Rays/MLB

Top pick gets major-league deal

By TIMES WIRES
Published August 4, 2006

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The Royals agreed to terms on a major-league contract Thursday with right-hander Luke Hochevar, the No. 1 overall pick in the June draft.

The 6-foot-5, 205-pound Hochevar is expected to sign the contract Saturday and be placed on the 40-man roster.

Hochevar becomes the second player in club history to sign a major-league contract out of the draft. The other was Bo Jackson in 1986, a Heisman Trophy winner from Auburn and the first overall pick by the Bucs in the NFL draft.

Hochevar is the fourth No. 1 overall pick in the past 20 years to sign a major-league contract, joining Alex Rodriguez (1993), Pat Burrell (1998) and Rays prospect Delmon Young (2003).

The Dodgers took Hochevar 40th overall in the 2005 draft, but he rejected a $2.98-million bonus and re-entered the draft. He then started four games for the Fort Worth Cats of the independent American Association, going 1-1 with a 2.38 ERA and striking out 34 in 22²/₃ innings.

Hochevar, 22, was 15-3 with a 2.26 ERA as a junior at Tennessee and led the Vols to the 2005 College World Series. His victories tied the school record. He set a school mark with 154 strikeouts and held opposing hitters to a .204 average. He had three complete games, including a one-hitter at Auburn.

RED SOX NEAR DEAL FOR CATCHER: Boston, looking for a catcher after an injury to captain Jason Varitek, is set to acquire veteran Javy Lopez from the Orioles, ESPN Radio in Boston reported.

Lopez, 35, has been upset over a lack of playing time in Baltimore and had asked for his release. He is hitting .265 with eight HRs, 31 RBIs and a .314 on-base percentage.

Varitek had arthroscopic knee surgery and was expected to begin rehabilitation immediately, though there was no timetable given for his return.

Team medical director Thomas Gill, who performed the surgery for torn cartilage in Varitek's left knee, indicated that it went as planned. Varitek hurt his knee when Angels catcher Mike Napoli slid into him while blocking the plate Saturday. Varitek was rounding second on Coco Crisp's second-inning single Monday when things got worse.

Meanwhile, right-handed reliever Keith Foulke pitched one scoreless inning in a rehab start for Triple-A Pawtucket. "I felt pretty comfortable," said Foulke, who threw 18 pitches, 10 for strikes. "I'm still trying to slow things down, but I'm happy with the results."

PITCHER ARRESTED: The Rangers said they would "reserve judgment" on the drunken-driving arrest of right-hander Vicente Padilla, who will continue to play until his case is resolved.

Padilla was arrested July 7 in Dallas County, court records show. He has made four starts since, winning two, and is scheduled to start today against the Angels.

And the Rangers released right-hander John Wasdin, a spot starter who became expendable with the return of Adam Eaton from a finger injury and a trade for Kip Wells.

TWINS: Manager Ron Gardenhire missed his fourth straight game, hospitalized in Minnesota because of flulike symptoms while his team played Kansas City.

Gardenhire, who had severe stomach cramps, received fluids for dehydration at a St. Paul hospital. He is tentatively scheduled to rejoin the team tonight.

[Last modified August 4, 2006, 01:32:02]