battlekow

How about Orlando "G" Arcia? It's what I think of every time I see his (seemingly foreshortened) surname.

I think an argument could be made for Jorge Lopez as the #1 prospect over both Jungmann and Bradley (and Peralta, who's being written off too easily by Callis). I'm toying with voting him that way on my next Power 50 ballot.

This was reported awhile ago but Salome has yet to play. Do you know when, where, and at what position he will begin playing?

Okay, Adam McCalvy has the full list: rd/pick 9/281 CF Malcolm Dowell LaGrange H.S. (Ga.) Arizona10/311 LHP Michael Strong Oklahoma State Helena14/431 RHP Jacob Barnes Florida Gulf Coast Univ. Helena15/461 RHP Andrew Moye Georgia Southern Univ. Helena31/941 RHP Sean Albury Nova Southeastern Univ. Helena34/1,031 C Adam Weisenburger Miami (OH) Univ. Arizona36/1,091 RHP Mitch Conner Elon Univ. Arizona37/1,121 RHP Casey Medlen Univ. of North Florida Arizona38/1,151 RHP Chad Pierce UW-Milwaukee Helena41/1,241 3B Jalen Harris Lambrick Park SS (Toronto) Arizona45/1,361 SS Adrian Williams UCLA Helena48/1,451 LHP Mike Francisco Villanova Univ. Arizona49/1,481 2B Gant Elmore Yale Univ. Helena50/1,511 RF Matthew Franco St. Thomas Aquinas H.S. (Fla.) Arizona Undrafted RHP Gregory Davis UC Santa Barbara ArizonaUndrafted RF Brandon Macias Univ. of Kansas ArizonaUndrafted LHP Stephen Peterson Univ. of Rhode Island Arizona Macias was a shortstop at Kansas, so being listed as a right fielder could be a clerical error.

Tyler Lockman reports that the Brewers have signed 14 draft picks, including 38th-round RHP Chad Pierce from UWM, who will be assigned to Helena, which means they must like him a little. No word yet on who the other 11 are.

Komatsu didn't play. Schafer is hitting .313 but only slugging .373.

At Brevard County, SS Josh Prince comes off the DL, with IF Mike Brownstein going down to Wisconsin to make room. No word on who's out for the Timber Rattlers.

Final: @Wisconsin 4, Fort Wayne 1 Nelson strikes out eight, Holle closes the doorChris Mehring/Wisconsin Timber Rattlers GRAND CHUTE, WI - Jimmy Nelson bounced back from a couple of rough outings to toss a gem on Sunday afternoon at Time Warner Cable Field to beat the Fort Wayne TinCaps. Rattlers hitters Greg Hopkins and Nick Shaw stayed on their hot streaks and Greg Holle put out a late fire to help the team to a 4-1 win. Wisconsin (33-30) got on the board in the bottom of the first inning. Shaw singled with one out in the first to move his hitting streak to ten games. Shaw scored from third with two outs when third baseman Jake Blackwood booted a grounder off the bat of Mike Walker to let the runner from third score. Nelson walked a pair of TinCaps with one out in the fourth, but struck out the next two batters to maintain the lead. Fort Wayne (28-34) staged another threat in the sixth inning on back-to-back singles by the first two batters in the inning. NeIson got Jake Blackwood to popout. The, Nelson was on the tail-end of a spectacular 3-6-1 double play to end the inning with the Rattlers still up 1-0. Reggie Keen started the bottom of the sixth with a triple. Shaw sent him home with a sacrifice fly for a 2-0 Wisconsin lead. Fort Wayne attempted to mount another rally in the seventh inning. Nelson struck out the leadoff batter, but a wild pitch allowed him to reach. The next two batters singled to load the bases with no outs. Chris Bisson was at the plate when Nelson uncorked a wild pitch to allow a run to score. But, Nelson came back to strike out Bisson. Nelson struck out the next two batters looking to record four strikeouts in an inning and keep the Rattlers up 2-1. Nelson finished his game with eight strikeouts to set a new professional high for punchouts in a game. However, the TinCaps weren't done with the threats. They loaded the bases against Wisconsin reliever Stosh Wawrzasek on a pair of walks and a hit batsman with no outs in the eighth. The call went out for closer Holle. Holle got the first out on a force play at the plate. He fielded a slow tapper in front on the plate and flipped the ball from his glove to the glove of catcher Tyler Roberts. The next batter sent a slow chopper to third. Hopkins came home with the throw, but short-hopped Roberts. The Rattlers catcher made the scoop and held the plate for the force out. Holle capped the inning with a strikeout and the Rattlers kept the 2-1 lead. The Timber Rattlers offense padded their lead with a pair of runs in the bottom of the eighth. Hopkins, who had extended his hitting streak to twelve games earlier in the game, singled to drive in a run. Walker drew a bases loaded walk to force in a run and give the Rattlers a 4-1 lead. Holle worked a 1-2-3 ninth inning for his fourteenth save in 14 save opportunities on the season. The Timber Rattlers are off on Monday. They will start a 6-day, 7-game road trip to end the first half in Peoria on Tuesday. Game time is 7:00pm with Austin Ross (5-3, 2.93) as the scheduled starting pitcher for the Rattlers at O'Brien Field. Tune in for the broadcast on AM1280, WNAM starting with the Miller Lite Pregame Show at 6:40pm. Wisconsin box scoreGreat to see signs of life from Nelson, who also posted a 7/3 GO/FO. He threw 95 pitches, 65 of them strikes. High drama between Nelson's and Wawrzasek's consecutive bases-loaded, no-out jams; amazing that the Rattlers allowed just one run combined through them. Stosh wasn't STOSH! today but he'll bounce back. Really nice work from Holle, who continues to get batters to pound the ball into the ground. Hopkins continued his tear out of the cleanup spot with three hits. Cody Hawn was 1-4 and Roberts 0-4; Roberts and Nelson allowed the Tin Caps to go 4-4 in steals, with three belonging to Rymer Liriano. Keen stole his 25th base. Wisconsin play-by-play

Final: Brevard County 6, @Lakeland 4 Brevard County box scoreThe Sea Cows, down 4-3 entering the 9th, mounted a three-run rally capped by a two-out, two-run Khris Davis bomb to put them ahead for good. All Khris did today was reach four out of five times on the homer, a single, and two walks. He's now hitting .317/.410/.540. Scott Krieger also had two hits and a homer. Brock Kjeldgaard didn't homer, but he did double and walk. The rest of the usual suspects: Scooter Gennett, 1-4, sacrifice bunt; Kentrail Davis, 0-3, two walks; Hunter Morris, 0-3, walk, sac fly; Shawn Zarraga, 0-4. D'Vontrey Richardson still hasn't played since the 6th, which is a little silly considering the 7-day DL in the minors; he could go on retroactively and be activated after tomorrow's game. R.J. Seidel made his first start of the year, and after a three-run first, settled down to go four innings with a sterling 8/0 GO/FO. Evan Anundsen pitched the next four, allowing one runBrevard County play-by-play Brevard County Top of the 9thJuan Sanchez doubles (3) on a fly ball to left fielder Brent Wyatt.Scooter Gennett out on a sacrifice bunt, third baseman Wade Gaynor to first baseman Jordan Lennerton. Juan Sanchez to 3rd.Kentrail Davis walks.Hunter Morris out on a sacrifice fly to center fielder Daniel Fields. Juan Sanchez scores. Kentrail Davis to 2nd on the throw.Khristopher Davis homers (10) on a fly ball to right field. Kentrail Davis scores.Brock Kjeldgaard grounds out, third baseman Wade Gaynor to first baseman Jordan Lennerton.

We'll kick off the Rookie ball thread with an article on this year's first draft signee: Brewers' 41st pick worth watching Tom Haudricourt/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel You don’t see many 41st-round draft picks make it to the major leagues but don’t bet against Jalen Harris, selected in that round by the Brewers. The prep third baseman out of Toronto, Ontario, Canada was born deaf but did not let that challenge prevent him from realizing his dream of playing pro ball. Harris, 18, had cochlear implants put in his ears as a toddler, one of the youngest recipients of that surgery. He is hearing impaired but developed into a tremendous athlete who also played hockey as a youth before the risk of head injuries convinced him to stick with baseball. The 6-foot-2 Harris already has signed with the Brewers and is targeted for the Arizona Rookie League. “He’s big and strong and athletic, and has a lot of tools,” said Jay Lapp, the Brewer’s scouting supervisor for Canada. “It just hasn’t clicked for him yet. He’ll look great in batting practice and has a great throwing arm but sometimes in games he doesn’t show instincts. “It’s just not all there yet but no one is going to wonder why we signed this guy when they see what he can do. And I never gave (the hearing impairment) much thought. I don’t really see it as an issue.” Josh Kusnick, who has represented many Brewers minor-leaguers over the years, is Harris’ agent. Kusnick said Harris turned down a full scholarship to Stetson University to sign with the Brewers. “This is what he wants to do,” said Kusnick. “Kids drafted that late usually don’t get much of a chance but Jalen wants to prove people wrong. He could turn into a heck of a player and people will say, ‘How did he last until the 41st round?’ “He might be the best athlete the Brewers drafted. And, better yet, he’s a great kid whose make-up is off the charts.”

An agonizing wait for Rodon on draft dayJ. Mike Blake/Southwest Wake News Senior lefty Carlos Rodon was no doubt talented enough to warrant a high pick in this year's Major League Baseball Draft, and his teammates knew that all year long. After the Holly Springs baseball team won the 4-A state championship, some Rodon's own teammates came to him after the game with pens in hand. They wanted him to autograph their hats. But Wednesday, Rodon spent several nerve-racking hours sitting on the edge of a living room chair listening with family members to his computer - the only place where that day's draft was broadcasted - hoping to hear his name. Hours passed. Rounds passed. Teams passed. His emotions wavered. Twice he walked out the front door to answer the call of a major league team representative where he could find privacy and better cellphone service. Neither brief conversation led to an immediate selection. He became antsy, twisting in his chair and seemingly never comfortable. He checked his phone repeatedly. By the fifth round, he needed to get his phone charger. Anxiety then gave way to boredom. After nearly four hours of waiting, he drove his girlfriend back to her house. It seemed odd that one of the nation's top left-handed pitchers - on the college or high school level - with a 93 mph fastball and a refined command of his pitches, was getting passed over for so long. Rodon was not expected to fall past the fifth round, much less the 10th round, according to major league baseball pundits. Instead, he was taken by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 16th round - almost five hours after the day's draft began. And the pick had nothing to do with ability. It was a harsh lesson in the business of sports. Rodon, 18, has experienced a good bit of it in the past year and his biggest decision about his future is still undecided. Naming the price The MLB Draft is unlike other major sports. So, too, are the contracts. Any high school player can be drafted to the major leagues. However, if the high school player does not sign with the team by the Aug. 15 deadline, he must play three years of NCAA baseball before being eligible for the draft again. The major league teams will often sign their draft picks to a bonus based on what round it takes players and then assign them to the minor leagues. Minor league players make anywhere from $850 to $2,150 per month, so the signing bonus is vital for players weighing the decision about where to spend the next three years - college or the minor leagues. The Rodon family values the college experience and education. Pro scouts know how much it would take for Carlos to forgo his next three years at N.C. State. "It would have to be, I guess, life-changing for him to make that jump. And he's learned a lot from this process. Just going through all these interviews and people coming to our house, sitting in that chair and just interview after interview," his mother Julie Rodon said. "(The business aspect) is rough, and he's seen that." Teams knew where the Rodon family stood. And it's why the No. 66 high school senior in the country, as rated by Baseball America, fell hundreds of picks. Players more easily swayed to sign - those with "signability," as it is known in MLB circles - were taken earlier. "(Signability) is pretty important," Rodon said. "When you drop in the draft, you may be unsignable, but it's not your fault though." The Brewers called Rodon near the beginning of the fourth round. They asked one final time if he would sign for the "slot money" - another major league draft construct. Each round of the draft has a suggested signing bonus. In the compensation round - a half-sized round located between the first and second - the suggested bonus is about $750,000. That number drops to $200,000 in the fourth round, plummets to $80,000 in the eighth round and so on. "You take the state taxes out of it, you take the income out of it and it's nothing after six years," said his father, Carlos Rodon Sr., about the late-round money. To make it worth it for Rodon to skip college, his family suggested the offer would need to reach that $750,000 figure. Rodon told Milwaukee he wouldn't sign. He received another call from a team in the 6th round - but refused to name them. He again he wasn't picked. "If I end up going to play for the Brewers or going to play for N.C. State, it definitely motivates me," Rodon said. "I want to show them that I'm worth what I said or that I'm not that 16th-rounder. I think I should be in the first-round caliber group and this is going to push me to work harder." The looming decision Rodon knows that the Brewers could still offer a bigger bonus that would make it difficult to stick with college ball. After answering scouts' questionnaires, phone calls and in-home interviews that started last summer, there isn't much Rodon doesn't know about the draft process by now. Although 16th-round selections, unlike earlier rounds, actually have a maximum signing bonus of $125,000, teams can pay more with league approval. Rodon has no timeline for when he would like to make a decision, saying the pressure is on the Brewers "to come up with a number." But while all these figures and business decisions are being made on each side, there's more to what will lead Rodon to his destination. "Money is a factor, but being away from home, it could be something different," Rodon said. "And then not going to school - I'd like going to school and having that college experience and playing college baseball. That's something pretty special." He said he realizes what would be expected of him if he gave up his amateur status to sign."When you're in college you still have that youth. But when you go play pro ball, you become a man. You have to start fresh, go on your own, provide for yourself, cook for yourself, wash your clothes," Rodon said. "And at N.C. State, I'd still have my youth. I'd be able to party, study and play ball with a great group of guys." After all the early-day frustration and nervousness, Rodon said he was excited to have heard his named called - a lifelong dream coming true, even if it was later than wanted. In eight days, Rodon won a state title, got drafted and graduated. It helped drowned out the negatives from the business side of baseball. By the end of summer, he'll have to make the call on whether or not he wants to enter that business right out of high school. And while his parents think college would be the best avenue for him at this point, they've also left the decision up to him.

Melvin doesn't expect to sign top picks soonAdam McCalvy/MLB.com MILWAUKEE -- Brewers general manager Doug Melvin would like to get both of the team's first-round Draft picks signed and sent off to a Minor League affiliate, but he's not holding his breath. More and more, top Draft picks are waiting until the signing deadline -- midnight ET on Aug. 15 this year -- to settle on a bonus. Right-hander Taylor Jungmann, the 12th overall pick in the Draft who is advised by agent Alan Hendricks, is still active with the University of Texas in the NCAA Super Regional, and talks cannot begin until his collegiate season is over. Georgia Tech left-hander Jed Bradley, the 15th overall pick in the Draft, is advised by Greg Genske. Melvin and Brewers amateur scouting director Bruce Seid will at some point open negotiations with both players. Melvin will push the benefits of signing early in the summer, in time to join one of the team's Minor League affiliates. "I try to tell guys that and they don't understand," said Melvin, who has spoken personally with both Jungmann and Bradley. "Look at all of our guys who signed quickly and were in the big leagues by 23 -- Ryan Braun, Yovani Gallardo, Prince Fielder, Rickie Weeks -- and now they're all making $30 million-$100 million on their contracts. "You can also look at players on other clubs -- [Tim] Lincecum, Ryan Zimmerman -- I think [buster] Posey signed fairly early. They all played, and they're in the big leagues. They don't understand that players need to sign and get going." That group of players represents a cross-section of high school and collegiate Draft picks. Weeks, for example, was the Brewers' first-round selection in 2003 out of Southern University. "Jonathan Lucroy is another guy that's here," Melvin said, referring to Milwaukee's starting catcher, a third-round pick in 2007. "He was a quick sign and had [about] 250 at-bats his first year. If he doesn't have that, he's not here now." Why do so many first-round picks wait until the deadline to sign? Because the size of one player's signing bonus is tied to the pick before and after him in the Draft, and nobody wants to be the first to set the standard. Melvin wishes that more players would buck that trend. "The money is made up here" in the Major Leagues, he argued.

Jungmann still quiet on his future with BrewersAdam McCalvy/MLB.com MILWAUKEE -- Taylor Jungmann was still a University of Texas Longhorn on Friday night, and until that team's collegiate season is officially over, he had little interest in discussing a future with the Milwaukee Brewers. The Brewers picked Jungmann, Texas' 6-foot-4, right-handed ace, with the 12th overall selection in the First-Year Player Draft on Monday. He declined to participate in a Draft-day conference call with Brewers beat writers, bucking a tradition followed by each of the team's top picks since at least the early 1990s, because the Longhorns are still alive in the NCAA Super Regional. Jungmann pitched 7 1/3 strong innings but lost to Arizona State, 3-1, in the opener of a best-of-three series on Friday. The loss could prove to be Jungmann's final amateur outing, but when Austin American-Statesman reporter Kirk Bohls asked the pitcher about a potential future with the Brewers, he had little to say. "It's exciting for my family and friends, but I'm just not focused on that right now," Jungmann said. Jungmann made clear he has nothing against Milwaukee. He simply has business to tend to first. "There's just not anything going through my head right now," he said. "Like when you asked about this maybe being my last game here. It's not something going through my mind. I'm not worried about that at all." Jungmann was one of two Brewers first-round picks; the team also selected Georgia Tech left-hander Jed Bradley at No. 15 overall. He has also declined interview requests at the urging of his advisor, Greg Genske. Genske is a well-known football and baseball agent who also represents Brewers second baseman Rickie Weeks.

For Time Warner customers, there will be an interview with 38th-round UWM righty Chad Pierce on channel 32 at 6 pm on Tuesday.

I knew that didn't sound quite right. I've been out of the loop for the past couple days with no internet and completely forgot about D'Vontrey Richardson. He didn't play tonight and hasn't since the 6th. He's really struggled with injuries this year; this would be his third DL stint already if it comes to that. I guess he inherited Kentrail Davis's curse from last year; hopefully he doesn't also have to inherit Davis's demotion.

Okay, enough. If you don't have something to contribute toward the actual topic, stop posting in the thread. Although I guess it would be kind of novel to have to lock a draft thread.

Final: @Huntsville 4, Jackson 3 (11 innings) Huntsville box score Walk-off win! This was a 1-1 game after ten innings; Lucas Luetge allowing two runs in the top of the 11th seemed to sink the Stars, but they stormed back with three in the bottom to win a thriller. Michael Fiers started and was outstanding, allowing just two hits and no walks in seven innings; the only run he allowed came on a solo homer, and he struck out seven. Fiers was very efficient, needing just 89 pitches to get through those seven frames and throwing a ton of strikes (65). Logan Schafer had two hits, Lee Haydel singled and walked, and Brandon Jones was on three times. Erik Komatsu unfortunately continued his cold spell by putting up a goose egg, seeing his average drop to '68 Yastrzemski levels--.301. I have every confidence that Little Pine will now go on a large tear; hitting below .300 just isn't cool. Huntsville play-by-play Jackson Top of the 11th Pitcher Change: Lucas Luetge replaces Robert Hinton. Nate Tenbrink flies out to center fielder Erik Komatsu. Kuo Hui Lo walks. Kyle Seager singles on a ground ball to right fielder Brandon Jones. Kuo Hui Lo to 3rd. Pitcher Change: Jim Henderson replaces Lucas Luetge. Scott Savastano hits a sacrifice bunt. Kuo Hui Lo scores. Kyle Seager to 2nd. Scott Savastano to 1st. Jake Shaffer strikes out swinging. With Johermyn Chavez batting, Kyle Seager steals (8) 3rd base, Kyle Seager scores. Missed catch error by first baseman Sean Halton. Johermyn Chavez grounds out, first baseman Sean Halton to pitcher Jim Henderson. Huntsville Bottom of the 11th Hainley Statia singles on a line drive to center fielder Kuo Hui Lo. Logan Schafer grounds out, second baseman Scott Savastano to first baseman Rich Poythress. Hainley Statia to 2nd. Erik Komatsu strikes out swinging. Sean Halton singles on a ground ball to right fielder Johermyn Chavez. Hainley Statia scores. Offensive Substitution: Pinch runner Matt Cline replaces Sean Halton. Brandon Jones walks. Matt Cline to 2nd. Steffan Wilson singles on a line drive to right fielder Johermyn Chavez. Matt Cline scores. Brandon Jones to 3rd. Steffan Wilson to 2nd on the throw. Lee Haydel singles on a ground ball to center fielder Kuo Hui Lo. Brandon Jones scores. Steffan Wilson to 3rd. Wow! Great game.

Final: @Dunedin 10, Brevard County 8 Brevard County box scoreThe 'Tees blew an 8-3 lead in this one, with Corey Frerichs detonating for six runs (five earned). Frerichs had relieved Hiram Burgos, who somehow allowed three runs on only four hits in 3.2 innings. Rolando Pascual let in a run in the 8th but managed not to walk anyone. Jon Pokorny, despite walking three in 1.2 innings, was the only pitcher to go unscored upon, thanks to four strikeouts. That's the Pokorny we saw last year at Wisconsin. In cheerier news, Brock Kjeldgaard continues to go medieval on the Florida State League, finishing 3-4 and just a double short of the cycle; he was also hit by a pitch. Big Brock had three hits in his first three at-bats before being plunked in his fourth trip and finally being retired his last time up. Shea Vucinich also homered, and Scooter Gennett, Khris Davis, Scott Krieger, and Mike Brownstein each had two hits; Gennett tripled and the latter three each had a double, with Khris also drawing a walk. Shawn Zarraga singled, Hunter Morris drew a walk (just his eighth of the year), and Kentrail Davis put up a big, ugly 0-5 with three strikeouts to drop his average to .236, plus a fielding error to boot (ha!). Speaking of Kentrail Davis not being very good, what does it say about his defensive abilities that Kjeldgaard seems to have become the team's center fieldeR? Brevard County play-by-playObviously we have no idea how hard or where these balls were hit, but after five chances, the BC outfield finally made an out in the 6th: Dunedin Bottom of the 6thA. J. Jimenez walks.Brian Van Kirk called out on strikes.Chris Hopkins singles on a fly ball to left fielder Khristopher Davis. A. J. Jimenez to 2nd.Ivan Contreras singles on a fly ball to right fielder Kentrail Davis. A. J. Jimenez scores. Chris Hopkins to 3rd.Justin Jackson singles on a fly ball to right fielder Kentrail Davis. Chris Hopkins scores. Ivan Contreras scores. Justin Jackson to 2nd. Fielding error by right fielder Kentrail Davis.Pitcher Change: Jonathan Pokorny replaces Corey Frerichs.Kevin Nolan singles on a line drive to center fielder Brock Kjeldgaard. Justin Jackson scores.Sean Ochinko strikes out swinging. Kevin Nolan steals (2) 2nd base.Brad Glenn flies out to left fielder Khristopher Davis.

Actual DSL news! I'm so excited. Seid to check on progress at Dominican facilityAdam McCalvy/MLB.com MILWAUKEE -- The First-Year Player Draft is in the books, but Brewers amateur scouting director Bruce Seid won't get much of a break. He's set to travel later this month to the Dominican Republic to check on the progress at the team's facility there and to scout players ahead of the July 2 international signing date. The Brewers reestablished an academy in the Dominican two years ago, and their summer league team is off to a terrific start: 9-1 after their doubleheader sweep of the A's on Thursday. "We've been working hard down there to enhance our Dominican program," Seid said. "I think you'll see some of that talent develop into the [stateside Minor League] system, which we need." Players of note at the facility include outfielder Raul Mondesi Jr., the 18-year-old son of the former Major Leaguer who has impressed Brewers officials so far with improved plate discipline. Shortstop Orlando Arcia, just 16, is off to a blistering start, hitting .313 with three home runs and 12 RBIs in his first nine games. Seid added another name to the watch list. "We have an outfielder named Ruben Ozuna that you definitely need to keep an eye on. Definitely," Seid said. "A center fielder, a 19-year-old kid that I think is going to be coming over here [to the U.S.] to play on one of our short season teams. That's a guy that will be very interesting." Rookie-level Helena begins play June 20. Arizona starts on June 21. Ozuna was hitting .333 through his first eight games with a home run and five RBIs. His name used to be Ruben Sanchez, but paperwork associated with Major League Baseball's standard age investigation revealed his last name was actually Ozuna. The player's age was accurate, Seid said.

Here you go, TheCrew07: Dunno if that's quite true, but there you go, it is written.

Here you go, TheCrew07: Dunno if that's quite true, but there you go, it is written.

Here you go, TheCrew07: Dunno if that's quite true, but there you go, it is written.

Here you go, TheCrew07: Dunno if that's quite true, but there you go, it is written.

Here you go, TheCrew07: Dunno if that's quite true, but there you go, it is written.

Brewers take Goforth in Round 7Daniel Rigdon/Meridian Star MERIDIAN — What a difference a year makes. Especially for former Neshoba Central and Ole Miss pitching standout David Goforth, when he was selected as the 221st overall pick by the Milwaukee Brewers on Day 2 of the Major League Baseball draft on Tuesday. Goforth was taken in the 31st round in last year's draft by the Cleveland Indians, but opted to return to school in order to work on some things and help the Rebels try and attain their goals. "That's the reason I came back to school for another year," said Goforth of his jump up the draft board. "I felt like there was more that I could improve on and that there were more things that I could do to help myself. It wasn't only that though, I really wanted to come back and try to help Ole Miss help try and achieve team goals. "As it turned out it helped me a whole lot. I've matured and gotten a lot more confidence." Indeed the return did pay off for Goforth as he rebounded from a 1-6 record and a 9-43 ERA in 2010, which was his first year in the starting rotation for the Rebels. In 2011 he compiled a record of 4-6 in 12 appearances with two no-decisions. Goforth had an ERA of 4.79 and struck out 54 batters, while walking only 25. As far as being surprised by the big jump from last year's draft, Goforth explained that it wasn't really a big surprise. "I wasn't really surprised about the jump," added Goforth. "We have meetings with scouts throughout the year. Just by talking to those guys and the assistant coaches we got a pretty good idea that I would be between the four to eight-round range. The 5-foot-11, 180-pound right-hander now must wait until the completion of the draft in order to begin negotiations with the Brewer's organization. "The first thing I do from here is wait until the draft's over," Goforth explained. "Then we have to do some talking with them (Milwaukee) and try and work out a deal and get it done. "Hopefully I will be able to get out and play with their guys this summer, but if not we might have to do more negotiating until it's final."