Draft Pick Discussion Thread, Rounds 21-50

[Mass Haas]

Also posted in the "Official Draft Pick Thread" --

 

Recordnet.com

 

The Milwaukee Brewers selected Curtis Pasma, a senior pitcher from Pacific, in the 40th round with the 1,086th pick.

 

Pasma intends to sign with the Brewers.

 

Pasma felt fortunate to be drafted following a 16-43 season at Pacific.

 

"It's kind of like a happy, shocking feeling, and kind of a feeling of relief, too," said Pasma, who went 3-6 with a 4.50 ERA this season. "It hasn't fully hit me yet, but it's nice."

[Never Outhustled]

I'm waiting to talk to one of the scouts for the Brewers and see what they have to say and go from there," he said.

 

Huh, That makes it sound like Tanner might sign, pretty rare for a 40th round HS guy. Its nice theres no college commitment to compete against.

[Mass Haas]

Mystery man Ryan Jensen (originally listed as no school) is from Walnut Grove, British Columbia, and played for the premier traveling club team in the area, the Langley Blaze.

[patrickgpe]

i am intrigued on the zarraga pick. anyone know how signable he is?

[Mass Haas]

Also posted in the "Official Draft Pick Thread" --

 

By Guy Cipriano - gciprian@centredaily.com

Pennsylvania

 

The Milwaukee Brewers took State College graduate and Harvard junior third baseman Steffan Wilson in 28th round. Wilson was drafted for the first time.

 

Wilson was not surprised by the team that called his name.

 

Wilson said before the draft that the Brewers and Washington Nationals showed the most interest. The Brewers turned their interest into action when they used the 851st overall pick on Wilson who hit .331 with three homers this past season.

 

Wilson is the second member of his family to be drafted. Wilson's older brother, Jon Wilson, was selected by the Texas Rangers in the 27th round of the 2005 draft. Steffan is currently with the Wareham Gatemen in the Cap Cod League while Jon pitches for the Class A Bakersfield Blaze.

 

***

Same newspaper source, day prior

 

Two former Central Penn League standouts also could hear their names called today. State College graduate and Harvard junior Steffan Wilson and Philipsburg-Osceola graduate and West Virginia redshirt sophomore Adam White are draft eligible after posting solid numbers at Division I schools. Hollidaysburg third baseman Brett Weibley, a Kent State signee, also has a chance to be selected during the two-day, 50-round event.

 

"It's pretty cool seeing guys like that get recognition," said Wilson, who played against White and Devin Mesoraco in high school. "Pennsylvania is more spread out than most states and there's not a lot around even town-wise in the central part of the state. It's great for the small towns to have a lot of good players who go onto the next level."

 

White and Wilson's route to this point are stark contrasts to the one Mesoraco has experienced.

 

Wilson spent this year balancing draft talk with team goals.

 

Wilson, Baseball America's No. 4 prospect in Massachusetts, will enter the draft with no clear idea where he might be selected.

 

He recently attended a workout with the Nationals and has signed a temporary contract with the Wareham Gatemen of the prestigious Cape Cod League. Wilson was scouted heavily last summer when he hit .241 with 18 RBIs for Wareham.

 

Wilson, a third baseman, endured a challenging junior season. He broke the hamate bone in his hand and underwent surgery last December. He then hit .331 with three homers and 17 RBIs for a Harvard team that fell short of qualifying for NCAA regional play.

 

Wilson is hoping to become the second member of his family drafted. The Texas Rangers selected Wilson's older brother, Jon Wilson, in the 27th round of the 2005 draft. Jon is currently pitching for the Bakersfield Blaze of the Class A California League.

 

"This is sort of something you envision when you are real young," Steffan said. "As a freshman, it seemed a long way away and all you can do is take it one day at a time. When my brother got drafted, I was excited for him and I always hoped that I could follow in his footsteps. But a lot of things are up in the air. I have no idea who's going to call or even if I'm going to get called."

 

Wilson needs to complete two semesters to graduate. Harvard doesn't begin classes until mid-September meaning Wilson could play professionally this summer without missing the fall semester. Professional teams often include school expenses in contracts and Wilson said he will enter today "open-minded" about his future.

 

"I don't have it in my mind one way or another that this is what I'm doing," Wilson said. "I'm hoping I have a decision to make rather than have somebody else make one for me."

[Mass Haas]

Also posted in the "Official Draft Pick Thread", Round 26--

 

Aggies' Feltner hopes to steal Longhorns' thunder

 

Former Cedar Park player didn't start in high school; now he's in left field for A&M

By Alan Trubow

AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF

 

Wednesday, May 16, 2007

 

Ben Feltner's baseball career should have been over long ago. It should have vanished into thin air, along with the dreams of being an astronaut or Michael Jordan.

 

After all, high school baseball players who hit .200 and never start for a full season don't play Division I college baseball. Somehow, though, Feltner will be on the field this weekend when Texas takes on Texas A&M in a three-game series.

 

And he will be a pest.

 

Three years after graduating from Cedar Park High, where he was a self-described utility player, Feltner will return to the Austin area as the Aggies' starting left fielder and the Big 12's leader in stolen bases.

 

Quite a jump for the 5-foot-11-inch, 180-pound speedster.

 

"When I was in high school, my coach told me that I would never be a college baseball player," Feltner said. "I didn't even start most of my senior year in high school. After a bad game I was benched and a sophomore took my place.

 

"Right out of high school, nobody would have guessed that I would have been playing here. It's pretty amazing."

 

Texas A&M (40-12, 13-10 Big 12) will try to ruin the Longhorns' shot at the Big 12 regular-season title when the series begins at 6 p.m. Friday in College Station, before returning to Austin for games on Saturday and Sunday.

 

Feltner, a junior, will play a big part for the Aggies. A junior who bats second, he has 27 stolen bases this season to lead Texas A&M, which has a conference-high 119 steals. Texas ranks second with 74.

 

The Aggies have three players ? Feltner, Brandon Hicks and Blake Stoeffer ? among the top five in steals in the Big 12. Feltner's the fastest.

 

"Ben's an exciting player to watch. By far and away, I think he's the fastest player in the Big 12," said Texas A&M coach Rob Childress. "The running game has been an important part of our offense this year. Last year we did it because we had to create opportunities. This year we're doing it because we want to put pressure on our opponents' pitchers and defense."

 

Feltner said, "It keeps them from throwing a lot of breaking balls and makes sure they can't put the ball in the dirt. Basically, they have to throw strikes."

 

It shows in the Aggies' team batting average of .322. Feltner has done his part, hitting .330 with 20 RBIs.

 

On the heels of his high school career, Feltner found his way onto the Temple College team after a tryout. As a freshman, he was used strictly as a pinch runner, but he continued to work hard.

 

"I never gave up. I used what my high school coach told me as motivation," Feltner said. "I was going to keep playing baseball and prove everybody wrong."

 

He did that in his sophomore season at the junior college. Feltner, a natural righty, started switch hitting under the advisement of his coach. Starting for the Leopards, he hit .377 and stole 39 bases.

 

"Everything turned around then. I had pro scouts contacting me," said Feltner, who was drafted in the 38th round by the Chicago Cubs in 2006. He passed on a pro contract to sign with A&M, and now looks forward to this weekend's games in Austin.

 

"It's going to be fun," he said. "I'll have a lot of friends and family there. Hopefully I'll be able to steal a few bases for them."

[Mass Haas]

Also posted in the "Official Draft Pick Thread", Rounds 23 and 25 --

 

Hawn, Bell, must decide between college and minors

 

Three players drafted from South-Doyle

By JESSE SMITHEY, smitheyj@knews.com

 

June 9, 2007

 

Fresh off Friday lunch at R.J.'s Courtyard in Alcoa, South-Doyle High School third baseman Cody Hawn plopped down at the ol' computer and popped open the live draft tracker on the Major League Baseball Web site.

 

Up came his name, the Milwaukee Brewers selecting him in the 23rd round with the 701st pick overall.

 

That was a third of the surprise.

 

The Brewers got his high school teammate, Chad Bell, minutes later in the 25th round and the 761st overall pick.

 

"He went right after me," said Hawn. "It was crazy."

 

Then in the 30th round, Cleveland took South-Doyle centerfielder/pitcher Bryce Brentz with the 917th pick. The draft lasted 50 rounds.

 

Previously, only two South-Doyle players had been selected out of high school: Chris Kirkland (2004, Florida, 49th round) and Anthony Stevens (2002, Pittsburgh, 28th round).

 

While Kirkland was a late-round pick, South-Doyle coach Robby Howard said the Marlins still offered him a "boat load" of money to lure him from the college ranks. Kirkland recently finished his junior season at Memphis.

 

The three 18-year-olds will make the same pro or college decision in the upcoming months. Hawn and Bell signed with Arkansas and Memphis, respectively. Brentz is set to join Middle Tennessee State.

 

Hawn liked Arkansas so much he committed last July. But he missed the 2007 season after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during gym class.

 

"I was just excited to get drafted," said Hawn. "I figured my knee and not getting to play would affect where I got drafted. But I'm happy with where I went."

 

The left-handed hitter has ample power in his swing. As a junior, he hit .564 in the regular season with 16 home runs and 43 RBIs; that following a sophomore campaign that featured a .419 batting average, 11 home runs and 37 RBIs.

 

The Brewers called Hawn on Friday, alerting the 6-foot-1, 195-pounder of a forthcoming visit to discuss possibly signing. Hawn said he doesn't know what to expect in those negotiations.

 

"I love Arkansas, and I still plan on going," said Hawn, the Brewers' 22nd pick of the draft. "It just depends on what happens in the money situation."

 

Bell didn't suffer a pitching loss in 2007 until the Class AAA state title game against Bartlett. The 6-3 left-hander was 14-1 with a 1.31 ERA and 141 strikeouts.

 

"I got a really good scholarship to go to Memphis," said Bell, who was in Panama City, Fla., following the draft online. "It would take a lot (to forgo that). I feel like if I go to school and get a lot better in the next three years, I could do a little better than 25th (round). We haven't set an exact (offer) number yet. But I'll talk with my family when I get back."

 

Having three players drafted in one year was a first for South-Doyle.

 

"It starts with talent," said Howard. "They were pretty good players when they got here. Hopefully we did some things to help their games.

 

"It makes you very proud today that people think your kids are good players and good people."

[Mass Haas]

Also posted in the "Official Draft Pick Thread", Round 24--

 

White likely to choose college over Brewers

 

Saturday, June 9, 2007

 

By Danny Parker

Shelbyville (TN) Times-Gazette

 

At youth baseball parks all across the country, youngsters handle bats, balls and gloves with aspirations of taking the field one day in Major League Baseball.

 

In his first year of draft eligibility since leaving high school, Vanderbilt redshirt sophomore Jonathan White was selected with the seventh pick of the 24th round (731 overall) by the Milwaukee Brewers.

 

"It's been my goal since I was a little kid to play professional ball," said White, who grew up watching big leaguers like Ken Griffey Jr. and Barry Bonds.

 

White admitted he would like to see the field more during his time in college but was proud to be called upon to produce against some right-handed pitching and as a pinch hitter this past season for a Commodore squad that finished 54-13 and won the Southeastern Conference regular season and tournament titles.

 

The money tossed at second-day picks is a small fraction of that placed in front of first-rounders. Barring injury, he should be able to improve his stock substantially by returning to play under national coach of the year Tim Corbin in '08.

 

"I will probably come back," White said. "I've grown a lot. It was really my first year being an integral member of the team. All the time I put in my freshman and sophomore year really paid off. I was just glad to be a part of it."

 

With the Brewers' Class AA affiliate being in Huntsville and their AAA team in Nashville, his friends and family from Shelbyville would be around an hour away from seeing him play. But, he said that would not be a factor in his decision-making process on whether or not to sign.

 

The local boy follows VU teammates David Price (Devil Rays), Casey Weathers (Rockies), Dominic de la Osa (Tigers), Cody Crowell (Blue Jays), Ty Davis (Diamondbacks), Tyler Rhoden (Reds) and Stephen Shao (Rockies) as draft selections this week.

 

White hit .289 with three home runs and 14 runs driven in for Vandy.

 

The 6-foot-2, 198-pounder was tabbed by Baseball America as the top pro prospect out of the New York Collegiate League last summer despite going down with a broken hand. White carried a .365 batting average with Glens Falls and stole 11 bags without being thrown out.

 

He will play for the Newport Gulls this summer in the New England Collegiate League with Vandy teammate Brad French.

 

White, the son of Jeffrey and Betty White, hit .481 with six home runs, 43 RBIs and 29 stolen bases during his senior season at Shelbyville Central under coach Scott Hall in 2004.

 

NOTE: On a personal note, I've attended NECBL games in Newport, R.I., about 40 minutes away. I'm sure I can work some savvy persuasion on Jonathan for Jack Z. and company - Jim

 

***

Jonathan White penned a weekly column for his local paper this spring -- the various links can be found here:

 

Jonathan White columns among the links here

[Mass Haas]

Also posted in the "Official Draft Pick Thread", Round 22--

 

Cline perseveres after sibling tragedy

 

Dirtbag has brother with him

By Bob Keisser, Long Beach Press-Telegram Staff Writer

 

LONG BEACH - Matt Cline wasn't born with his nose in the fine red clay of a baseball field, but he's certainly comfortable once he gets there.

 

As much as anyone on the 2007 Dirtbags, the senior second baseman embodies the team philosophy and spirit that has made it a postseason perennial, and the team wouldn't be hosting a regional Friday at Blair Field if not for the contributions of Cline on and off the field.

 

He's as driven as Rickey Henderson looking to steal a base, Russell Martin taking a collision at the plate and Ken Griffey planting his face on the center-field fence to make a catch.

 

But there is another aspect of Cline's personality that few people know of.

 

In 2003, in his CIF champion senior year at Edison High School, Cline's older brother Michael was killed in an accidental gunshot incident.

 

Michael was seven years older than Matt and had been the prototypical big brother in a family that had gone through divorce and its attendant pain. Matt's mother and father split when he was a toddler. His mom Cheryl moved to the South. His dad, Randy, stayed in Southern California, and brother Michael became a stabilizing role in his life.

 

"It was particularly hard on my mom," Matt said. "For me, I had looked up to him for a long time. He's still with me."

 

Before every game, Matt uses his cleats to write Michael's name in the dirt around second base.

 

His brother's passing led Matt Cline to figuratively take his place. Michael was married with two kids, and in the ensuing years, Matt has become more than an uncle to his nephews.

 

"I'm not their dad," he said. "Michael will always be their dad. But it was difficult for them, and I want them to have someone in the family to look up to."

 

For all of his aggressive play on the field, Cline has always been more of a quiet leader on the team, his intensity sometimes turned inwards. He takes losses harder than anyone in the team. The Dirtbags are his family, too, and he obviously takes family seriously.

 

When the team hit a bad patch of play in late March, losing six of seven and throwing the ball around the park like kids playing T-Ball, Cline and his veteran teammates called for a team meeting away from the ballpark and without the coaches, just so everyone could let whatever they were feeling out.

 

Two days later, the team went on its 21-3 spree.

 

Cline played two years at Orange Coast College after high school, earning JC All-American honors as a sophomore. He was a late recruit by Long Beach State for 2006, not arriving until the January workouts began, putting him four months behind everyone else.

 

"He had a lot of catching up to do," coach Mike Weathers said. "There's a long learning process, and coming in January was difficult. The jobs on the team were already more or less won."

 

By the third week of the season, Cline was earning playing time with incumbent Chuck Sindlinger, and by season's end he was the starter. He hit .308 for the season batting out of the ninth spot.

 

He came back strong this season, then erupted with the bat at midseason and now is third in the team at .332, with a .426 on-base percentage and tied for second in hits with 63.

 

His hot streak led Weathers to move him up into the No. 2 spot in the batting order.

 

He's worked himself into being a prospective draft pick next month despite his size.

 

"Matt is much more familiar with the program now," Weathers said. "He understands his role and understands what he's capable of. He's always been the kind of guy who will battle you, a hard-nosed Dirtbag, and did everything pretty well. Now he's doing some things extremely well."

 

"The team's entire motivation this year was to just play hard, be a team and see what happens," Cline said. "This (getting to the postseason) was our goal all season long, and we're really ready to make something of it."

 

In Cline's case, he's actually playing for two families, one that wears baseball uniforms and another that now leans on Matt the way he once leaned on his brother.

[Mass Haas]

Also posted in the "Official Draft Pick Thread", Round 21 --

 

RHP Connor Hoehn's college commitment is to the University of Alabama. He has pitched in the mid-90's.

 

From tidefans.com:

 

*Consistently works down in the zone with a heavy 90-93 mph fastball with good sink and run complemented with a hard "frisbee" slider. While internet scouting reports always have to be taken with a grain of salt, they can still provide a fairly helpful basis for projection. Hoehn would appear to have future closer written all over him.

 

***

Baseball America Blog Entry Posted Apr. 11, 2007 by Alan Matthews

 

ANAHEIM?As luck would have it, the best games in Tuesday?s quarterfinal action were all held at one location, so I saved some gas money and settled in for a couple of intriguing matchups.

 

One of the benefits of the National Classic is seeing the different styles of play from teams from different parts of the country, and hitting has prevailed over pitching for the most part this week.

 

Connor Hoehn?s name has been whispered frequently this spring, and there were a few dozen scouts on hand to see him strut his stuff against one of the best hitting teams in Florida, Palm Beach Central (Wellington, Fla.).

 

Hoehn?s a well-built, 6-foot-2 righthander from St. John?s College High in Washington, D.C. He?s had some helium this spring thanks mostly to a fastball that has been up to 93 mph.

 

The Alabama signee touched 91 Tuesday, and discovered just how tough Palm Beach Central?s lineup can be. Hoehn hung tough through five innings, departing with a lead before Palm Beach rallied, but his secondary stuff and overall command are behind that of some of the country?s elite arms.

 

He threw a couple of above-average sliders at 77-80 mph, but he tends to get underneath and around the ball upon release, which causes his fastball to flatten out and his slider to spin side-to-side without depth.

 

Because of his arm strength and frame, there could be a team out there that drafts him in the fourth- to seventh-round range, depending on his signability.

[Mass Haas]

This story out of Maryland includes an update on both a signed draft pick and one which is forgoing a pro career at this time to pitch for the Crimson Tide of Alabama. Because of that, I'll post it both here and in the Draft Discussion Forum.

 

Link for Casey Baron photo while active, text follows:

 

www.gazette.net/stories/0...2363.shtml

 

Baseball: County is feeling a draft

Four county products selected in last week?s Major League Draft

by James Peters | Maryland Gazette.net Staff Writer

 

With a fastball registering in the mid-90s and a pre-draft call from the Milwaukee Brewers, Damascus resident Connor Hoehn knew he would be drafted in the early rounds of last week?s Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft.

 

Hoehn, who played for St. John?s College High (D.C.) the last four years, was, in fact, told he would be taken in the fourth round during the draft?s first day last Thursday. He, however, slipped to the 21st round, selected by the Brewers as the 641st pick overall.

 

Wait a minute. What happened?

 

According to Hoehn?s mother, Dedee, three Major League teams -- the Brewers, Cincinnati Reds and Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, expressed interest Thursday in selecting the flame-throwing pitcher. But because none of those teams were prepared to pay Hoehn more than the slotted money allotted for players taken in the fourth, fifth and sixth rounds, the family decided Connor would wait to begin his professional career and head south to the University of Alabama instead, where he has a scholarship waiting.

 

??Going in, I knew I was going to get drafted,? Hoehn said. ??The Brewers called and said they?d take me with their fourth pick in the fourth round. We were hoping they would go out of the slot money but they couldn?t so we weren?t going to sign. Each pick in the Major League draft is only allowed a certain amount of money.?

 

Hoehn, who compiled a 5-1 record with a 2.32 earned-run average this past spring, signed with Alabama, who he chose over North Carolina, last November after a busy summer of showcases.

 

He participated in the PG National Showcase at the University of Arkansas last June and was then invited to pitch in the 2nd Annual Cape Cod High School Classic in July, which was televised on MLB.com as well as ESPNU. In August, professional scouts selected him to go to their East Coast Professional showcase in North Carolina.

 

??Basically, what it comes down to, I value my education more than starting my professional career right now,? said Hoehn, who finished his high-school career with a 16-3 record.

 

The Brewers did land one county player for certain in former Paint Branch High and University of Maryland hurler Casey Baron, who was taken in the 34th round (1,028th pick overall). He signed with Milwaukee Saturday and headed to Phoenix Monday for a five-day ??Brew Crew? mini-camp before heading to Helena, Mont., where he will play in the Pioneer League for the Rookie League Helena Brewers, said his father Tom Baron, a long-time professional scout.

 

Helena opens the season June 19 on the road against the Arizona Diamondbacks affiliate with its home opener set for June 22.

 

Baron, a lefty thrower, completed his Maryland career with an 8-10 record and a 4.54 ERA in 57 appearances, 25 of which were starts. He compiled a 4-5 record with a 4.06 ERA in 16 games this past spring. Baron was Maryland?s Friday night starter, meaning he opened the team?s three-game league series each weekend.

 

??We got some indication from 3-4 clubs that something might happen Thursday but no guarantees,? Tom Baron said. ??Then it was Friday and it?s getting up to the 20th round and no phone calls. No nothing. So Casey takes his fiancé and they go out. He got the call while he was out. He said, ?Dad, I should have stayed home. I got the call while shopping at Target.? He?s excited. He?s jacked up.?

[Mass Haas]

There's now info on the 42nd round high school RHP from Texas who almost assuredly will stick with his Vanderbilt commitment:

 

p092.ezboard.com/fbrewers...mp;stop=41

[tbbrewers]

Hawn going to Walters State

By Nick Gates
Thursday, August 23, 2007

http://media.knoxnews.com/kns/content/img/photos/2007/08/22/0823hawn1e_t220.jpg

A Milwaukee Brewers scout, who was watching South-Doyle High School's baseball team play last season, report-edly told a University of Arkansas assistant coach that third baseman Cody Hawn, a Razorbacks signee, would never make it to the Fayetteville campus.

The scout's reasoning?

The Brewers, who selected Hawn in the 23rd round in June, would sign with the National League team even though he missed his senior season because of a knee injury.

The scout was partly correct.

Hawn reneged on signing with Arkansas.

The left-handed hitting Hawn didn't sign with Milwaukee either after negotiations broke down.

He will be playing for Walters State next season. Hawn will report to the junior college in Morristown and be on the field next Wednesday when coach Ken Campbell's team opens fall practice.

The Brewers and Hawn, who played three summer league amateur games this summer, turned down a $168,000 of-fer by Milwaukee before the last week's deadline.

"He had been negotiating with the Brewers right up until the last minute," Campbell said. "He decided to come with us."

But why not Arkansas?

"We are keeping our options open," Hawn's father, Jeff, said. Wednesday.

Hawn will be eligible for the 2008 draft. If he had joined the Razorbacks, he would not have been eligible until the 2010 draft. He also can transfer to a Division I school after one or two seasons with the Senators.

The University of Tennessee could be in Hawn's future.

"There is a possibility he could wind up at UT or South Carolina or Arkansas or any of them," Jeff Hawn said.

Hawn was an unexpected addition to another outstanding recruiting class for Walters State, a nationally ranked program that won the Junior College World Series in 2006.

"We know he is probably the best hitter in the state of Tennessee," Campbell said.

Walters State had recruited Hawn while he was at South-Doyle.

"We certainly tried to recruit him before he signed with Arkansas," Campbell said. "He always knew there was an open door here."

No position change is anticipated for Hawn, who is six months removed from surgery.

"We're going to look at him at third base," Campbell said. "That might change."

Former South-Doyle pitcher Chad Bell also looked at the possibility of switching to Walters State but decided to go to Memphis, where he is a signee.

"His dad called us and he came up to visit at the last minute," Campbell said. "We thought he was going to come but decided to go to Memphis."

http://web.knoxnews.com/static/images/kns/logos/lighthouse.gif
© 2007 Knoxville News Sentinel

[colbyjack]

Thanks for sharing that. Hawn and Bell would have been ideal DFE candidates, although I'm sure the Brewers will be keeping a close eye on both of them, particularly Hawn, knowing they have another shot at him next year.