Rays/MLB

Pitcher's gamble pays off with No. 1 pick

By TIMES WIRES
Published June 7, 2006

NEW YORK - Luke Hochevar held out for a year, gave the draft another try and came out on top.

The Royals made the 6-foot-5 right-hander the overall No. 1 pick Tuesday, a year after Hochevar and agent Scott Boras failed to reach a deal with the Dodgers.

"The Dodgers felt I was not worthy to be paid with the top pitchers from last year's draft," Hochevar said.

After Boras spoke to the Royals on Monday night and early Tuesday, they took the former University of Tennessee ace.

"I think everybody knew we had the top pitcher in the draft, the top value player in the draft," Boras said. "We haven't talked any specifics about dollars and cents."

Said Hochevar: "The plan is to get going. ... It's up to the club. Whenever they're ready, we're ready."

The sons of former big-league stars Doug Drabek, Don Mattingly, Jesse Barfield, Carney Lansford, Chet Lemon and Gary Roenicke were picked in the opening rounds of the two-day draft.

Pirates manager Jim Tracy and hitting coach John Shelby also had reason to celebrate; their kids got chosen, too.

Hochevar, considered one of last year's top talents, fell to the Dodgers at No. 40 because of signability concerns. The pitcher briefly switched agents from Boras to Matt Sosnick, who negotiated a deal that included a $2.98-million bonus. But after speaking with Boras, Hochevar opted not to sign, went back to Boras as his representative and accused Los Angeles of trying to force him into a bad deal.

The Dodgers pulled back their offer, and the incident raised questions about Hochevar's makeup.

The Royals, picking No. 1 for the first time in franchise history, weren't afraid to take a chance.

Hochevar (pronounced HO-chay-vur) stayed in shape by playing for the independent Fort Worth Cats.

"I'm fresh and I'm game ready," he said. "When the time comes, I'll head out and start pitching my tail off for them."

A player linked with the Royals, North Carolina left-hander Andrew Miller, went sixth to Detroit. Miller, a Golden Spikes finalist and the Tar Heels' career strikeouts leader, was the Devil Rays' third-round pick in 2003 and the highest-drafted unsigned player that year.

"It's a lifelong dream and it finally came true," Miller said. "I thought it came true three years ago, but I went to college and it worked out well."

Texas high school right-hander/shortstop Kyle Drabek, son of the former Cy Young winner, went 18th overall to Philadelphia, which plans to use him as a pitcher. Drabek was considered perhaps the most gifted player in the draft, but concerns about his makeup and attitude caused him to drop. A Baseball America profile cited a public intoxication charge that was later dropped and a single-vehicle accident in which he hit a tree in addition to volatile onfield behavior.

"I was just trying to keep things calm for him," Doug Drabek said. "I know for Kyle, his focus is the state tournament."

Indiana high school shortstop Preston Mattingly, son of the former Yankees star, went 31st overall to the Dodgers. Don was a 19th-round pick in 1979.

[Last modified June 7, 2006, 02:00:17]