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| Tyler Beede: the first one who got away |
The Blue Jays missed out on tough sign Tyler Beede, a Massachusetts Prep product, who committed to Vanderbilt. Beede, whose situation was comparable to now-Pirates outfielder Josh Bell (see article Where will Josh Bell go?") and high schoolers Bubba Starling and Archie Bradley, who turned down scholarships to play quarterback for the Universities of Nebraska and Oklahoma, respectively, was almost 100% committed to go to Vanderbilt, and like Bell, made it explicitly clear to all teams that he wanted to attend college. Regardless, Beede will play for Vanderbilt next year, and the Blue Jays will get the 22nd overall selection as compensation.
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| Brett Austin: the other one who got away |
As for the Padres, they signed both their first round picks, outfielders Cory Spangenberg and Joe Ross, but unfortunately, they missed Providence high school catcher Brett Austin, who decided to play for North Carolina State. Austin, who was the 2nd highest rated prep catcher behind Blake Swihart, now of the Boston Red Sox, was nabbed 54th overall in the compensation round, Austin was compensation for Yorvit Torrealba, another catcher.
Those two are the latest in a recently established line of amateur talent who chose not to sign. Beginning in 2008, when Sandy Alderson did his first draft fix, one of his stipulations was that any team who didn't sign a first round or comp round pick would be given a pick in next years draft, exactly 1 spot behind their original. Here is the history of unsigned first and comp picks since 2008, and where they are now.
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| Gerrit Cole |
In 2008, the first year of the fixed draft, only two players refused to sign with their respective teams. Aaron Crow (Washington Nationals) and Gerrit Cole (New York Yankees). A third player, Josh Fields (Seattle Mariners) missed the deadline, but because he was a college senior, he signed in January, becoming the last official draft-and-follow, a player who isn't signed until the following year. Fields went to Seattle, toiled in the minors, then was dealt to Boston in the Erik Bedard trade. As for Crow, he pitched in an independent league, and then was redrafted 12th overall by Kansas city. He made the major league team in 2011, and was named an all-star. Cole on the other hand pitched 3 years for UCLA, made the College world series final his sophmore year, and then was drafted first overall by Pittsburgh this year.
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| Matt Purke |
In 2009, 3 players did not sign, 2 first rounders and a comp pick. Matt Purke (Texas Rangers), LeVon Washington (Tampa Bay Rays) and James Paxton (Toronto Blue Jays). Purke pitched 2 years at TCU and made the College World Series, but arm trouble in his sophmore year dropped his stock, and he was drafted in the 3rd round of the 2011 draft by Washington. LeVon Washington went to JuCo for a year, then was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in 2010, in the 4th round. Paxton, who actually was pitching at the University of Kentucky, was declared ineligible after signing an agent, and pitched in an independent league. In 2010, Seattle drafted him in the 4th round.
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| Dylan Covey |
In 2010, 3 players didn't sign, all first rounders. Barret Loux (Arizona D-Backs), Dylan Covey (Milwaukee Brewers) and Karsten Whitson (San Diego Padres) Loux was a college pitcher out of Texas A&M, who unfortunately failed his physical, drawing caution flags. Loux was left out in the wind before the Texas Rangers came to the rescue and signed him. Whitson signed a letter of intent to play for the University of Florida, on the other hand, and appeared in the College World Series championship against South Carolina.
Covey just had bad luck, as he was diagnosed with Type-1 Diabetes. Deciding to learn how to control his condition rather than accept the money, Covey quietly enrolled at the University of San Diego, where he now pitches for the Toreros. He is expected to be a top option for the 2013 draft.
Stay tuned for Part 2: Coming soon!
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