WOODBRIDGE, Va. � So, that didn�t take long.

Roberson graduate Chris Narveson barely had time to unpack his bags in Peoria, Ill., before the St. Louis Cardinals sent him east.

Narveson, a 19-year-old left-hander who dominated WNC baseball for four years while a student-athlete at Roberson, was promoted to the Potomac Cannons in Woodbridge, Va., after just eight starts with the Class A Chiefs of the Midwest League.

Potomac is in the advanced or high Class A Carolina League.

"It�s always a surprise," said Narveson, who hasn�t allowed a run in two starts with the Cannons.

The promotion comes with a raise as well, even if it�s not a big one. First-year ballplayers at low Class A make $1,100 per month. High A rookies take in $1,250 per month.

Alocal comparison would be an Asheville Tourists player moving on to Salem, Va., a team that plays in Potomac�s league.

The 6-3, 180-pounder was 3-3 at Peoria with a 1.98 ERA. He allowed just 32 hits over 50 innings pitched.

More important than his statistics, Narveson has caught the attention of farm director Mike Jorgensen, who saw another potential pitching super prospect.

"He reminds me of (St. Louis prospect Rick Ankiel and (Bud) Smith," Jorgensen told the Peoria Star. "He has the size and three pitches he has command of. He has poise and he is young, very young.

"When I saw him pitch at Johnson City last year, it was like, �Wow! We got another one!� "

In his first professional season at Johnson City, Narveson went 2-4 with 63 strikeouts in 55 innings, pitching just out of high school.

"It was a little bit of a hard adjustment from high school to the pros," said Narveson. "There is a big difference in the skills of the players and you really have to be careful and pitch inside."

Narveson, who received a full scholarship to play baseball at Wake Forest, said there was never any doubt that he wanted to be a major leaguer.

"This is a once in a lifetime opportunity, I couldn�t pass it up," said Naveson, who was selected in the second round of the June Amateur Draft.

This year�s draft takes place Tuesday and Wednesday.

Narveson, who still keeps in touch with his Asheville-based buddies, coaches, family and girlfriend, remembers the day almost a year ago.

The day he was drafted.

The day almost his entire Rams team monitored the draft with the Narvesons at their Arden home.

"All it takes is one team to have you seeded high," said Narveson. "The fact that we went all the way to the state championship probably helped my draft stock and (helped me) gain a little bit more exposure with the scouts."

In his senior year, Naveson was 10-0 with a 0.71 ERA and 133 strikeouts in just 69 innings pitched.

"The feeling was indescribable to get drafted and to know that a team wants you," said Narveson.

They wanted him then, and they really want him now.

"(Chris) has four quality pitches and they all have good movement," said Cardinals pitching instructor Mark Grater. "Chris has a higher ceiling than some other guys. He has a presence on the mound and doesn�t let anything bother him when he is on the mound. The only thing that we need to work on with Chris is consistency."

The fact that he is 19 only helps, according to Grater.

"I don�t look at age as far as what the player can do, I look at ability. He has a real bright future ahead of him," said Grater.