigers to the Indians for Norm Cash.

"He would always tell me the basics: Keep your eye on the ball, level swing, be relaxed, run everything out, keep my mouth shut," Dietrich said. "The biggest thing that my grandfather taught me was how to respect and play the game."

Dietrich, 18, learned well, and the Astros, who did not have a pick in the first two rounds, made him their top pick in 2007. But politics interfered. The Dietrichs believe the Astros dwelled on an injury while trying to lower his contract value.

"It was very disappointing how the whole thing went down," he said, declining to be specific. "I had a shoulder injury, and that kind of played into the money thing."

Good thing Gramps called Hall a couple of years earlier to prepare for the possibility.

"Steve Demeter calls and says, 'I just want you to be aware of my grandson, Derek Dietrich. I think he's a pretty good player, but don't listen to me; I'm his grandpa. Call some people you know up here,' " Hall remembered.

So Hall called his former player and assistant, Steve Strickland, coach at Kent State. Strickland's scouting report? "He said, 'No-brainer,' " Hall said.

Dietrich, whose parents, Cathi and Richard, have driven to several weekend series at Tech (1,300 miles round trip each time), did some scouting, too.

"The track record of some of the guys they've had sign [contracts out of Tech] is strong," the younger Dietrich said. "Coach Hall is one of the best coaches in college baseball. That was comforting as well as the atmosphere in Atlanta, and the competition. I knew if I didn't sign out of high school, this was the best decision."

Hall is happy to have known Steve Demeter for more than one reason.

"Derek has a very mature approach as a hitter, major power to all fields," Hall said. "He's kind of a baseball rat. He's way beyond his 18 years on the field. Grandpa talking to him has probably helped, and we've definitely benefited from him not signing."