With time to kill during one of many airport stops in the summer of 2017, former UND pitcher Andrew Thome scrolled through Twitter on his phone.

The 25-year-old right-hander came across a Tweet announcing Thome was the first UND baseball player to ever reach the AAA level of minor league baseball.

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A chill shot up his spine. It was a cool achievement for an undrafted free agent from a cold-weather college, a relatively new Division I school that had recently axed its baseball program.

The best part of Thome's story, however, is that the best could be yet to come.

As the 2018 season approaches, Thome is on the cusp of the ultimate goal-a shot in the big leagues with the World Series champion Houston Astros.

"Obviously, the goal is to get to the bigs any way possible," Thome said. "If I don't make it this particular season, I'm not going to lose hope. You play for when the opportunity is right.

"And it's never been a situation for me where I thought I was just going to trip and fall into Minute Maid Park. I have to earn every opportunity."

Thome will report to the Astros' spring training home in West Palm Beach, Fla., later this month to begin his fourth season of professional baseball.

After spending his first two years of pro ball in varying levels of rookie and at the Class A level, Thome is on the move.

In 2017, Thome climbed the minor league ranks at a remarkable clip-from an A club in Buies Creek, N.C., to the AA club in Corpus Christi, Texas, in April to the AAA club in Fresno, Calif., in July.

"It's a lot of time on buses and in airports," Thome said. "Getting moved like that is surreal. Every time you're one step closer. To do it twice in one year was crazy. I'm blessed to be in the Astros organization, where they typically promote from within."

Thome is in a pivotal year of his development, one year removed from the Rule 5 draft. That means not only is it a big summer to impress the Astros, but it's also an opportunity to show off for every other organization.

"This is a swing year," he said.

Thome is under the control of the Astros through the 2022 season, but he's a prime example of why the league holds a Rule 5 draft.

The Rule 5 draft occurs each December and aims to prevent teams from stockpiling too many young players on their minor league affiliates when other teams would be willing to play them in the majors.

If the Astros don't protect Thome, he could be headed elsewhere next season if he's selected in the Rule 5 draft.

"I love the Houston organization," Thome said. "They've treated me incredibly well and gave me a chance when no one else was. I have nothing but good things to say. They're doing how they are doing for a reason."

Thome was a dominant, durable starting pitcher for Jeff Dodson's UND teams. When Thome graduated, he was the school record holder for innings pitched (333.1) and shutouts (four) while ranking second in wins (18) and complete games (17).

At the pro level, however, Thome, a 6-foot-3, 215-pounder with a fastball in the low to mid 90s, almost immediately made the move to the bullpen.

"I love the spontaneity of it," said Thome. "The phone rings. 'Thome get hot, you're in two hitters from now.' ... there's no time to think and dwell on the last outing.

"You get the ball and rip it. You turn your brain off and let your body take over and let the competitive nature take over. The adrenaline gets you pumped up and you reach deep."

Between his three teams in 2017, Thome recorded a 4.10 earned-run average and was 8-for-12 in save situations. He had 46 strikeouts, 22 walks and opponents hit .268 against him.

In his minor league career, Thome is 17-for-23 in save situations.

This offseason, Thome has been focused on adding better off-speed stuff in order to crank up his strikeouts total-an area of emphasis given to him by the Astros.

He trains in his hometown of St. Cloud, Minn., with former teammates Zach Muckenhirn and Brett DeGagne.

DeGagne is an assistant coach at St. Cloud State and the two throw in SCSU's indoor practice bubble. Muckenhirn, who spent 2017 with the Baltimore Orioles' Class A farm system, drives about an hour nearly every weekday from his hometown of Delano, Minn., to workout with Thome.

If Thome is to be UND's first Major Leaguer, he knows this is a big year coming up.

"I've learned a lot about what it takes to compete at each level," he said. "When you're in Triple A, the margin of error really goes down. When you miss, they hit it out of the yard, not just hit a single.

"It shows you how to approach it differently. I try to use my brain and experience to keep learning every year. I think I'm poised for another solid season. The offseason is kind of a drag, so I'm getting kind of antsy."