Pat's No. 1
Phils make Burrell top pick; Drew goes to Cards at No. 5
Posted: Tuesday June 2, 1998 05:02 PM
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Burrell is hitting .426 with 17 homers and 47 RBIs in 115 at-bats this season (AP) |
NEW YORK (CNN/SI) -- To no one's surprise, the Philadelphia Phillies made Miami third baseman Pat Burrell the
the No. 1 pick in baseball's amateur draft Tuesday, while the St. Louis Cardinals selected controversial
outfielder J.D. Drew with the fifth pick.
The 21-year-old Burrell, who took a .426 average, 17 homers and 47 RBIs in 115 at-bats going into Tuesday's game against Long Beach State at the College World
Series, said he was thrilled by his selection.
"It is an honor to be the first
pick overall, and I look forward to playing professional baseball," he said in Omaha, Nebraska.
The only question about Burrell is a sore back that sidelined him for part of the season, but the Phillies say
he's healthy now.
"He's been examined by an orthopedic specialist with the Florida Marlins and a
back specialist in Miami," Phillies scouting director Mike Arbuckle said,
adding Phillies team physician Dr. Phillip Marone is "very comfortable this
is not a problem."
With NL Rookie of the Year Scott Rolen established at third for Philadelphia, Burrell is probably headed to first base. No problem, he said.
"I've had experience with that position before, and it's something I'm
comfortable with," Burrell said.
Oakland used the second pick on Michigan State left-hander Mark Mulder.
The 6-foot-6 Mulder was 6-6 with a 3.40 ERA and 113 in 84 2-3 innings for
the Spartans.
The Chicago Cubs then
took outfielder Corey Patterson, who hit .560 with 22 homers, 61 RBIs and
36 steals this season for Harrison High School in Kennesaw, Georgia.
Stanford right-hander Jeff
Austin, 12-4 with a 3.11 ERA and 136 strikeouts in 133 innings, went to Kansas City with the fourth selection. He had
eight complete games in 18 starts.
St. Louis then took Drew, selected by Philadelphia with the second pick
last year.
Drew, seeking a $10 million contract, rejected a deal from the
Phillies that would have guaranteed him $3 million and given him a chance
to earn $3 million more. Rather than sign with the Phils, the former Florida State outfielder played in the
independent Northern League last season.
"We've had a lot of teams that called us and said they would like to get
him and said they don't foresee any problems if they do get him," said the
outfielder's agent, Scott Boras.
Boras is no stranger to St. Louis. He said the Cardinals spent time
during the off-season trying to work out a five-year contract for Andy Benes, then
saw the deal voided because it came an hour after the Dec. 7 midnight
deadline.
Minnesota used the sixth pick on Arizona State left-hander Ryan Mills,
who pitched six strong innings Sunday in Arizona State's 9-2 victory over
Miami. Mills, whose father, Dick, made two appearances with the Boston Red Sox in
1970, is 8-3 with a 4.32 ERA and 133 strikeouts in 108 1-3 innings.
Cincinnati took outfielder Austin Kearns from Lafayette High School in
Lexington, Kentucky, and Toronto took shortstop Felipe Lopez from Lake
Brantley High School in Altamonta Springs, Florida.
Third baseman Sean Burroughs of
Wilson High School in Long Beach, California, went to San Diego with the ninth pick. He's the son of former major
leaguer Jeff Burroughs -- taken by the Washington Senators with the No. 1
pick in the 1969 draft and the American League MVP with the Texas Rangers in 1974.
Texas used the 10th pick on Northeastern first baseman Carlos Pena.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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