Wednesday, June 3, 1998
Amateur Free-Agent Draft
UHH pitcher
Yates rates with
Athletics
He goes in the
By Al Chase
23rd round of the
baseball draft
Star-BulletinTyler Yates was the second player from Hawaii selected in major league baseball's amateur free-agent draft yesterday.
The 6-foot-4 right-handed pitcher from the University of Hawaii at Hilo, who lives in Koloa, Kauai, was picked in the 23rd round (675th overall) by the Oakland Athletics.
Earlier yesterday, University of Hawaii junior center fielder Darren Blakely was taken in the fifth round (151st overall) by the Anaheim Angels.
And, as expected, the Rainbows' top recruit for next year -- 6-6 left-hander C.C. Sabathia -- went in the first round (20th overall), to the Cleveland Indians.
Sabathia, who has a 9-0 record with 128 strikeouts in 64 innings, was one of 13 pitchers selected in the first round. He also plays first base and is hitting .592 for Vallejo (Calif.) High School entering the Sac-Joaquin Section Division I championship series, which starts tomorrow.
"I'm real excited," Sabathia said. "I haven't discussed anything with my parents yet. We're just dealing with everything right now."
He plans to meet with a Cleveland representative this weekend to discuss contract terms.
Another UH recruit, left-handed pitcher Andy Pratt, was picked in the ninth round (263rd overall) by the Texas Rangers. He is tentatively scheduled to meet with a Rangers' scout tomorrow.
"The ninth round was about where I had heard I might go," said Pratt, of Chino Valley, Ariz. "I thought I'd be picked lower, but I'm happy. I don't think it's really hit me yet."
Yates received his call just before noon yesterday from Oakland scout Eric Kubota, who had seen the Vulcans' junior blank Wright State, 5-0, in this year's Rainbow Easter Tournament.
"I'm happy that I got a chance. If the deal is right, then I'll go," Yates said.
Yates has a full scholarship to UHH next year, and younger brother Spencer, a catcher, might also attend UHH next year.
"He's excited, with reservations, because his college education means a lot to him," said Yates' mother, Janna. "His brother is the best catcher he's ever had and Tyler feels he would improve more if they were together next year."
Kubota is expected to call Yates today with a contract offer.
Blakely said he has already purchased suitcases.
"All that's left is to sign and say goodbye to everybody," he said yesterday. "I'm ready to go and play. Hopefully all the details will be taken care of soon."
Blakely is the 13th Anaheim selection with Hawaii ties.
Evarsito Alvaro Torres was expected to be picked in the first 25 rounds (the number completed yesterday), but neither he nor his George Washington High School (Harlem, N.Y.) teammate, Junior Ramirez, received a call. They have signed to play for the Rainbows next season.
"I'm kind of like a little disappointed," Torres said last night.
None of the other 1999 UH recruits were drafted yesterday.
UH recruit Aaron Pribble, who will pitch in a playoff game today, said, "I'm not tremendously disappointed because I'm looking forward to playing in Hawaii next year."
Pribble, from Fairfax, Calif., and UH left-handed pitching recruit Joel Lozano of Bakersfield, Calif., weren't expected to be high draft choices.
The lower a player is selected, the better the Rainbows' chances of retaining him. However, if a team has difficulty signing its high draft choices, more money can be freed up for lower-round choices.
Neither Hawaii Pacific University right-hander Jesse Brown nor Laney College left-hander Ian Perio, who played high school ball for Castle, were picked yesterday, and no Hawaii high school players were selected.
1. Philadelphia: Pat Burrell, 3b, Miami First round selections
2. Oakland: Mark Mulder, lhp, Michigan State.
3. Chicago Cubs: Corey Patterson, of, Harrison HS, Kennesaw, Ga.
4. Kansas City: Jeff Austin, Stanford.
5. St. Louis: J.D. Drew, of, Florida State.
6. Minnesota: Ryan Mills, lhp, Arizona State.
7. Cincinnati: Austin Kearns, rf, Lafayette HS, Lexington, Ky.
8. Toronto: Felipe Lopez, Lake Brantley HS, Altamonta Springs, Fla.
9. San Diego: Sean Burroughs, 3b, Wilson HS, Long Beach, Calif.
10. Texas: Carlos Pena, 1b, Northeastern.
11. Montreal: Josh McKinley, ss, Malvern Prep, Downington, Pa.
12. Boston: Adam Everett, ss, South Carolina.
13. Milwaukee: J.M. Gold, rhp, North HS, Tom's River, N.J.
14. Detroit: Jeff Weaver, rhp, Fresno State.
15. Pittsburgh: Clint Johnston, lhp-of, Vanderbilt.
16. Chicago White Sox: Kip Wells, rhp, Baylor.
17. Houston: (from Colorado for Darryl Kile), Brad Lidge, rhp, Notre Dame.
18. Anaheim: Seth Etherton, rhp, Southern Cal.
19. San Francisco: (from Houston for Doug Henry), Tony Torcata, ss-3b, Woodland (Calif.) HS.
20. Cleveland: C.C. Sabathia, lhp, Vallejo (Calif.) HS.
21. New York Mets: Jason Tyner, of, Texas A&M.
22. Seattle: Matt Thorton, lhp, Grand Valley St.
23. Los Angeles: Bubba Crosby, of, Rice.
24. New York Yankees: Andy Brown, of, Richmond (Ind.) HS.
25. San Francisco: Nate Bump, rhp, Penn St.
26. Baltimore: Rick Elder, of, Sprayberry HS, Marietta, Ga.
27. Florida: Chip Ambres, of, West Brook HS, Beaumont, Texas.
28. Colorado: (from Atlanta for Andres Galarraga), Matt Roney, rhp, North HS, Edmond, Okla.
29. San Francisco: (from Tampa Bay for Roberto Hernandez), Arturo McDowell, of, Forest Hills HS, Jackson, Miss.
30. Kansas City: (from Arizona for Jay Bell), Matt Burch, rhp, Virginia Commonwealth.
Getting drafted not just
By Al Chase
a one-time deal
Star-BulletinIt is not unusual for a player to be selected twice in major league baseball's amateur free-agent draft.
Prospects are picked after their senior year in high school and, if they do not sign, most likely again in college.
Derek Tatsuno and Greg Burlingame, two left-handed pitchers for the University of Hawaii, each were drafted six times before signing.
Tatsuno was picked by the Cincinnati Reds out of Aiea High School and by the San Diego Padres in the second round after his junior season with the 'Bows in 1979.
The NCAA's all-time single-season strikeout leader (234) opted to play in Japan because the money was better. He signed with the Prince Hotel team, a subsidiary of the Sebu Lions in Japan's Pacific League.
An agreement between the American and Japan commissioners prohibited the countries from signing players from the other's territory. American teams kept drafting Tatsuno, which prevented him from joining the Lions.
He stopped playing in Japan after the 1981 season and was selected in the 1982 winter draft and signed with the Milwaukee Brewers.
Burlingame was drafted out of high school, then twice while attending Baltimore City Community College. He was drafted three more times after joining the Rainbows before signing with the Seattle Mariners in 1987.
In the history of draft, four players were selected seven times.
