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 Prospecting in the NW Four Washington state prep stars drafted in 1st round
Posted: Wednesday June 02, 1999 11:49 PM
SEATTLE (AP) -- Four Washington state prep stars were picked Wednesday in the first round of the Major League Baseball First-year Player Draft. Pitcher-outfielder B.J. Garbe of Moses Lake High School was the fifth player picked overall, selected by the Minnesota Twins. Left-handed pitcher Ty Howington of Vancouver's Hudson Bay High School was the 14th pick by the Cincinnati Reds. Right-handed pitcher Jason Stumm of Centralia High School was picked 15th by the Chicago White Sox. Right-handed pitcher Gerik Baxter of Edmonds-Woodway High School was picked 28th by the San Diego Padres. The Seattle Mariners, who had the 11th pick in the draft, chose high school catcher Ryan Christianson from Arlington (Calif.) High School. Garbe, 18, hit .500 with six homers and 22 RBIs this season. He is recognized by scouts as a "five-tools" player and an exceptional athlete. He was the first high school quarterback in the state to run and pass for more than 1,000 yards. The first of the calls to the Garbe home came Wednesday morning, when the Twins called to say they had selected him. Then the phone never stopped ringing with congratulatory calls on his selection. "My family was here and people started crying," Garbe told The Seattle Times. "I was kind of hoping it would work out. I was just thrilled. I don't know if it has really sunk in yet." Scouting reports said the 6-foot-1, 195-pound Garbe, who bats and throws right-handed, has quick bat speed, a strong arm, good glove, solid defensive instincts and runs well. As a pitcher he has a fastball in the low- to mid-90s, but scouts think he can be an exceptional outfielder in the pros. Howington, 18, 6-5 and 220-pounds, has a fastball that reaches the mid-90s and has exceptional breaking pitches, according to scouting reports. Scouts say he has improved his mechanics since last summer and has an easy, loose delivery. He was considered by some scouts as the top left-hander in the draft. Stumm, 18, a 6-2, 210-pound right-hander, was 10-0 for Centralia with an 0.84 ERA. Scouts said his stock improved dramatically over the past year as he added up to 10 mph on his fastball, which averages between 93-95 mph. In addition, his curveball has a great drop. Christianson, the Mariners' pick, hit .507 with seven homers and 39 RBIs this season. Many scouts consider him the best all-around catcher in the draft. The 6-2, 210-pound 18-year-old throws and bats right-handed. Scouts said he has impressive defensive skills, with a strong arm and quickness behind the plate. Scouting reports called him a strong athlete with a good swing, who hits to all fields with authority and should be a power hitter in the majors.
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