Brewers' Fifth Round Pick - Angel Salome, HS Catcher

[MassBrew]

Link while live:

 

www.nypost.com/sports/22553.htm

 

GW BUDDIES GET GOOD NEWS IN DRAFT

By DAN MARTIN

 

June 8, 2004 -- Rafael Gonzalez watched from the stands as George Washington and his friend Angel Salome beat Tottenville Sunday to advance to the PSAL title game.

"That hurt me not to be out there with them," said Gonzalez, who attends GW, but is ineligible. "But I was so happy for Angel and everyone else on the team."

 

Yesterday, both Gonzalez and Salome had reason to celebrate again as they were chosen in the amateur draft. Gonzalez, a righty pitcher, was selected by the Reds in the fourth round (108th overall), while Salome was picked by the Brewers one round later (136).

 

"This has been an exciting time," said Salome, a catcher, who singled in a run Sunday despite playing with an injured hand. "I've always wanted to be a professional and now it looks like it's going to happen."

 

For Gonzalez, as well. The 6-foot-3 hurler has been clocked in the mid-90s and that potential made scouts overlook his lack of experience. His grades and lack of attendance because of trips to the Dominican Republic have kept him off the field virtually his entire high school career.

 

"I was hoping this is the way it would work out for me," Gonzalez said. "For it to happen to Angel, too, makes it even better."

 

The two have been close for years and spent much of yesterday afternoon in an office at GW with the rest of their team, monitoring the internet to see when they would be drafted.

 

"When Rafael got picked, everyone went crazy," Salome said. "And then half an hour later, they called me and it happened again."

[MassBrew]

Doesn't mention Salome, but his team lost the New York state championship yesterday to a team with a pitcher you're all familiar with:

 

www.nypost.com/sports/17427.htm

[emunney]

Salome's first hitless game.