Story originally printed in the La Crosse Tribune or online at www.lacrossetribune.com
Published - Monday, June 05, 2006
LOGGERS NOTEBOOK: Prospects eager for this week's draft
Ross McCoy and Rodney Brantley were sharing some horror stories in the Loggers dugout Sunday afternoon.
“I knew a guy who hit something like 20 bombs and had 60 RBIs, hit a bunch of doubles in college and didn’t get drafted,” McCoy said.
Brantley shook his head in agreement. What can you do? Some players are blue-chip, can’t-miss prospects and others could go anywhere from the fifth round to free-agent oblivion.
“The scouts have seen me several times,” said Brantley, a junior right-hander from Dallas Baptist University. “I did everything I could from February through May.”
Brantley and McCoy, a junior infielder/outfielder from UW-Milwaukee are two of 18 Loggers who are eligible for the 2006 Major League Draft, which will be held Tuesday and Wednesday.
Of the 18, only right-hander Jordan Craft of Dallas Baptist was projected to go in the top 200 (first through mid-sixth rounds) by Baseball America. Craft has not reported to the Loggers yet.
J.R. Murphy, a right-handed pitcher from Yavapai College (Ariz.), was taken in the 38th round of the 2005 draft by the Rangers and has drawn interest again after leading Yavapai into the JUCO World Series with a 10-1 record and 1.71 ERA, including 104 strikeouts in 94 1/3 innings. Murphy is expected to join the Loggers this week.
There are a handful of former Loggers who could get the call this week, led by Missouri’s Max Scherzer, who is projected to go as high as ninth overall. Pitchers Danny Ray Herrera (New Mexico), Taylor Bills (UC-Riverside) and Adam Rogers (Evansville), all 2005 alumni, are among the other prospects.
Brantley is taking a wait-and-see approach.
“My advisor told me a lot of teams have me five through 12 (round),” Brantley said. “I threw in front of a lot of scouts this spring and they showed interest and talked to me before games. It’s really up in the air for me.”
McCoy, who hit 11 home runs with 47 RBI for the Panthers this spring, attended a scouting combine with Loggers outfielder Andy Podmolik (UW-La Crosse) Saturday morning.
“The scouts know what we can do,” McCoy said. “This was a chance to showcase our skills one more time before the draft. If I get taken in the 33rd round or whatever, I’d just like to get fair compensation compared to what guys around me are getting. Me and Pod, we’re not big prospects. We’re not going to be the guys holding out.”
The Loggers have four players who have previously been drafted: Murphy, outfielder Travis Check (44th round of 2003 draft, Dodgers), catcher Michael Brenly (43rd round of 2005 draft, Cubs) and Nick Romero (41st round of 2005 draft, Royals).
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