By Dylan Hernandez Daily Bruin Contributor The major league
baseball amateur baseball draft, which took place on Monday and
Tuesday, marked the setting of a new record by the UCLA baseball
program. Junior second baseman Chase Utley, who was selected in the
first round by the Philadelphia Phillies, led a group of 12 Bruins
that were chosen by professional ballclubs. UCLA’s total of
12 draftees broke the old NCAA mark for players taken in a single
draft: 11, set by USC in 1998. The Phillies took Utley, rated the
best pure hitter available in the draft by Baseball America, with
the 15th overall selection. As a high school senior in 1997, Utley
was selected in the second round by the Los Angeles Dodgers. Though
tempted to sign, Utley was convinced by UCLA head coach Gary Adams
to give college a shot. “I’m really happy for
Chase,” Adams said. “It just proves he made the right
decision. Some people told him it was a gamble to come to
UCLA.” Not all Bruins, though, were left smiling. After Utley
was chosen, no Bruin heard his name called for a round and a half.
According to pre-draft suspicions, it wasn’t supposed to be
that way. Lefthanded pitcher Rob Henkel, a fourth-year junior who
successfully returned from elbow surgery this season, had been
expected to be chosen a few slots down from Utley. Reports in
Baseball America said Henkel’s knuckle-curve was the best
breaking pitch in the draft. The publication also named him as the
player third closest to making a big league squad. Henkel, however,
was not taken until the third round, when the Florida Marlins
drafted him. Reportedly, the declining velocity of his fastball
late in the season had started rumors that he was having arm
troubles again. Henkel had thought that it was understood why his
pitches were losing zip ““ he hadn’t thrown in nearly
two years and his arm was still building back its durability. He
was wrong. Henkel slipped through the first round. Then the second.
“By that point,” Henkel said, “I was just anxious
to get some closure.” He got what he wanted in the following
round. As he was on the phone with a scout from the Minnesota
Twins, Henkel received a call on the other line from Florida. The
Marlins told him they couldn’t believe he was still there.
Henkel couldn’t either. His freefall cost him approximately a
million dollars in signing bonuses. Yet, Henkel tried to remain
positive. He noted that he will receive his degree this quarter and
that the Marlins’ organization has a good reputation for
developing young talent. “The more I learn about the Marlins,
the better I like them,” he said. “Also, I think
everything happens for a reason. “Now, I can just go out and
play. I never have to worry about scouts again.” All-American
first baseman Garrett Atkins was the next Bruin chosen. He went to
the Colorado Rockies in the fifth round (137th overall). He, like
Henkel, said he was disappointed with his draft position, but happy
with the club he was chosen by. Atkins’ selection was
followed by another shocker: junior leftfielder Bill Scott, a
first-team All-American dropped to round eight, despite having hit
.421 this season with 21 home runs. Leading up to the draft, scouts
had expressed a belief that Scott’s swing was too long to be
effective in pro ball. What scouts didn’t know was that Scott
had played nearly the entire season with a bad wrist. “He
played hurt and still hit for a great average,” Adams said.
“It shows what kind of hitter he is. I don’t know if
he’s going to sign. I wish he’d come back if he
doesn’t get a good deal because he has a good deal here at
UCLA.” The remaining Bruins drafted were pitcher Ryan Carter
(Philadelphia, 8th round), catcher Forrest Johnson (Detroit, 13th),
center fielder Charles Merricks (Colorado, 17th), relief pitcher
Chad Cislak (Cleveland, 19th), rightfielder Nick Lyon (20th round),
catcher Ryan Hamill (St. Louis, 25th), outfielder Brian Baron
(Minnesota, 36th) and pinch-running specialist Freddie Mitchell,
who also is a wideout for the UCLA football team (Chicago White
Sox, 50th). Adams said that he expected Carter and Johnson to sign
professional contracts. Both Cislak and Lyon said they would wait
to see what kind of money they were offered before making a
decision. In addition to the 12 current players that were drafted,
the Bruins could possibly lose its three top recruits as well.
Pitcher Mike Stodolka of Centennial High School in Corona, Calif.
was taken fourth overall by the Kansas City Royals and, according
to Adams, has already decided to play professionally. Pitcher Matt
Wheatland of Rancho Bernardo High in San Diego (8th overall to
Detroit) and outfielder Shaun Boyd of Oceanside Vista (13th
overall-St. Louis) were also selected high in the first round.
Adams said he expects both Wheatland and Boyd to turn pro as
well.
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BRUINS SELECTED IN MLB AMATEUR DRAFT The twelve
Bruins: Player Round/Pick Team Chase Utley 1/15 Philadelphia Rob
Herald 3/71 Florida Garrett Atkins 5/137 Colorado Bill Scott 8/231
Milwaukee Ryan Carter 8/235 Philadelphia Forrest Johnson 13/378
Detroit Charles Merricks 17/497 Colorado Chad Cislak 19/576
Cleveland Nick Lyon 20/586 Tampa Bay Ryan Hamill 25/743 St. Louis
Brian Baron 46/1348 Minnesota Freddie Mitchell 50/1441 Chicago
(White Sox) SOURCE: UCLA Sports Info Original graphic by ADAM
BROWN/Daily Bruin Web adaptation by HERNANE TABAY/Daily Bruin