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Thursday - August 16, 2007
Draft roundup
[Please note a couple of updates at the end of the post.]
Here's how the draft seems to have played out for Texas players and signees (as best I can tell):
- Players eligible to play at UT for the 2008 season:
- Brandon Workman (signee, Phillies, 3rd round) - coming to UT
- Kyle Russell (Cardinals, 4th round) - returning to UT
- Bradley Suttle (Yankees, 4th round) - signed, $1.3M bonus
- Adrian Alaniz (Nationals, 8th round) - signed, playing with the Vermont Lake Monsters
- Taylor Grote (signee, Yankees, 8th round) - signed
- Runey Davis (signee, Pirates, 11th round) - coming to UT
- Brandon Belt (signee, Braves, 11th round) - coming to UT
- James Russell (Cubs, 14th round) - signed
- Kevin Keyes (signee, Rangers, 26th round) - coming to UT
- Preston Clark (Cubs, 33rd round) - returning to UT
- Kenn Kasparek (Nationals, 34th round) - returning to UT
- Garrett Clyde (signee, Cubs, 43rd round) - coming to UT
- Cameron Rupp (signee, Pirates, 43rd round) - coming to UT
- 2007 seniors (not eligible to play at UT for the 2008 season):
- Randy Boone (Blue Jays, 7th round) - ??
- Joseph Krebs (Reds, 14th round) - signed, playing with the Billings Mustangs
- Chance Wheeless (Diamondbacks, 17th round) - signed, playing with the Missoula Osprey
- Nick Peoples (Cardinals, 19th round) - the Statesman reported back in early June that Nick had signed but according to the Cardinals' Draft Results page, that is not the case...I don't know what's up with that
- Clay Van Hook (Mariners, 45th round) - ??
- Chais Fuller (undrafted) - signed by the Braves and playing for the GCL Braves
- Brett Lewis (undrafted) - signed by the Red Sox and playing for the Lowell Spinners
Of the 11 13 drafted players who could return to UT or had signed letters of intent to come to UT, we lost 3 4. I'm sure we'll feel the loss of Bradley and James [see addition about Adrian below]. But, I wish them all the best as the go forward with their professional careers. I'm glad we'll get to watch Kyle in burnt orange for another season. I hope the decision to stay works out for him.
What to make of the status of Randy, Nick, and Clay? Coach Garrido indicated in an interview on KVET back in mid-June that every player who was eligible to be drafted or sign a pro contract as a senior was signing. As seniors, they were not bound by the August 15th signing deadline so it could be that they're just taking their time before signing. Or, maybe they've decided not to play professional ball. I dunno. If someone out there knows and can share the info, please drop me a line. Thanks.
UPDATE. Ask and ye shall (sort of) receive. A new "The SB with Drew Bishop" showed up on the TexasSports.com site today. And, in it, Drew says:
To update you, Nick has been rehabbing his collarbone injury he sustained in our regional and is looking forward to heading to "instructs" in the fall with the Cardinals. Randy is still negotiating with the Blue Jays and is looking forward to getting his professional career started.
So, that answers 2-out-of-3.
UPDATE #2. Somehow, I left Brandon Workman off the list (sorry about that!) when I was working on it. As best I can tell, he did not sign with the Phillies and should be on campus when classes start in a couple of weeks. I know that's sad news for at least one Phillies fan (hi, Steve).
UDPATE #3 (Aug. 17th). Obviously, I was very off my game yesterday. I should've taken more time with my post. Adrian Alaniz was definitely eligible to return and play another season with the Horns. I guess the fact that he signed so early put my hopes that he'd return away early and I just forgot about the fact that he could've returned. There is not doubt that Adrian will be missed on the mound in the upcoming season.
Posted by Joanna at 8:17 AM