Ranaudo gets drafted by Texas
By STEVEN FALK
STAFF WRITER
Anthony Ranaudo was going to spend Friday night doing some homework.
No, not actual school work, but research on the Texas Rangers.
The Rangers selected the 6-foot-7 St. Rose senior right-hander in the 11th round, pick No.‚350 overall, Friday in Major League Baseball's First-Year Player Draft.
"'They came to a few of my games and we had a little contact, but not too much,'' Ranaudo said. ""I'm going to look at the Rangers' situation and see how that works. I hope it is a good situation.''
Ranaudo, who has signed a National Letter of Intent to attend Louisiana State University, had more contact with at least two other teams in recent days.
He said both the Houston Astros and Milwaukee Brewers had visited him at his house.
Ranaudo said Milwaukee had called Thursday during the first day of the draft and told him they wanted to select him in the third round with the 101st selection overall.
Ranaudo said he turned Milwaukee's offer down.
""My family didn't think it was the right situation,'' Ranaudo said. ""I don't have any feeling of regret. I'm a firm believer that everything happens for a reason. We're in a different situation now.
""To get drafted in the 11th round is an honor. To be considered for the third-round is even more of an honor.''
Ranaudo, who went 5-2 this season and 21-4 for his scholastic career, now has to decide whether to sign with the Rangers, or decline their offer and spend the next three seasons at LSU.
If Ranaudo does sign with Texas, he would likely spend his summer playing for a Texas Rookie League team in either Arizona or Spokane, Wash.
Because the Rangers, who entered Friday with the Major League's worst record at 21-39, are an organization in desperate need of pitching, they could put the hard-throwing Ranaudo on a fast track through their minor league system.
""As long as the money situation is right, I'd like to play pro ball and live my dream,'' Ranaudo said. ""But, if it isn't, I'm going down to LSU. It's not a bad situation. It's a win, win situation for me and my family.''
Ranaudo, who said in the weeks preceding the draft, he had participated in workouts at both Yankee Stadium and Shea Stadium, indicated negotiations with Texas will begin today.
""They haven't given a number value yet and we don't really have a specific number (monetary) in mind,'' Ranaudo said.
Three other Shore area players were selected Friday, the second and final day of the draft. Forty-five of the 50 rounds of the draft took place Friday.
Brookdale Community College sophomore outfielder Jim Principe, a former Toms River East player who helped the Jersey Blues reach the Junior College Division III World Series this spring, was picked in the 37th round and 1,116 overall by the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Christian Brothers Academy senior right-hander Kyle Slate, who went 11-1 this year and has signed a National Letter of Intent to attend the University of Maine, went in the 37th round, pick No.‚1,126 overall by the Philadelphia Phillies and Red Bank Catholic senior right-hander J.C. Menna, who went 4-2 this season and has signed a National Letter of Intent to attend James Madison, was selected in the 39th round, pick No.‚1,167 overall, by the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Principe, who attended the University of New Orleans before he transferred to Brookdale, said he was not sure what he was going to do.
""I want to (sign), if the situation is right, but I've got to do what's best for me and my family,'' said Principe, who indicated he did not expect much money because he was drafted so late. ""I just want the opportunity for advancement, to play every day and move up through the ranks.''
Principe said he would attend a four-year college, if he doesn't sign with Arizona.
""I have a couple (four-year colleges) in mind,'' Principe said.
STAFF WRITER
Anthony Ranaudo was going to spend Friday night doing some homework.
No, not actual school work, but research on the Texas Rangers.
The Rangers selected the 6-foot-7 St. Rose senior right-hander in the 11th round, pick No.‚350 overall, Friday in Major League Baseball's First-Year Player Draft.
"'They came to a few of my games and we had a little contact, but not too much,'' Ranaudo said. ""I'm going to look at the Rangers' situation and see how that works. I hope it is a good situation.''
Ranaudo, who has signed a National Letter of Intent to attend Louisiana State University, had more contact with at least two other teams in recent days.
He said both the Houston Astros and Milwaukee Brewers had visited him at his house.
Ranaudo said Milwaukee had called Thursday during the first day of the draft and told him they wanted to select him in the third round with the 101st selection overall.
Ranaudo said he turned Milwaukee's offer down.
""My family didn't think it was the right situation,'' Ranaudo said. ""I don't have any feeling of regret. I'm a firm believer that everything happens for a reason. We're in a different situation now.
""To get drafted in the 11th round is an honor. To be considered for the third-round is even more of an honor.''
Ranaudo, who went 5-2 this season and 21-4 for his scholastic career, now has to decide whether to sign with the Rangers, or decline their offer and spend the next three seasons at LSU.
If Ranaudo does sign with Texas, he would likely spend his summer playing for a Texas Rookie League team in either Arizona or Spokane, Wash.
Because the Rangers, who entered Friday with the Major League's worst record at 21-39, are an organization in desperate need of pitching, they could put the hard-throwing Ranaudo on a fast track through their minor league system.
""As long as the money situation is right, I'd like to play pro ball and live my dream,'' Ranaudo said. ""But, if it isn't, I'm going down to LSU. It's not a bad situation. It's a win, win situation for me and my family.''
Ranaudo, who said in the weeks preceding the draft, he had participated in workouts at both Yankee Stadium and Shea Stadium, indicated negotiations with Texas will begin today.
""They haven't given a number value yet and we don't really have a specific number (monetary) in mind,'' Ranaudo said.
Three other Shore area players were selected Friday, the second and final day of the draft. Forty-five of the 50 rounds of the draft took place Friday.
Brookdale Community College sophomore outfielder Jim Principe, a former Toms River East player who helped the Jersey Blues reach the Junior College Division III World Series this spring, was picked in the 37th round and 1,116 overall by the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Christian Brothers Academy senior right-hander Kyle Slate, who went 11-1 this year and has signed a National Letter of Intent to attend the University of Maine, went in the 37th round, pick No.‚1,126 overall by the Philadelphia Phillies and Red Bank Catholic senior right-hander J.C. Menna, who went 4-2 this season and has signed a National Letter of Intent to attend James Madison, was selected in the 39th round, pick No.‚1,167 overall, by the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Principe, who attended the University of New Orleans before he transferred to Brookdale, said he was not sure what he was going to do.
""I want to (sign), if the situation is right, but I've got to do what's best for me and my family,'' said Principe, who indicated he did not expect much money because he was drafted so late. ""I just want the opportunity for advancement, to play every day and move up through the ranks.''
Principe said he would attend a four-year college, if he doesn't sign with Arizona.
""I have a couple (four-year colleges) in mind,'' Principe said.
posted by Tony Graham at 5:13 PM
6 Comments:
Surprised- I guess That Biserta wasn't drafted. We all certainly heared a lot about how he was -right Tony?
I have it from a rather reliable source a team called Biserta Sunday night and all but guaranteed they would draft him within the first 10 rounds.
Then they didn't draft him. Of course any team could have and he was generally thought, far as I heard, ` to be a 10-15 round pick.
I believe teams felt they could n't sign Biserta after the 10th round or so and at that point he would go to Rutgers.
It's a very unpredicatble business and - it is very unpredictable - and it is a business.
The fact he wasn't drafted - in my opinion - is no reflection on his talent or potential.
Remember - Todd Frazier - though he was drafted out of high school, was picked in the 43rd round. A`wasted pick by Colorado.
How about Winkofsky and Zucchino??? how could no team even entertain a late pick on those kids???? just for giggles someone had to pick them in the 50th round..are all of these scouts blind or what??? Evan Danelli from SHP in the 30 something round??? what gives??
Why would a team waste a 40-50 round pick on a player they know is not going to sign.
At that point teams are looking to pick kids (college seniors, Jucos, some high schoolers) they feel may have no other options and MLB teams are really looking to fill out their minor league systems in those rounds.
As`for Weinkofsky I am not going to pretend I have an explanation - because I don't.
Mike Piazza was a 62nd or so round pick....so sometimes there is just no explanation.
A
this was the first year in a new draft system, prior to this year teams held the rights to players for a year. This year the must sign the player by august 15 or they loose their rights.
Re Aug 15 - yes, that is the magic date. If a drafted payer does not sign by then he goes back into next year's draft (unless he opts for a 4-year school, such as in the case of Ranaudo, Slate, Menna). Then he must wait until after his junior year..
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