NewsRox sign Draft choice Wheeler
Negotiations continue with first pick Matzek; 26 others signed
By Nick Zaccardi / Special to MLB.com
06/16/09 9:57 PM ET
DENVER -- The Rockies agreed to terms with a first-round Draft pick Tuesday. It wasn't Tyler Matzek.
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1 WAS: S. Strasburg
2 SEA: D. Ackley
3 SD: D. Tate
4 PIT: J. Sanchez
5 BAL: M. Hobgood
6 SF: Z. Wheeler
7 ATL: M. Minor
8 CIN: M. Leake
9 DET: J. Turner
10 WAS: D. Storen
11 COL: T. Matzek
12 KC: A. Crow
13 OAK: G. Green
14 TEX: M. Purke
15 CLE: A. White
16 ARI: R. Borchering
17 ARI: A. Pollock
18 FLA: C. James
19 STL: S. Miller
20 TOR: S. Jenkins
21 HOU: J. Mier
22 MIN: K. Gibson
23 CWS: J. Mitchell
24 LAA: R. Grichuk
25 LAA: M Trout
26 MIL: E. Arnett
27 SEA: N. Franklin
28 BOS: R. Fuentes
29 NYY: S. Heathcott
30 TB: L. Washington
31 CHC: B. Jackson
32 COL: T. Wheeler
36 LAD: A. Miller
72 NYM: S. Matz
75 PHI: K. Dugan
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While the Matzek watch continues, outfielder Tim Wheeler, taken No. 32 overall, will officially join the organization after he passes a physical. Wheeler and 26 other Draft picks came to terms prior to Tuesday's Rays-Rockies game.
Left-handed pitcher Matzek was, unsurprisingly, not one of them. Matzek, the 11th overall pick from Mission Viejo (Calif.) Capistrano Valley High School may opt not to sign with the Rockies and instead attend the University of Oregon.
Matzek's father, Jeff, said it would be a "long negotiation" last week, according to the Orange County Register. The deadline to sign Draft picks is Aug. 17.
Likewise, fellow southpaw Rex Brothers, a sandwich selection, is still unsigned. The Rockies spoke to an advisor representing the No. 34 pick out of Lipscomb University for the first time Tuesday, Rockies vice president of scouting Bill Schmidt told MLB.com.
Wheeler played for Sacramento State University in the spring, hitting .385 with 18 home runs and 72 RBIs as a First-Team All-Western Athletic Conference performer for the second straight year.
"He projects more as a corner outfielder than a center fielder," Schmidt said. "He's a good tools kid. He has a chance to hit and hit with some power."
Baseball America rated Wheeler as the No. 2 center field prospect in the Draft. Wheeler, who played three seasons at Sacramento State, proved to be an all-around offensive player. In addition to the gaudy power numbers, he led the team with 15 stolen bases and had more walks (29) than strikeouts (28) last season.
Here are the 27 other players who came to terms out of 52 total Draft picks: Kent Matthes (fourth round), Joseph Sanders (fifth), Rob Scahill (eighth), Thomas Musick (ninth), Charles Ruiz (10th), Avery Barnes (11th), Jeffrey Squier (14th), Dominic Altobelli (16th), Josh Hungerman (17th), Ricky Testa (18th), William Tarleton (20th), Chandler Laurent (21st), David Born (22nd), Jose Rivera (23rd), Trevor Gibson (25th), Rhett Ballard (26th), Daniel Perkins (27th), David Dinatale (28th), Jonathan Massanari (30th), Clint Tilford (31st), Steven Junker (32nd), Coty Woods (33rd), Brandon Whitby (34th), Eric Federico (39th), Matthew Sanders (41st), Clinton McKinney (48th) and Robert Hines (50th).
The Rockies also signed undrafted shortstop Jeremiah Sammy. Sammy, a Lamar University product, hit .310 with six home runs in 60 games in his final college season. He also converted 14 of 15 stolen base attempts.
Nick Zaccardi is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
