Joe D’Auria has never had a hunch work out so well.
It was Bryan Verbitsky’s sophomore season when the Island Trees High School coach told him he was going to pitch.
“That was the start of my pitching career,” the Hofstra right-hander recalled.
It will almost certainly continue at the next level, in the San Diego Padres organization. The Padres made the hard-throwing 6-foot, 205-pound Long Island product, a starter and reliever at Hofstra, their third-round pick (86th overall) in the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft Friday, the highest selection of a Hofstra player ever in the June draft.
“It was a real special feeling I’ll remember the rest of my life,”said Verbitsky, who throws his fastball in the low 90’s to go with a change-up and slider. “I really wasn’t expecting to go that early. I saw my name, got up and started jumping around like a little kid, hugging my family.”
Verbitsky closed his sophomore year of high school and became the staff ace as a senior, yet he was recruited to Hofstra as an outfielder after setting the Island Trees record with 30 home runs and leading the school to the 2007 Nassau County Class A title.
“You could tell he had a live arm,” D’Auria said. “In the beginning, control was bad, but he was a kid who did work hard.”
Verbitsky said he did pitch in Little League, but he never knew where the ball was going. He was hesitant when D’Auria suggested he try pitching, but Verbitsky liked taking on challenges, and dedicated himself to pitching.
“I thank him every day for that now,” Verbitsky said.
His sophomore year with the Pride was solid, impressive enough to earn an invite to the Cape Cod League. The popular vacation spot is where Verbitsky gained the confidence he needed to have a big junior year, going 3-4 with a 2.66 ERA and striking out 51 in 44 innings pitched while walking just 10.
He was an all-star while pitching for the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox in the prestigious summer league, which includes the nation’s top college prospects.
“It really helped my game get to another level,” Verbitsky said. “It’s the reason I’m lucky enough to have this opportunity now. The Cape Cod is such a prestigious league, to play with guys from big schools and be able to get and experience and confidence you can compete against guys of that caliber, it was big for me.”
“Once you start believing in yourself, you see your game take off to the next level.”
Though he made no guarantee, Verbitsky made it seem like he will definitely sign. He had workouts for the Mets, Mets and Nationals. The Padres began showing more interest lately.
“I did come into [Hofstra] as a position player and I still do like to hit, so it’s awesome to go to a National League team,” he said.
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St. John’s left-hander Ryan Horstman was taken in the fourth round (117th) by the Mariners. The 6-foot-1 freshman — eligible for the draft because he’s three years removed from college after academic struggles following high school — worked as both a starter and reliever for the Red Storm, going 6-6 with a team-best 2.33 ERA — fifth best in the Big East — and notched 56 strikeouts in 65 2/3 innings pitched. … The Rays drafted Half Hollows Hills East High School right-handed pitcher Stephen Woods in the sixth round (188). … Seton Hall right-hander Brian Gilbert was taken in the seventh round (200) by the Twins.
zbraziller@nypost.com