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Suzuki rated top catcher by Baseball America

Baldwin High alumnus Kurt Suzuki of Cal State-Fullerton is the No. 1-rated college catcher in next week's Major League draft in rankings by Baseball America magazine.

Suzuki, a junior, says that he will sign this summer if he receives a satisfactory offer.

But first, he hopes to help Cal State-Fullerton reach the College World Series for the second year in a row.

Fullerton was chosen to host one of the 16 4-team regional tournaments and plays Minnesota in its opening game Friday. Arizona State and Pepperdine are the other teams in the regional.

Baseball America's Top 100 Draft Prospects list rates one catcher -- Neil Walker of Pine Richards High School in Gibsonia, Penn. -- higher than Suzuki.

The draft will be held Monday and Tuesday, June 7-8.

Suzuki is No. 48 on Baseball America's draft prospects list and the 14th position player. The other 34 are pitchers.

Four shortstops and five outfielders are rated ahead of Suzuki.

Allan Simpson, one of Baseball America's draft gurus, wrote in a chat room on Friday:

"Suzuki has become one of the hot names in the draft this year. He's a solid defender and has really stepped it up with the bat, especially the last three-four weeks in Big West (Conference) play.

"He's come a long way in all areas after being a walk-on as a freshman. He has a very good chance of being a sandwich pick, which would make him ripe for the A's, who have two sandwich picks (between first and second round)."

Simpson, however, predicted Suzuki would be the third catcher chosen. His prediction: "1. Neil Walker, 2. Jason Jaramillo (Oklahoma State), 3. Kurt Suzuki, 4. Devin Ivany (South Florida) and 5. Landon Powell (South Carolina).

Jaramillo, the top-rated college catcher at mid-season, is Number 50, two places behind Suzuki, in Baseball America's latest ratings. But the magazine rates him as having the strongest arm among college players and being the best college defensive player.

Baseball America rated Suzuki the No. 1 catcher in "strike-zone judgment" among college players (he leads Fullerton this season with 26 walks) and the third best college defensive player (he has a total of three errors in three years).

Powell was chosen first-team All-America last week by Sports Weekly, USA Today's weekly sports magazine, and Suzuki was chosen second team.

Seasiders sign water polo standout

The Brigham Young-Hawaii water polo team recently signed utility player Lars Nordstrom.

Nordstrom played one semester at the University of the Pacific before a two-year religious mission in Romania. He is a former first-team All-Monterey Bay League star while at San Benito (Calif.) High.

Durkin gets WAC honor after beating Rainbows

San Jose State pitcher Matt Durkin was named Western Athletic Conference baseball pitcher of the week.

Durkin pitched a three-hitter in an 8-0 victory over Hawaii last Friday. He struck out eight and walked five.

Fresno State third baseman Christian Vitters was named player of the week after going 5-for-11 including a double and two homers in a three-game sweep of Nevada.

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