With the three teams drafting ahead of them still unsettled, Tampa Bay keeps its options open.
By MARC TOPKIN
Published June 7, 2004
BALTIMORE - Devil Rays officials said they probably wouldn't know until today who they will take with the fourth pick of the draft, and they apparently meant it.
The baseball draft is never clear-cut, but it is more unsettled than usual this year, and the uncertainty starts at the top.
For weeks, the Padres were targeting Long Beach State right-hander Jered Weaver with the top pick. In the last week, they switched to Florida State shortstop Stephen Drew. Then Sunday, reports circulated that - concerned about Drew's bonus demands - they were considering shortstop Matt Bush of nearby Mission Bay High School.
What the Padres do, and what the Tigers and Mets do after them, could have a huge affect on the Rays. Or it might not mean a thing.
The Rays are believed to extremely interested in Chris Nelson, a mutlitalented shortstop from Redan High outside Atlanta, and could take him fourth. (Or they could take Bush if the Padres don't.)
But they also have been heavily scouting several college pitchers, specifically Rice's Jeff Niemann and Wade Townsend, along with Texas prep pitcher Homer Bailey.
"We'll work all night on this, like we always do," general manager Chuck LaMar said late Sunday afternoon. "We've had a lot of discussions and we'll continue to, and we'll line up our board, but we'll wait until tomorrow to make our final decisions."
Depending on what happens above them, they could end up with an interesting decision. The most likely possibilities:
-- Niemann, a 6-foot-9 right-hander, has the potential to have the biggest impact. But he had offseason elbow surgery and an in-season groin strain and has yet to convince scouts he is as good as he looked last season going 17-0. He pitched Rice to a 3-1 victory over Texas A&M in the NCAA Houston region Sunday, allowing four hits.
-- Townsend, a 6-foot-4 right-hander, has a good fastball, a better curve and a fiercely competitive nature that some think would make him a solid big-league closer.
-- Bailey, a 6-foot-4 right-hander from La Grange (Texas) High, has a blazing fastball and comparisons to Josh Beckett.
-- Nelson, a 5-foot-11 right-handed hitter, has talent, skills, athleticism, a strong arm and excellent makeup, a total package some scouts say is comparable to top prospect B.J. Upton.
-- Bush, a 5-foot-10 right-handed hitter, is considered to be nearly as good as Nelson overall but with the potential to be a better defensive player.
Baseball America projects that if the Padres take Bush, the Tigers will be tempted to take Drew over Old Dominion right-hander Justin Verlander or Bailey, that the Mets may take Verlander over Rice right-hander Philip Humber, that the Rays may still take Nelson over Niemann or Townsend, and that the Brewers would take Humber fifth.
After the first round, the Rays' next picks are 45th and 75th. The draft lasts 50 rounds and should be concluded Tuesday.
