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Seniors could make history

With nine highly-touted players, Seminole could break draft records.

By PETE YOUNG

© St. Petersburg Times,
published June 4, 2001

Seminole coach Scott Miller played minor-league baseball in the 1970s and has coached in high school or college ever since. He has been around the game his whole life. He is old school, he is understated, he is not prone to exaggeration.

He thinks Seminole could compete at the College World Series.

Maybe not win it, but not be outclassed, either. If the Warhawks were in the eight-team field, Miller thinks they would belong.

Sound absurd? The evidence backs him up. Seminole, which went unbeaten on the field and wire-to-wire as the nation's No. 1 team in Baseball America, boasts a staggering collection of talent.

Six Warhawks are expected to be picked in Tuesday's draft, and all could be gone by the 20th round. Baseball America rates the six among the top 59 draft prospects in Florida, including college players.

The record for draftees from a high school in one year is six, which Seminole could break since three others could be drafted.

It starts with first baseman Casey Kotchman (6-foot-3, 215 pounds), the state's Mr. Baseball and a possible Top 10 pick. Miller said Kotchman is a major-league first baseman and Triple A hitter -- right now. Kotchman could become the highest drafted Pinellas County player. Gibbs' Boof Bonser, the No. 21 overall selection last season by the Giants, is the highest high school draftee from Pinellas. Dunedin's Scott Hemond is the highest overall, taken No. 12 out of South Florida in 1986.

Shortstop Bryan Bass and right-handed pitcher Ryan Dixon were projected as possible first rounders before the season. However, Bass (6-1, 185), a transfer from Fort Lauderdale Westminster, was ruled ineligible after 10 games due to a residency issue. He has since worked out on his own and traveled to individual workouts for pro scouts.

Bass, who signed to play wide receiver at Alabama, should be chosen in the first few rounds Tuesday. He is rated the state's No. 3 high school prospect by Baseball America, behind Kotchman and Marianna's Alan Horne.

Dixon (6-2, 205), a Miami signee, sustained a torn labrum in his throwing shoulder after just three outings this season. He had surgery in early April and is expected to make a complete recovery. He should be chosen in the early rounds.

Pitchers John Killalea (6-1, 190), a left-hander, and T.J. Large (6-4, 180), a right-hander, and catcher Bobby Wilson (6-1, 210) expect to be early- to mid-round selections. All have signed with colleges, Killalea with Florida Atlantic, Large with Chipola J.C., and Wilson with Mississippi and St. Petersburg J.C.

"Can they draft them high enough to keep them out of college? That's the question," Miller said. "Any of them could drop (to later rounds) if it's perceived they will be hard to sign.'"

If the super six are drafted as projected, then the wait will begin to see if a seventh Warhawk gets picked to give Seminole the record. Third baseman Errol Blumer, outfielder Jon Skorupski and second baseman Jon Riggleman all could be No. 7.

With such an aggregation of highly regarded players, it's no wonder Miller thinks his team could play at the CWS.

"Skill-wise, tool-wise, I'd have to say we're comparable," Miller said. "Can you imagine saying that about a high school team?"

First-year player draft

WHO: All high school seniors, two-year college players and four-year college juniors and seniors are eligible. Any player who turns 21 within 45 days of Tuesday is eligible.

WHEN: Tuesday-Thursday.

THE RULES: Clubs retain rights to draftees until the week before the 2002 draft. Teams lose all rights to players who enroll in four-year colleges in the fall; rights to players who enroll in a two-year college are retained until the next draft, but the player cannot be signed until after his season.

DURATION: 50 rounds, 1 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, noon to 6 Wednesday and at 1 p.m. Thursday if necessary. There are 13 supplemental/compensatory picks, so-called "sandwich" picks, between the first and second rounds.

ORDER: The top 10: 1. Minnesota, 2. Chicago Cubs, 3. Tampa Bay, 4. Philadelphia, 5. Texas, 6. Montreal, 7. Baltimore, 8. Pittsburgh, 9. Kansas City, 10. Houston.

ON THE WEB: www.majorleaguebaseball.com will provide live audio coverage and round-by-round updates; www.baseballamerica.com and teamonebaseball.alliancesports.com have extensive information on top draft prospects for a subscription fee.

- Compiled by Pete Young.

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