Tuesday, June 1, 1999

Many isle
collegians have
shot in draft

UH pitcher Dusty
Bergman has the best shot at
being picked early

Prep prospects await the call

By Al Chase
Star-Bulletin

Hawaii's collegiate baseball players awaiting selection in the annual Major League amateur free agent draft can begin experiencing the anticipation shortly after 7 a.m. tomorrow.

That's when the Tampa Bay Devil Rays make the first pick.

If the 30 major league teams use all regular and supplemental picks available, 1,521 potential professional players will be selected in 50 rounds. Approximately 20 rounds will be completed tomorrow and the rest Thursday.

This is not a year of great talent among Hawaii's collegians, but several Hawaii Rainbows and Hawaii Pacific Sea Warriors have been evaluated by pro scouts.

The UH coaches think junior left-hander Dusty Bergman will go in the early rounds. They believe he enhanced his chances of going in a decent (money) round when he finished the Rainbow season with six strong outings. At least a dozen scouts have talked with the 6-foot-4, 190-pounder and had him fill out questionnaires.

"I just want to see what happens. I'd like to pursue a professional career, but if the opportunity is not there, I'll come back to school," Bergman said.

Other Rainbows considered possible drafts picks are pitcher/first baseman Jamie Aloy, left-hander Randon Ho, right-hander Corey Miller and catcher/first baseman Lars Hansen.

Several scouts talked with Aloy during the Easter Tournament but haven't since.

"I'll just wait and see. If I'm drafted, then I'll see what the details are," Aloy said.

Oakland scout Eric Kubota told Miller the A's would take him in the late rounds as a pitcher. Miller says he will sign.

Hansen has completed information cards for seven or eight teams, filled out psychological information sheets for four teams and talked with the San Francisco Giants in depth.

Ho, drafted in the 35th round by Cleveland a year ago, missed a month of the Rainbow season with a pulled muscle in his back. How that might affect scouts' interest this year is difficult to determine.

Matt Wheeler had a workout Sunday with Florida Marlins scout Wally Walker.

"He said I threw good enough to be signed if they have some spots open," Wheeler said.

An open spot depends on how many pitchers the Marlins select and how many they sign to fill their rookie league roster at Melbourne, Fla. Otherwise, Wheeler plans to try hooking on with the Reno Blackjacks of the independent Western League.

Three Hawaii Pacific players -- junior right-hander Eric Bentley, third baseman Shane Lyons and senior catcher Deric Yanagisawa -- have caught scouts' eyes.

"They have all received questionnaires," said HPU head coach Allan Sato. "There also might be some interest in (outfielder) Gabe Gerhard as a draft and follow."

Ian Perio, a left-handed pitcher out of Castle High School, has been drafted twice by the Oakland A's.

However, at Arizona State this past season, Perio spent most of his time resting and rehabilitating from tendinitis in his left rotator cuff.

"The Oakland scouts called again and said they would draft me again," Perio said. "But, it looks like I'm going to go back to school and show them what I've got."

PLAYERS WITH HAWAII TIES DRAFTED IN THE FIRST ROUND Summer draft, regular phase 1985: Mike Campbell (7th overall), Seattle (signed). 1996: Mark Johnson, (19th overall), Houston (signed). 1985: David Masters (24th overall), Chicago Cubs (signed). 1986: Mike Fetters, (27th overall), California (signed). Summer draft, secondary phase 1979: Carlos Diaz (15th overall), Seattle (signed). Winter draft, regular phase 1983: Keith Komeiji (8th overall), Seattle (signed). 1983: Dan Sheeley (21st overall), Philadelphia (DNS). 1982: Derek Tatsuno (25th overall), Milwaukee (signed). Winter draft, secondary phase 1975: Lenn Sakata (10th overall), Milwaukee (signed).