colbyjack

SIGNED Round 33: Ryan Jensen - CF 5'10", 180, L/R - Walnut Grove, British Columbia NOTES & INFO: Born 9-21-88 Jensen is a power bat who played for the Langley Blaze, a premier club team out of British Columbia, Canada. NEWSPAPER AND WEB COVERAGE:

SIGNED Round 34: Casey Baron - LHP 6'2", 200, L/L - University of Maryland http://graphics.fansonly.com/photos/schools/md/sports/m-basebl/auto_action/482788.jpeg NOTES & INFO: Born 11-29-84 Maryland Player Profile NEWSPAPER AND WEB COVERAGE:

SIGNED Round 28: Steffan Wilson - 3B 6'1", 220, R/R - Harvard University (MA) NOTES & INFO: Born 5-24-86 Harvard Player Page NEWSPAPER AND WEB COVERAGE: By Guy Cipriano - gciprian@centredaily.com Pennsylvania The Milwaukee Brewers took State College graduate and Harvard junior third baseman Steffan Wilson in 28th round. Wilson was drafted for the first time. Wilson was not surprised by the team that called his name. Wilson said before the draft that the Brewers and Washington Nationals showed the most interest. The Brewers turned their interest into action when they used the 851st overall pick on Wilson who hit .331 with three homers this past season. Wilson is the second member of his family to be drafted. Wilson's older brother, Jon Wilson, was selected by the Texas Rangers in the 27th round of the 2005 draft. Steffan is currently with the Wareham Gatemen in the Cap Cod League while Jon pitches for the Class A Bakersfield Blaze. ***Same newspaper source, day prior Two former Central Penn League standouts also could hear their names called today. State College graduate and Harvard junior Steffan Wilson and Philipsburg-Osceola graduate and West Virginia redshirt sophomore Adam White are draft eligible after posting solid numbers at Division I schools. Hollidaysburg third baseman Brett Weibley, a Kent State signee, also has a chance to be selected during the two-day, 50-round event. "It's pretty cool seeing guys like that get recognition," said Wilson, who played against White and Devin Mesoraco in high school. "Pennsylvania is more spread out than most states and there's not a lot around even town-wise in the central part of the state. It's great for the small towns to have a lot of good players who go onto the next level." White and Wilson's route to this point are stark contrasts to the one Mesoraco has experienced. Wilson spent this year balancing draft talk with team goals. Wilson, Baseball America's No. 4 prospect in Massachusetts, will enter the draft with no clear idea where he might be selected. He recently attended a workout with the Nationals and has signed a temporary contract with the Wareham Gatemen of the prestigious Cape Cod League. Wilson was scouted heavily last summer when he hit .241 with 18 RBIs for Wareham. Wilson, a third baseman, endured a challenging junior season. He broke the hamate bone in his hand and underwent surgery last December. He then hit .331 with three homers and 17 RBIs for a Harvard team that fell short of qualifying for NCAA regional play. Wilson is hoping to become the second member of his family drafted. The Texas Rangers selected Wilson's older brother, Jon Wilson, in the 27th round of the 2005 draft. Jon is currently pitching for the Bakersfield Blaze of the Class A California League. "This is sort of something you envision when you are real young," Steffan said. "As a freshman, it seemed a long way away and all you can do is take it one day at a time. When my brother got drafted, I was excited for him and I always hoped that I could follow in his footsteps. But a lot of things are up in the air. I have no idea who's going to call or even if I'm going to get called." Wilson needs to complete two semesters to graduate. Harvard doesn't begin classes until mid-September meaning Wilson could play professionally this summer without missing the fall semester. Professional teams often include school expenses in contracts and Wilson said he will enter today "open-minded" about his future. "I don't have it in my mind one way or another that this is what I'm doing," Wilson said. "I'm hoping I have a decision to make rather than have somebody else make one for me."

SIGNED Round 29: Travis Nevakshonoff - RHP 6'0", 180, R/R - DW Poppy Secondary School (Canada) NOTES & INFO: Brewerfan.net Scouting Report: Nevakshonoff really helped himself this spring when he was converted to the mound after spending most of his young baseball career in the outfield. His fastball jumped up in velocity, sitting in the upper-80s and touching the low-90s, and many believe he will continue to add more ticks to his fastball and he acclimates himself even more to pitching at the next level. Despite the fact that pitching is relatively new to him, he seemed to be a fast study, and showed the ability to throw strikes not only with his fastball, but also with an improving and encouraging slider and changeup. He is also a good overall athlete, and could be a sleeper to watch. Born: 7-22-89 NEWSPAPER AND WEB COVERAGE:

SIGNED Round 30: Corey Frerichs - RHP 5'11", 200, R/R - Temple College (TX) http://www.temple-telegram.com/archives/clphotos/pic38036.jpg NOTES & INFO: Born 5-07-86 NEWSPAPER AND WEB COVERAGE:

Round 25: Chadwick Bell - LHP 6'3", 200, R/L - South Doyle High School (TN) NOTES & INFO: Brewerfan.net Scouting Report: Bell is the high school teammate of Cody Hawn, and is a very well built left-handed pitcher whose frame leads many to believe that he will continue to add velocity to his present day high-80s fastball, of which he has touched the low-90s, and maintains his velocity deep into ballgames. While the command of his breaking pitch and fastball improved this spring on his way to posting a 13-0 record, he still battles bouts of wildness and inconsistency, but still won the hearts of scouts for his ability to keep his team into ballgames by posting such a successful record. He has committed to play for Memphis, and given how late he was drafted he may be considered a relatively tough sign. Birthdate: 2/28/1989 NEWSPAPER AND WEB COVERAGE: Hawn, Bell, must decide between college and minors Three players drafted from South-Doyle By JESSE SMITHEY, smitheyj@knews.com June 9, 2007 Fresh off Friday lunch at R.J.'s Courtyard in Alcoa, South-Doyle High School third baseman Cody Hawn plopped down at the ol' computer and popped open the live draft tracker on the Major League Baseball Web site. Up came his name, the Milwaukee Brewers selecting him in the 23rd round with the 701st pick overall. That was a third of the surprise. The Brewers got his high school teammate, Chad Bell, minutes later in the 25th round and the 761st overall pick. "He went right after me," said Hawn. "It was crazy." Then in the 30th round, Cleveland took South-Doyle centerfielder/pitcher Bryce Brentz with the 917th pick. The draft lasted 50 rounds. Previously, only two South-Doyle players had been selected out of high school: Chris Kirkland (2004, Florida, 49th round) and Anthony Stevens (2002, Pittsburgh, 28th round). While Kirkland was a late-round pick, South-Doyle coach Robby Howard said the Marlins still offered him a "boat load" of money to lure him from the college ranks. Kirkland recently finished his junior season at Memphis. The three 18-year-olds will make the same pro or college decision in the upcoming months. Hawn and Bell signed with Arkansas and Memphis, respectively. Brentz is set to join Middle Tennessee State. Hawn liked Arkansas so much he committed last July. But he missed the 2007 season after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during gym class. "I was just excited to get drafted," said Hawn. "I figured my knee and not getting to play would affect where I got drafted. But I'm happy with where I went." The left-handed hitter has ample power in his swing. As a junior, he hit .564 in the regular season with 16 home runs and 43 RBIs; that following a sophomore campaign that featured a .419 batting average, 11 home runs and 37 RBIs. The Brewers called Hawn on Friday, alerting the 6-foot-1, 195-pounder of a forthcoming visit to discuss possibly signing. Hawn said he doesn't know what to expect in those negotiations. "I love Arkansas, and I still plan on going," said Hawn, the Brewers' 22nd pick of the draft. "It just depends on what happens in the money situation." Bell didn't suffer a pitching loss in 2007 until the Class AAA state title game against Bartlett. The 6-3 left-hander was 14-1 with a 1.31 ERA and 141 strikeouts. "I got a really good scholarship to go to Memphis," said Bell, who was in Panama City, Fla., following the draft online. "It would take a lot (to forgo that). I feel like if I go to school and get a lot better in the next three years, I could do a little better than 25th (round). We haven't set an exact (offer) number yet. But I'll talk with my family when I get back." Having three players drafted in one year was a first for South-Doyle. "It starts with talent," said Howard. "They were pretty good players when they got here. Hopefully we did some things to help their games. "It makes you very proud today that people think your kids are good players and good people."

Round 26: Ben Feltner - LF 5'11", 185, S/R - Texas A&M University (TX) NOTES & INFO: Brewerfan.net Scouting Report: Feltner's best tool is his speed, and not only is he fast, but he is also very savvy on the basepaths, which makes him a threat at the top of any order. Despite his speed, his arm strength is lacking, which restricts him to left field. He also strikes out far too often for a hitter that doesn't have much power, and may be an organizational soldier in the mold of Terry Trofholz. Regardless of his ceiling, he could be a pest at the lower levels of the system, as his speed alone gives him value. Born: 10-8-85 Texas A&M Player Profile NEWSPAPER AND WEB COVERAGE: Aggies' Feltner hopes to steal Longhorns' thunder Former Cedar Park player didn't start in high school; now he's in left field for A&M By Alan Trubow AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF Wednesday, May 16, 2007 Ben Feltner's baseball career should have been over long ago. It should have vanished into thin air, along with the dreams of being an astronaut or Michael Jordan. After all, high school baseball players who hit .200 and never start for a full season don't play Division I college baseball. Somehow, though, Feltner will be on the field this weekend when Texas takes on Texas A&M in a three-game series. And he will be a pest. Three years after graduating from Cedar Park High, where he was a self-described utility player, Feltner will return to the Austin area as the Aggies' starting left fielder and the Big 12's leader in stolen bases. Quite a jump for the 5-foot-11-inch, 180-pound speedster. "When I was in high school, my coach told me that I would never be a college baseball player," Feltner said. "I didn't even start most of my senior year in high school. After a bad game I was benched and a sophomore took my place. "Right out of high school, nobody would have guessed that I would have been playing here. It's pretty amazing." Texas A&M (40-12, 13-10 Big 12) will try to ruin the Longhorns' shot at the Big 12 regular-season title when the series begins at 6 p.m. Friday in College Station, before returning to Austin for games on Saturday and Sunday. Feltner, a junior, will play a big part for the Aggies. A junior who bats second, he has 27 stolen bases this season to lead Texas A&M, which has a conference-high 119 steals. Texas ranks second with 74. The Aggies have three players ? Feltner, Brandon Hicks and Blake Stoeffer ? among the top five in steals in the Big 12. Feltner's the fastest. "Ben's an exciting player to watch. By far and away, I think he's the fastest player in the Big 12," said Texas A&M coach Rob Childress. "The running game has been an important part of our offense this year. Last year we did it because we had to create opportunities. This year we're doing it because we want to put pressure on our opponents' pitchers and defense." Feltner said, "It keeps them from throwing a lot of breaking balls and makes sure they can't put the ball in the dirt. Basically, they have to throw strikes." It shows in the Aggies' team batting average of .322. Feltner has done his part, hitting .330 with 20 RBIs. On the heels of his high school career, Feltner found his way onto the Temple College team after a tryout. As a freshman, he was used strictly as a pinch runner, but he continued to work hard. "I never gave up. I used what my high school coach told me as motivation," Feltner said. "I was going to keep playing baseball and prove everybody wrong." He did that in his sophomore season at the junior college. Feltner, a natural righty, started switch hitting under the advisement of his coach. Starting for the Leopards, he hit .377 and stole 39 bases. "Everything turned around then. I had pro scouts contacting me," said Feltner, who was drafted in the 38th round by the Chicago Cubs in 2006. He passed on a pro contract to sign with A&M, and now looks forward to this weekend's games in Austin. "It's going to be fun," he said. "I'll have a lot of friends and family there. Hopefully I'll be able to steal a few bases for them." TEXAS A&M PHOTO: http://img.coxnewsweb.com/B/08/52/98/image_5398528.jpg

Round 27: Joshua Trejo - LHP 6'1", 220, L/L - James Logan HS (CA) NOTES & INFO: Brewerfan.net Scouting Report: Despite having pretty good stuff for a lefty, which includes a fastball that sits in the upper 80s as well as good very for a sharp breaking ball and a relatively advanced changeup, Trejo doesn't get high marks for his body type, built somewhat shorter and stout, with some worries that his body will only continue to get worse. A big-league conditioning program can help that concern, as Trejo pitched very well at last summer's Area Code Games, and the Brewers scouting staff got the best look of anyone at his performances serving as the coaches for the California based teams. Born 8-15-89 UNION CITY, CA (near Fremont) ? After four years of varsity baseball, James Logan High's Josh Trejo, a left-handed pitcher, will have the opportunity to take it to the professional level if he elects. Trejo was selected in the 27th round, the 821st overall pick, by the Milwaukee Brewers. At Logan this season, Trejo compiled a 5-0 mark during Mission Valley Athletic League play with a 1.75 ERA. He had 42 strikeouts in 28 innings and allowed a mere seven earned runs. Trejo helped guide the Colts to a 12-0 MVAL mark and a second straight league championship. NEWSPAPER AND WEB COVERAGE:

Round 23: William Hawn - 3B 6'1", 195, L/R - South Doyle High School (TN) http://www.perfectgame.org/images/profilepics/06natl87.jpg NOTES & INFO: Brewerfan.net Scouting Report: Hawn was looking forward to a big senior season after hitting .564 with 14 home runs as a junior, but he tore his ACL playing basketball and missed his senior season. This immediately makes him a tough sign given how late the Brewers drafted him, coupled with his commitment to Arkansas. When healthy, Hawn's calling card is power, as he's a well built left-handed slugger that can mash the best pitches to any part of the field. He does have the tendency to over-swing and strike out too much, and despite playing the outfield and third base in high school, all of his other tools are below average. He lacks quickness and straight-line speed, neither of which will be helped by his knee injury, which may limit him to first base at the next level. Birthdate: 8/11/1988 Goes by the name Cody. NEWSPAPER AND WEB COVERAGE: Hawn, Bell, must decide between college and minors Three players drafted from South-Doyle By JESSE SMITHEY, smitheyj@knews.com June 9, 2007 Fresh off Friday lunch at R.J.'s Courtyard in Alcoa, South-Doyle High School third baseman Cody Hawn plopped down at the ol' computer and popped open the live draft tracker on the Major League Baseball Web site. Up came his name, the Milwaukee Brewers selecting him in the 23rd round with the 701st pick overall. That was a third of the surprise. The Brewers got his high school teammate, Chad Bell, minutes later in the 25th round and the 761st overall pick. "He went right after me," said Hawn. "It was crazy." Then in the 30th round, Cleveland took South-Doyle centerfielder/pitcher Bryce Brentz with the 917th pick. The draft lasted 50 rounds. Previously, only two South-Doyle players had been selected out of high school: Chris Kirkland (2004, Florida, 49th round) and Anthony Stevens (2002, Pittsburgh, 28th round). While Kirkland was a late-round pick, South-Doyle coach Robby Howard said the Marlins still offered him a "boat load" of money to lure him from the college ranks. Kirkland recently finished his junior season at Memphis. The three 18-year-olds will make the same pro or college decision in the upcoming months. Hawn and Bell signed with Arkansas and Memphis, respectively. Brentz is set to join Middle Tennessee State. Hawn liked Arkansas so much he committed last July. But he missed the 2007 season after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during gym class. "I was just excited to get drafted," said Hawn. "I figured my knee and not getting to play would affect where I got drafted. But I'm happy with where I went." The left-handed hitter has ample power in his swing. As a junior, he hit .564 in the regular season with 16 home runs and 43 RBIs; that following a sophomore campaign that featured a .419 batting average, 11 home runs and 37 RBIs. The Brewers called Hawn on Friday, alerting the 6-foot-1, 195-pounder of a forthcoming visit to discuss possibly signing. Hawn said he doesn't know what to expect in those negotiations. "I love Arkansas, and I still plan on going," said Hawn, the Brewers' 22nd pick of the draft. "It just depends on what happens in the money situation." Bell didn't suffer a pitching loss in 2007 until the Class AAA state title game against Bartlett. The 6-3 left-hander was 14-1 with a 1.31 ERA and 141 strikeouts. "I got a really good scholarship to go to Memphis," said Bell, who was in Panama City, Fla., following the draft online. "It would take a lot (to forgo that). I feel like if I go to school and get a lot better in the next three years, I could do a little better than 25th (round). We haven't set an exact (offer) number yet. But I'll talk with my family when I get back." Having three players drafted in one year was a first for South-Doyle. "It starts with talent," said Howard. "They were pretty good players when they got here. Hopefully we did some things to help their games. "It makes you very proud today that people think your kids are good players and good people." ***Hawn stays with South-Doyle to the end Injured star good for team's morale, hitting prowess By DREW EDWARDS, edwardsd@knews.com May 26, 2007 MURFREESBORO ? Cody Hawn didn't wear a jersey Friday night. He wore his heart on his sleeve instead. The South-Doyle High School third baseman, sidelined all season with a knee injury after he suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament during gym class in January, spent a quiet moment in the dugout at MTSU's Reese Smith Field following the Cherokees' 18-7 loss in the Class AAA state championship game on Friday. He shared a teary-eyed hug with his father, sitting on the back of the bench. He joined his teammates down the right field line, spending long moments hugging each teammate and coach. And he shared in South-Doyle's best baseball season ever, despite the fact he never fielded a ground ball or dug into the batter's box for a single one of the Cherokees' 35 wins this season. "He was as much a part of this success as if he had been out there playing for us," South-Doyle coach Robby Howard said. "He's going to make somebody a great coach if he doesn't want to play someday. Because the guy flat knows the game." Hawn, a preseason All-American who is scheduled to play next season at Arkansas, could have spent his senior season working out. He could have skipped games, or showed up for a few. But Hawn barely missed a practice and then only to rehab his knee. He was a fixture in the dugout at every one of South-Doyle's 45 games this season ? home, away and all this week during the state tournament. Bail on his teammates? Not a chance. "They're my brothers, they really are," Hawn said. "I've known every senior on this team since I was 7 years old. I just couldn't leave them. This is still my team and my family." When the Cherokees' first trip to the state tournament ended Friday night in a lopsided loss, it was tough. Doubly tough on Hawn, who was robbed of this game and the rest of his senior season by a freak injury in gym class. "It's a lot more emotional to sit and watch, knowing it's your last game regardless," Hawn said. "It's probably one of the hardest things of my life to sit here and watch. "I was proud of the team. I'm proud we got here. We made a great run." And although he downplays his role, Hawn still helped the Cherokees. "He was our hitting coach, basically," said senior centerfielder Bryce Brentz, an MTSU signee. "That's one big reason why we got this far. I wouldn't listen to anybody else about hitting. The kid's proved it." That's what a .564 batting average, 16 homers and 43 RBIs as a junior will do for your street cred. When Ryan White, who would have played third in Hawn's absence, also suffered a torn ACL in the preseason, Hawn helped freshman Matt Kirkland get up to speed at third. Kirkland hit two home runs and drove in nine runs this week in Murfreesboro. "They did everything," Hawn said. "They were the ones who got here. I was there more for the moral support, keeping the morale of the team up." Hawn says his love and understanding of baseball has grown this season by not being able to play. And, safe to say, his teammates' love for Hawn has grown too. "Cody's got the heart of a lion," Brentz said. "There isn't a bigger heart or love for the game than that boy has right there. There's not one in the world."

Round 24: Jonathan White - CF 6'2", 198, L/L - Vanderbilt University (TN) http://graphics.fansonly.com/photos/schools/vand/sports/m-basebl/auto_headshot/769870.jpeg NOTES & INFO: Brewerfan.net Scouting Report: White is a draft-eligible red-shirt sophomore that more than likely will be headed back to Vanderbilt for his junior year of eligibility. He was named the top prospect last summer playing for the New York Collegiate Baseball League despite missing time after breaking his hand. He has game-changing speed, good bat speed, some power potential, and a natural flair for the game. His arm strength is below average, but if the other tools play up the way they could, that would be a minor quibble. Increased playing time is really the only thing keeping him from putting everything together. Vanderbilt Player Profile Redshirt sophomore Birthdate: 6/16/1986 NEWSPAPER AND WEB COVERAGE: White likely to choose college over Brewers Saturday, June 9, 2007 By Danny Parker Shelbyville (TN) Times-Gazette At youth baseball parks all across the country, youngsters handle bats, balls and gloves with aspirations of taking the field one day in Major League Baseball. In his first year of draft eligibility since leaving high school, Vanderbilt redshirt sophomore Jonathan White was selected with the seventh pick of the 24th round (731 overall) by the Milwaukee Brewers. "It's been my goal since I was a little kid to play professional ball," said White, who grew up watching big leaguers like Ken Griffey Jr. and Barry Bonds. White admitted he would like to see the field more during his time in college but was proud to be called upon to produce against some right-handed pitching and as a pinch hitter this past season for a Commodore squad that finished 54-13 and won the Southeastern Conference regular season and tournament titles. The money tossed at second-day picks is a small fraction of that placed in front of first-rounders. Barring injury, he should be able to improve his stock substantially by returning to play under national coach of the year Tim Corbin in '08. "I will probably come back," White said. "I've grown a lot. It was really my first year being an integral member of the team. All the time I put in my freshman and sophomore year really paid off. I was just glad to be a part of it." With the Brewers' Class AA affiliate being in Huntsville and their AAA team in Nashville, his friends and family from Shelbyville would be around an hour away from seeing him play. But, he said that would not be a factor in his decision-making process on whether or not to sign. The local boy follows VU teammates David Price (Devil Rays), Casey Weathers (Rockies), Dominic de la Osa (Tigers), Cody Crowell (Blue Jays), Ty Davis (Diamondbacks), Tyler Rhoden (Reds) and Stephen Shao (Rockies) as draft selections this week. White hit .289 with three home runs and 14 runs driven in for Vandy. The 6-foot-2, 198-pounder was tabbed by Baseball America as the top pro prospect out of the New York Collegiate League last summer despite going down with a broken hand. White carried a .365 batting average with Glens Falls and stole 11 bags without being thrown out. He will play for the Newport Gulls this summer in the New England Collegiate League with Vandy teammate Brad French. White, the son of Jeffrey and Betty White, hit .481 with six home runs, 43 RBIs and 29 stolen bases during his senior season at Shelbyville Central under coach Scott Hall in 2004.

SIGNED Round 19: Zealous Wheeler - 3B 5'10", 220, R/R - Wallace State Community College (AL) NOTES & INFO: NEWSPAPER AND WEB COVERAGE: Link by Will Heath, dailyhome.com 06-09-2007 Childersburg?s Zealous Wheeler is living a dream. After putting up eye-catching numbers in his sophomore season at Wallace State Community College in Hanceville, Wheeler received a pleasant surprise Friday when the Milwaukee Brewers called him to say they?d grabbed him with the 581st overall pick in this year?s 2007 Major League Baseball Draft. ?I?ve been doing a little work, and they called me and told me,? he said. ?They got me by surprise.? The 5-10, 220-pound Wheeler became the 19th pick of the draft by the Brewers? organization. The Brewers also grabbed Jacksonville State?s Donovan Hand earlier in the draft. ?It feels good,? Wheeler said. ?All my hard work has paid off. I give thanks to my mom and dad for raising me, to come up and get my lessons and play ball, keep me straight.? This season was a banner one for Wheeler, whose team finished with a final record of 40-10 before losing to Chattahoochee Valley 1-0. Playing 50 games at third base, Wheeler finished with a batting average of .412, and a slugging percentage of .701. He had 73 hits, 10 home runs and 19 doubles. For the season, he drove in 51 runs and scored 59. He attributed this past season?s success to more experience. ?Last year, come in as a freshman, just step right in the fire,? he said. ?It was alright, but this year was just a lot of experience. It just came easy.? Wheeler, who has already signed a full scholarship to UAB for his final two years of school, says he isn?t sure whether he?ll enroll in school or pursue his dream of pro baseball. His high school head coach believes he can do whatever he wants. ?It?s always good to see a guy you?ve coached go on to do bigger and better things,? Childersburg head coach Chad Slaten said. ?Every kid in Childersburg, their dream is to play pro baseball. Zealous has that chance and I know that?s been a lifelong dream of his. ?I really believe he?s got a chance to make it to the big leagues, just because he?s a great hitter, and he has a great work ethic and he?s such a great person. ?It all comes back to his mama and daddy. They?ve done a great job of raising two wonderful boys. There?s so many kids that year in and year out with great ability, but they don?t have the work ethic, and he?s got it.? ***Wheeler brothers taking baseball world by storm by Will Heath, dailyhome.com 06-10-2007 Friday was a pretty good day for the Wheeler brothers. I caught up to Zealous and Bryan Friday afternoon, right after reading about the elder going to the Milwaukee organization in the 11th round of the Major League Baseball draft. ?Caught me by surprise,? Zealous said, a little giddy. It was a banner spring for Wheeler, who finished the 2007 baseball season ? his second and final one at Wallace-Hanceville ? with a batting average over .400, including 10 home runs and 19 doubles. For the season (50 games), Wheeler drove in 51 runs and scored 59. Those numbers were good enough to get Zealous noticed by the Brewers, who grabbed him with the 581st overall pick on Friday. Less than 15 seconds later, I was chatting up little brother Bryan, who sounded a little stunned to find out he?d been named Player of the Year in 4A by the state?s sportswriters. In this particular conversation, ?a little giddy? isn?t quite descriptive enough. ?Oh ... man, really? Wow ... I don?t even know what to say.? No matter. Bryan?s actions did most of the talking this past spring. The Tigers? center fielder had a season for the ages, finishing with 65 hits, 74 RBIs, 12 doubles and 17 home runs. His final batting average was .471. He stole 13 bases. And he was a part of a Childersburg team that scored 107 runs in 10 state playoff games, on its way to claiming the 4A state title. By the way, Bryan Wheeler?s got a year of high school left. ?It?s nothing you can say about that,? he said. ?I got a chance to do it again next year.? The relationship between the two brothers has already been pretty well documented. Neither of them gave even a hint in an earlier interview that a rivalry could exist between them. ?No rivalry,? Bryan said. ?I love my brother to death.? ?I love my brother,? Zealous said. ?He?s working hard and it?s paying off for him. We love each other. I want him to do good and I want to do good.? But imagine this: what if you could get them on the same team? What if UAB ? which has signed Zealous for the next two years, assuming he doesn?t go off to chase his professional dreams ? goes hard after Bryan next winter, and the two of them suit up as Blazers for the spring of 2009? Obviously, the age difference would be a factor, as would be the adjustment level from high school to Division I (substantial). Still, having those two bats in your lineup couldn?t hurt you in a tight spot ? I?d hate to have to walk one, knowing the other was on deck. Not to mention, reporters covering the games would have quite a time trying to interview the two of them at the same time. Especially when they?re both taken by surprise.

SIGNED Round 20: Cameron Robulack - 1B 6'3", 220, L/R - Silverthorn Collegiate Institute http://www.perfectgame.org/images/profilepics/06mwt75.jpg NOTES & INFO: Brewerfan.net Scouting Report: While Robulack was a solid draft prospect entering the spring, he was really helped by the fact that he played on the same team as first round pick Phillippe Aumont. Big large and powerful, there are some concerns about his overall athleticism and his conditioning, but if he lives up to his power potential no one will care about his body or how he moves around the first base bag. He swings from the left-side of the plate, and has drawn some unfair comparisons to Justin Morneau, probably more for being a fellow Canadian than anything else. He can struggle to make contact at times, and may be without a defensive home. Birthdate: 11/2/1988 Committed to play for the University of Nebraska Per BA Draft Blog, signed 6/8/2007 for $75,000. http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/draft/ NEWSPAPER AND WEB COVERAGE: Draft Prospect Q&A By Frankie Piliere, Scout.com May 25, 2007 As a Canadian player, left-hand hitting Cameron Robulack may not get quite the hype he deserves as a very strong draft prospect. However, the slugging Ontario native is drawing significant interest from teams as a 3rd to 5th round pick. We recently caught up with Robulack for a Q&A session. Scout.com: First of all, how do you feel about how you've shown yourself this spring and basically what are your general thoughts on your performance? Cameron Robulack: I've showed quite well. I had a good spring and our season started late since we are in Canada but since it's started I've done well. Scout.com: Compare yourself to last fall or last summer. How are you a different player and what have you improved in your game? Cameron Robulack: I think the biggest difference in my game is maturity in all aspects, body development, size, hitting, hitting with power and mentally in my approach to the game. Scout.com: Looking ahead, what parts of your game would you like to improve on and how do you plan to do so? Cameron Robulack: To become a major leaguer I need to keep improving all aspects of my game, and this is done through hard work and determination. Scout.com: You're a player that has really flown under the radar so to speak, at least among media outlets. Do you like playing to exceed expectations and what are your thoughts on the expectations of you as a player? Cameron Robulack: It's not a bad thing that every kid is not always seen by everyone, but to those that know me I've fullfilled the expectation of a good power hitter with a good average and alot of RBI. I understand that I have still alot of projectability and look forward to catching up with it. Scout.com: How would you describe yourself as a hitter and what is your approach at the plate? Cameron Robulack: I feel I am a tough out at the plate. I am a good power hitter and a big time run producer. I have equal success against right handed and left handed pitching and am always thinking of hitting the ball hard. Scout.com: If you had to compare yourself to a big leaguer player in terms of style, who would it be and why? Cameron Robulack: Justin Morneau. I feel coming from Canada we play the same type of game and style of play. I am a big impact player who much like Morneau hits with alot of power, hits well for average and is the type of player that everyone doesn't want to face with base runners. Scout.com: What are your expectations of a pro career for you? In other words, how do you feel about possibly turning pro and what do you expect that experience would be like? Cameron Robulack: I want to play pro ball. Baseball is my only focus and I will enjoy the opportunity to work at the sport I love to play everyday. Scout.com: Your known as a very good power hitting prospect. Where do you think that power comes from? Cameron Robulack: Hard work, good coaching as a youth and my determination to be great. Scout.com: What are some of your major goals for the next six months? Cameron Robulack: My goals is to have a great season and to keep taking strides to become a major leaguer. Scout.com: What are your thoughts on going pro versus going to college? Cameron Robulack: I love the game of baseball, want to play pro ball, and I play baseball to become a great major leaguer. Scout.com: If there was something a pro scout may not notice about you just by watching you play, what would it be? Cameron Robulack: My knowledge about the game of baseball.

Round 21: Connor Hoehn - RHP 6'1", 190, R/R - St. Johns High School (MD) http://www.perfectgame.org/images/profilepics/06natl92.jpg NOTES & INFO: Brewerfan.net Scouting Report: On pure talent, Hoehn could have easily been taken in the top 10 rounds. His ceiling is somewhat limited since he doesn't have the most projectable of frames, but that doesn't really matter given his stuff. He pitches consistently in the low-90s, can touch the mid-90s, and his fastball shows very good late life. He also throws a good slider that has shown flashes of being a dominant pitch at times. He needs to find more consistency with his breaking ball while refining his changeup. He projects as a sinker-slider type of pitcher, but likely will be tough to pry away from Alabama. Birthdate: 7/5/1989 College commitment is to the University of Alabama. He has pitched in the mid-90's. From tidefans.com: *Consistently works down in the zone with a heavy 90-93 mph fastball with good sink and run complemented with a hard "frisbee" slider. While internet scouting reports always have to be taken with a grain of salt, they can still provide a fairly helpful basis for projection. Hoehn would appear to have future closer written all over him. NEWSPAPER AND WEB COVERAGE: Baseball America Blog Entry Posted Apr. 11, 2007 by Alan Matthews ANAHEIM?As luck would have it, the best games in Tuesday?s quarterfinal action were all held at one location, so I saved some gas money and settled in for a couple of intriguing matchups. One of the benefits of the National Classic is seeing the different styles of play from teams from different parts of the country, and hitting has prevailed over pitching for the most part this week. Connor Hoehn?s name has been whispered frequently this spring, and there were a few dozen scouts on hand to see him strut his stuff against one of the best hitting teams in Florida, Palm Beach Central (Wellington, Fla.). Hoehn?s a well-built, 6-foot-2 righthander from St. John?s College High in Washington, D.C. He?s had some helium this spring thanks mostly to a fastball that has been up to 93 mph. The Alabama signee touched 91 Tuesday, and discovered just how tough Palm Beach Central?s lineup can be. Hoehn hung tough through five innings, departing with a lead before Palm Beach rallied, but his secondary stuff and overall command are behind that of some of the country?s elite arms. He threw a couple of above-average sliders at 77-80 mph, but he tends to get underneath and around the ball upon release, which causes his fastball to flatten out and his slider to spin side-to-side without depth. Because of his arm strength and frame, there could be a team out there that drafts him in the fourth- to seventh-round range, depending on his signability.

SIGNED Round 22: Matthew Cline - SS 5'10", 155, R/R - Cal St. Long Beach (CA)\ http://www.longbeachstate.com/PIX/PIXBBC/MUGS/2007/cline-base.gif NOTES & INFO: Brewerfan.net Scouting Report: Cline is a shorter second baseman that is short in stature and in tools but is long in heart. He is a high-intensity player that hustles on every play and makes anyone that watches him an immediate fan of the way he plays the game. He's not overly fast, he doesn't have much of an arm, and he doesn't have much power, but he does have a knack for getting on base. He's likely not much more than an organizational soldier, but he could surprise a few people given his approach to the game. Long Beach State Player Profile NEWSPAPER AND WEB COVERAGE: Cline perseveres after sibling tragedy Dirtbag has brother with him By Bob Keisser, Long Beach Press-Telegram Staff Writer LONG BEACH - Matt Cline wasn't born with his nose in the fine red clay of a baseball field, but he's certainly comfortable once he gets there. As much as anyone on the 2007 Dirtbags, the senior second baseman embodies the team philosophy and spirit that has made it a postseason perennial, and the team wouldn't be hosting a regional Friday at Blair Field if not for the contributions of Cline on and off the field. He's as driven as Rickey Henderson looking to steal a base, Russell Martin taking a collision at the plate and Ken Griffey planting his face on the center-field fence to make a catch. But there is another aspect of Cline's personality that few people know of. In 2003, in his CIF champion senior year at Edison High School, Cline's older brother Michael was killed in an accidental gunshot incident. Michael was seven years older than Matt and had been the prototypical big brother in a family that had gone through divorce and its attendant pain. Matt's mother and father split when he was a toddler. His mom Cheryl moved to the South. His dad, Randy, stayed in Southern California, and brother Michael became a stabilizing role in his life. "It was particularly hard on my mom," Matt said. "For me, I had looked up to him for a long time. He's still with me." Before every game, Matt uses his cleats to write Michael's name in the dirt around second base. His brother's passing led Matt Cline to figuratively take his place. Michael was married with two kids, and in the ensuing years, Matt has become more than an uncle to his nephews. "I'm not their dad," he said. "Michael will always be their dad. But it was difficult for them, and I want them to have someone in the family to look up to." For all of his aggressive play on the field, Cline has always been more of a quiet leader on the team, his intensity sometimes turned inwards. He takes losses harder than anyone in the team. The Dirtbags are his family, too, and he obviously takes family seriously. When the team hit a bad patch of play in late March, losing six of seven and throwing the ball around the park like kids playing T-Ball, Cline and his veteran teammates called for a team meeting away from the ballpark and without the coaches, just so everyone could let whatever they were feeling out. Two days later, the team went on its 21-3 spree. Cline played two years at Orange Coast College after high school, earning JC All-American honors as a sophomore. He was a late recruit by Long Beach State for 2006, not arriving until the January workouts began, putting him four months behind everyone else. "He had a lot of catching up to do," coach Mike Weathers said. "There's a long learning process, and coming in January was difficult. The jobs on the team were already more or less won." By the third week of the season, Cline was earning playing time with incumbent Chuck Sindlinger, and by season's end he was the starter. He hit .308 for the season batting out of the ninth spot. He came back strong this season, then erupted with the bat at midseason and now is third in the team at .332, with a .426 on-base percentage and tied for second in hits with 63. His hot streak led Weathers to move him up into the No. 2 spot in the batting order. He's worked himself into being a prospective draft pick next month despite his size. "Matt is much more familiar with the program now," Weathers said. "He understands his role and understands what he's capable of. He's always been the kind of guy who will battle you, a hard-nosed Dirtbag, and did everything pretty well. Now he's doing some things extremely well." "The team's entire motivation this year was to just play hard, be a team and see what happens," Cline said. "This (getting to the postseason) was our goal all season long, and we're really ready to make something of it." In Cline's case, he's actually playing for two families, one that wears baseball uniforms and another that now leans on Matt the way he once leaned on his brother.

SIGNED Round 15: Joey Paciorek - 3B 6'2", 225, R/R - Blaine HS (WA) http://www.perfectgame.org/images/profilepics/06natl159.jpg NOTES & INFO: Brewerfan.net Scouting Report: It's not a surprise that Paciorek looks as though he was born to play the gamehe bloodlines, as his father and two uncles played professional baseball. He is built very tall and strong, with natural power potential given his frame, and he is athletic enough to have handled shortstop during his high school career. He projects to slide over to third base as he doesn't have the ideal lateral quickness to handle short, but he has the soft hands and arm strength to handle the hot corner. His bat will determine how far he goes. He uses very quick hands and his natural strength to drive balls out of the ballpark. He is a little on the slow side, but again, his speed is not going to determine how far he makes it. His upside may be a limited somewhat, but he could put up some big numbers in the lower levels to help generate some steam during the early years of his professional career. NEWSPAPER AND WEB COVERAGE: Brewers pick Blaine?s Paciorek in 15th round DOUG PACEY, Bellingham Herald Joey Paciorek is following in his father?s and uncles? footsteps. The Blaine senior was selected by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 15th round of the Major League Baseball Draft on Friday. ?Definitely, it?s kind of cool,? Paciorek said of playing pro ball like his father, Jim, and uncles Tom and John. ?They tell me you get to play every day.? The Brewers project Paciorek as a third baseman, though he mostly played shortstop and pitched at Blaine. ?He?s a big, physical high school kid who?s ready to handle professional baseball,? said Brandon Newell, the Brewers? Northwest scouting supervisor. ?Additionally, he?s a great hitter with great genes.? Paciorek will report to the Brewers? short-season rookie ball team in Maryvale, Ariz., after he signs, Newell said. At Blaine this season, Paciorek broke the school record for batting average he set last year by hitting .516. Newell said the Brewers liked that Paciorek played three sports ? football, basketball and baseball ? and the organization is looking forward to seeing what Paciorek can accomplish when he?s only playing baseball. ?He was successful in all three sports,? Newell said, ?and that?s without focusing on just one.? Paciorek, who was all- Northwest Conference in the three sports, anticipates improvement, too. ?I haven?t had much time to work on baseball in the offseason because of the other sports,? he said. Paciorek said the Brewers showed the most interest of any team, though he did have ?a couple? workouts with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. He was in Milwaukee, Wis., last weekend to work out for the Brewers. ?I?m glad to be with the Brewers,? Paciorek said. ***Paciorek worked out In Milwaukee prior to draft Paciorek in first televised baseball draft by Jack Kintner, Blaine (WA) Northern Light One reason Sehome high school dominated this year?s county high school all-star baseball game last week, putting pitcher Jordan Chambers and shortstop Kai Hatch into the state all-star game, was that the best athlete wasn?t even on the field. Blaine?s Joey Paciorek, who excelled as a pitcher and shortstop and was the leading hitter this year among all county schools, was back in Milwaukee, Wis., as one of the Brewers? top 20 prospects for this year?s draft. Paciorek?s been seen by most of the Brewers' front office, and the group he was invited to join ? which included both high school and college players ? is expected to form the core of this week?s amateur baseball draft, the first ever to be televised live. The connection between the Brewers, arguably the best team in baseball this year, and Blaine is two-fold. Paciorek?s dad Jim was the Brewers eighth-round draft pick in 1982, although he spent most of his major league career playing in Japan, a country he first visited while an undergraduate at the University of Michigan (class of ?81). He?s served as an assistant baseball coach to Gary Clausen for the past few years. Blaine high school principal Dan Newell?s son Brandon Newell, northwest scouting coordinator for the Brewers organization, invited Paciorek back to Milwaukee Stadium for the tryout. ?He swung the bat very well, showed them what he had,? said Newell, ?The apple doesn?t fall far from the tree.? Indeed. Three of Joey?s uncles and three cousins have all played professional baseball, including long-time Seattle Mariners outfielder, first baseman and DH Tom Paciorek. ?They?re known chiefly as good hitters,? Newell said. Joey?s uncle and Tom?s older brother John, in fact, has the highest major league batting average ever recorded, a perfect 1.000, earned in the only major league game he played in when he went three for three for Houston in 1963. ?What Joey has is a good combination of size and agility. I?d compare him to [Cardinals third baseman] Scott Rolen or [Phillies outfielder and DH] Pat Burrell,? Newell said. ***Four-year Blaine standout Joey Paciorek provided a hint of how well he could perform with a wooden bat. Paciorek pounded two doubles and later singled with two outs and a full count, scoring Kai Hatch with the winning run in the last inning to give Post 7 King Nissan a 5-4 senior American League baseball victory over the Langley Blaze on Thursday at Joe Martin Field. Paciorek is looking to make a different kind of move today during the second day of the Major League Baseball entry draft. ?I hope I?ll be chosen (today),? Paciorek said. ?Last week I went to Milwaukee for the Brewers? pre-draft workout.? After a highly productive career with a metal bat at Blaine, Paciorek is savoring the thought of using wood bats in the pros. In a recent workout, he cracked five balls out of spacious Joe Martin with a wood bat. ?I?ve only used wood a few times,? said Paciorek, who has signed to play for Lower Columbia College. ?I would have a tough decision to make if I?m drafted, but I can?t go wrong either way.?

SIGNED Round 16: Joel Morales - RHP 6'3", 200, R/R - Puerto Rico Baseball Academy High School NOTES & INFO: Brewerfan.net Scouting Report: Many scouts considered Morales to be the best pitching prospect from Puerto Rico this year, one of the best groups of talents from the island in years. He has a very live arm, and the velocity on his fastball has increased by 10 miles per hour over the last year, as he now reaches the low-90s. Despite his relative youth and inexperience, he shows an advanced approach to pitching, with a solid four pitch repertoire that includes a slider, curveball and changeup, all of which have the foundation for being solid average pitches if not better at the next level. In addition his arm action and overall mechanics are relatively clean, and it's only a matter of getting more innings under his belt while he continues to mature and progress to see what he can truly do. Birthdate: 3/12/1989 NEWSPAPER AND WEB COVERAGE:

SIGNED Round 17: Erik Miller - CF 6'3", 200, R/R - Scottsdale Community College (AZ) NOTES & INFO: Brewerfan.net Scouting Report: Miller is a well built and athletic physical specimen. He stole 27 bases and hit six home runs in a junior college conference that uses wood bats. He is a rare blend of power and speed that just needs to continue to work hard and gain experience for his game to come together. He has the tools to succeed, and is one of the more exciting sleepers from the 2007 draft class to keep an eye on. NEWSPAPER AND WEB COVERAGE:

SIGNED Round 18: Bobby Bramhall - LHP 5'11", 185, L/L - Rice University (TX) http://graphics.fansonly.com/photos/schools/rice/sports/m-basebl/auto_headshot/847373.jpeg NOTES & INFO: Brewerfan.net Scouting Report: Bramhall is a shorter left-handed pitcher that has promise as a left-handed specialist with a high-80s fastball and a very good curveball that often buckles the knees of opposing batters. His overall athleticism has also allowed him to see some time as a outfielder during his career at Rice. He may be a relatively easy sign, as he reportedly has made it be known that he would like to start his professional career. He could move quickly as a reliever with a fair amount of success under his belt at the college level playing for perennial D1 powerhouse, Rice. Rice Player Profile Birthdate: 7/13/1985 NEWSPAPER AND WEB COVERAGE: Tomorrow's Leaders April 4, 2007 Rice junior pitcher Bobby Bramhall is pretty sure that things happen for a reason. He's not always sure why, but he's thankful that he can at least see, literally see that is, a bigger picture. Only a short time ago in his freshman season when he also doubled as an outfielder/left-handed hitter, Bramhall noticed a disturbing trend. When playing in the outfield he began to have more and more trouble seeing the ball come off the bat, or picking up the horsehide sphere in an overcast sky or at night under the stadium lights. How can this be? Only the semester before Bramhall underwent the laser surgery procedure to correct a case of far-sightedness and astigmatism that sometimes effects young adults. In Bramhall's case however, the procedure soon began to have the reverse effect and his vision started getting worse and worse with every passing week. Just barely 20 years old at the time, Bobby Bramhall got the frightening news. "The doctors said that if I hadn't come in when I had and undergone a second surgery, one to correct the first one, it really would have been difficult to correct," Bramhall said. "It was scary for sure, but you have to have faith in God to watch over things and help the doctors do their work. "I can see fine now," Bramhall said, still with a sense of relief even two years later. "I feel like I am blessed that things worked out. It's made me look at things, and I guess you could say 'see things' in a whole new way." With his vision cleared, the 5-foot-11 College Station native has had two outstanding seasons for the Owls' prestigious baseball program. In 2006 he went 4-2 on the mound and maintained a 2.36 ERA in 53.1 innings. He saved some of his best for last and, when the team needed him most, pitched a career-long 4.2 innings of two-hit relief at the College World Series in Omaha. Bramhall is having an even better 2007 season as one of the team's first options out of the bullpen. He filled a vital role when fellow left-hander Cole St.Clair, a first team all-America selection from a year ago, was sidelined before the start of the season. Bramhall has quickly picked up three wins and three saves in 10 appearances. He has maintained a 1.75 ERA and struck out 31 hitters in 25.2 innings. Overall, Bramhall has faced 92 opposing hitters and held the foes to a composite .163 batting average. The success on the field is impressive enough, but there's still another side to Bramhall that separates him from a number of other college students and student-athletes. The lefty is one of the leaders of Rice's chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA), as well as some of the community service efforts taken-up by Rice student-athletes. Bramhall has helped spearhead a number of off-field projects ranging from visiting hospitalized children in the nearby Texas Medical Center, to clothing drives for the needy, to helping the FCA "huddles" organize the weekly meeting process which gives student athletes fellowship and motivation. Bramhall has been witness to many different motivational speakers, but it's hard to imagine that any visitor in that role would quite have anything as inspiring as his own story of nearly losing his sight, but coming back to be one of the pitching and off-the-field leaders of the nationally-ranked baseball program - all while having a big part in a myriad of community service duties.

SIGNED Round 12: Wes Etheridge - RHP 6'1", 185, R/R - UC Irvine (CA) http://pe.cypresscollege.edu/sports/men/images/base060214.jpg NOTES & INFO: Brewerfan.net Scouting Report: Built lithe and rangy, Etheridge makes pitching look easy. There isn't any wasted movement to his delivery, and his arm has proved to be very reliable and durable being used in a swing-role for much of his college career. His success during the 2007 is a big reason for UC Irvine's overall success on their way to the College World Series. He's never going to light up radar guns, instead relying on a sinking fastball and nifty changeup that induces a lot of awkward swings and weak ground balls. His stature and stuff is very similar to Matt Wise's, and that is probably his upside in a best-case scenario. UC Irvine Player Profile NEWSPAPER AND WEB COVERAGE:

SIGNED Round 13: Christopher Dennis - LF 6'1", 205, L/R - St Thomas of Villanova SS NOTES & INFO: Brewerfan.net Scouting Report: Dennis has played catcher in high school, and was drafted by the Devil Rays last year in the 38th round of the draft. An odd rule allows players from Ontario to return to school for an additional year of high school. He was moved to the outfield this past year, and while he doesn't have the most ideal speed or quickness for the outfield, or any spot on the diamond for that matter, his bat really came to life this past year that elevated his draft position. He has good overall hitting mechanics, solid bat speed, and encouraging power potential. Birthdate: 9/15/1988 Committed to play for Connors State Junior College (OK) NEWSPAPER AND WEB COVERAGE: Schoolmates picked by Brewers, White Sox Jim Parker Windsor Star (Ontarion, Canada) Saturday, June 09, 2007 Major League Baseball came knocking for a pair of local prospects Friday. The Milwaukee Brewers grabbed catcher Chris Dennis of Windsor in the 13th round of the draft while Villanova schoolmate Mitch Delaney of LaSalle went to the Chicago White Sox in the 21st round. Both are teammates with the London Diamonds of the Inter-County Baseball League and quickly had to put the celebration on hold to pack up and head for a game. "I'm excited," Dennis said. "It's right where they projected me to go. I'm just glad I didn't drop down." The 18-year-old Dennis was a 38th round pick by Tampa Bay last year, but turned down a $15,000 U.S. signing bonus to go back in the draft. He was rewarded by going in the 13th round and 728 picks higher than a year ago. "I have to talk to the Brewers and see what their plans are for me, but (with where he was taken) they'll definitely be offering (a deal) I can sign," Dennis said. FAMILY SACRIFICES The six-foot-one, 215-pound Dennis is known more for his left-handed bat. A member of Canada's bronze-medal winning world junior team a year ago, Dennis has an offer to attend Connors State College in Warner, Okla., if he doesn't sign. "I was happy I got drafted last year, but I wasn't happy with where I went," Dennis said. "My family's sacrificed a lot and it's been a lot of hard work the last year. I went out and got bigger and stronger." Unlike previous years where teams had until the start of the school year in September to sign a player, Major League Baseball clubs are under a much tighter deadline this year. Clubs must sign draft picks by Aug. 15 or they go back in the draft next year.

SIGNED Round 14: Donovan Hand - RHP 6'4", 205, R/R - Jacksonville St U (FL) http://www.jsugamecocksports.com/images/articles/86202_Hand_Donovanweb.jpg NOTES & INFO: Jacksonville State Player Profile Birthdate: 4/20/1986 NEWSPAPER AND WEB COVERAGE: JSU Athletic Site: Hand Selected by Brewers JSU's Hand Taken by Brewers in 14th Round of MLB Draft LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. ? The Milwaukeee Brewers selected Jacksonville State pitcher Donovan Hand on Friday in the 14th round of the Major League Baseball?s 2007 First-Year Player Draft. Hand, a junior right-handed hurler, was the 13th pick taken by the Brewers as the 431st overall pick in the Draft and was the first Gamecock selected in the Draft since three players were taken in 2003. A 6-foot-4, 205-pound right-handed pitcher from Hatton, Ala., Hand was an All-OVC selection for the third ime in his three-yare career at JSU this season, when he led the Gamecocks with seven wins and 82 strikeouts. He posted a 2.87 earned run average in Ohio Valley Conference play and held conference foes to a mere .192 batting average. He was named the league?s Pitcher of the Week four times in 2007. ***Link while active, text follows: Hatton grad taken in 14th round, but he's uncertain if he'll sign deal or return for senior year at Jax State By Mark Edwards medwards@decaturdaily.com Decatur, Alabama Jacksonville State right-handed pitcher Donovan Hand spent much of Friday morning at his parents' home in Hatton, monitoring the baseball draft on the Internet. The Hatton High graduate had reason to watch, since both the Washington Nationals and Milwaukee Brewers had indicated to him that they might take him. About 12:30 p.m., the wait ended. The Brewers took Hand in the 14th round and the 431st selection of the draft. "I'm pretty excited," said Hand, 21, who is 6-foot-4 and 205 pounds. "It's always been my dream to play in the major leagues." However, this is only the start of the process for Hand, and he's uncertain if it will end with him signing with the Brewers. He still has one more year of eligibility at Jacksonville State, which means he could return to school and re-enter the draft in the summer of 2008. "I'm not 100 percent sure if I'll sign with them or if I'll return to Jacksonville State," he said. "A lot depends on negotiating. Over the next couple of weeks, I'll figure out what I want to do." However, Hand has a preference on how this turns out. "I guess I'm leaning toward signing," Hand said. Hand said he has known Brewers scout Joe Mason since high school. Mason scouts Alabama, Tennessee and Mississippi for the major league club. "I knew the Brewers were interested, but I didn't know they were this serious," he said. Hand finished this season with a 7-8 record after struggling with his pitching mechanics early in the year and beginning 0-4. His 3.78 ERA led the team, and that number went down to 2.87 against Ohio Valley Conference opponents. Conference batters hit only .192 against him. He made all-OVC for the third time in three years and was named the league's pitcher of the week four times. He entered the season with a 19-8 record in his first two years and a 2.72 ERA. "When my coach and I were talking after the season, I told him that even though my numbers don't show it, I thought this was my best year of pitching," Hand said. "I had to battle through a lot. Instead of 7-8, it easily could've been 10-5 or 12-4." At Hatton, he helped the Hornets finish runner-up in the Class 2A state playoffs in 2003. As a senior in 2004, he finished 7-0 with an 0.62 ERA. Pro draft visits Hatton Donovan Hand, an all-state baseball pitcher in 2003 and ?04 at Hatton High, went in the 14th round of the pro baseball draft Friday to the Milwaukee Brewers. Hand has posted a 26-16 record in three years at Jacksonville State and made all-Ohio Valley Conference all three seasons. Hand has the option of signing with the Brewers or returning to school for his senior season and re-entering the draft in 2008.

SIGNED Round 10: Eric Fryer - C 6'2", 215, R/R - Ohio State http://graphics.fansonly.com/photos/schools/osu/sports/m-basebl/auto_headshot/884474.jpeg NOTES & INFO: Brewerfan.net Scouting Report: Fryer is a very good overall athlete that could play any position on the field, but excels behind the plate with good lateral quickness, soft hands, a strong arm, and a heady approach to the game that makes him a natural leader calling games and handling a pitching staff. As good as his athleticism and versatility is, his bat is in question. He has the tools to succeed, with a solid approach, decent power potential and good bat speed, but so far he has not produced as much as scouts would like to see. If he finds his stroke at the pro level he could be a steal. Ohio State Player Profile Birthdate: 8/26/1985 NEWSPAPER AND WEB COVERAGE: Link to CSTV.com "I am real excited about the opportunity to perform at the next level," said Fryer. "A lot of hard work went in to getting to this point. I want to thank Coach (Bob Todd) and the coaching staff for helping me grow as a player. I was pretty raw when I got to Ohio State and the coaches refined my skills and helped me tremendously." Fryer was tied for fifth on the team in hitting at .322, first in doubles (16), second in RBI (50) and third in hits (74). He started 61 of 62 games on the year and was a second-team All-Big Ten choice this season. Fryer was a second-team All-Big Ten and All-Mideast Region pick as a sophomore. ***In the Dugout with Eric Fryer - May 22, 2006 Before every game sophomore catcher Eric Fryer always checks the stands for his biggest fans: his grandparents, his mom, his dad and his two younger brothers. They have always been a driving force, not only in his baseball career, but all through his life. Every time he sees his family at his games, he always wants to do everything he can for them. Fryer's strong family life has helped him become a leader for the Buckeyes and help the team out in what ever way he can. When the Reynoldsburg, Ohio, native steps on the field, he never forgets how lucky he is to be living his dream of playing for Ohio State. He always is reminded by his family in the stands who are always there to watch him. What other sports did you play when you were growing up? "In high school I played baseball and basketball. I only played basketball through my sophomore year. In middle school I played basketball, baseball and football. Baseball is it for me though, I trained all through the winter for it and played in spring and summer leagues." What made you choose baseball? "Well I was better at baseball then anything else. The camaraderie is great. The guys in the locker room are great and you get to know your teammates a lot more than in other sports because it is a longer season. What is the toughest position for you to play? "It would have to be DH. I would much rather be out on the field playing catcher or first base. It is very different from anything else. If you have a bad at bat you don't get the chance to make it up in the field. When you have a bad at bat it will stick with. I would say in some ways it is even harder than playing in the field. You have to be really mentally tough because not being on the field can sometimes take you out to the rhythm of the game and keep focused all the time." Is there any special reason that you wear No. 33? "I wore No. 11 all through high school, but when I came here it was already taken. So first they gave me (No. 3) to wear but I had to change my number again for whatever reason. I looked at it and I did like the '3' I had been wearing but I still had a thing for an odd repeater, so I went with 33 and have been wearing it ever since." What do you like to do away from baseball? "I like to hang around with the guys (on the team) the most. I really like to go bowling. I used to go a lot in high school and I was pretty good I bowled about 215-220 most of time. However I really haven't gone in a while now so I'm probably pretty awful now. Also in the summer, my family and I always go up to Michigan and go hunting and fishing." What influence has your family had on your baseball career? "We have all been real big Buckeye supporters throughout. My dad and I used to play baseball in the backyard growing up. My mom would travel around with me to all my games and they would bring my two little brothers, Matt and Tim, along with them. Matt is a great baseball player and Tim is very good at football. My parents never pushed me though when it was time to pick a school. Ohio State was just a great fit for me and it was the place I always wanted to go to when I was growing up." Do think being an older brother has helped you become a leader in the club house? "When I was back home, I'm not so sure if I was leading them more or less than I was bossing them around. Sometimes I think I was a little tough on them. Now, though, it is fun to teach them what I know and help raise them a little. I really enjoy teaching Matt what I know about baseball. Tim has really always been into football and I have really never had to help him out. He is really good about working things out himself. Leadership really comes from just being with the guys over the summer and just letting that carry over into the spring." Does your family come to a lot of your games? "They come out all the time they come out as much as they can. When my brothers get done with practice or a game they come on over and watch me play. My dad coaches my brother Matt so sometimes for the bigger games, Matt's practice might end a little early so they can make it to the stadium to see most of my game. I get really pumped up to see them in the stands. My mom and my grandparents make it to just about everyone of my games but when I see them in the stands it is all the motivation I need to go out there and do my best."

SIGNED Round 11: Cody Scarpetta - RHP 6'3", 225, R/R - Guilford HS (IL) http://www.perfectgame.org/images/profilepics/07pgind56.jpg http://cmsimg.rrstar.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde NOTES & INFO: Brewerfan.net Scouting Report: The Brewers selected Cody's father, Dan, in the third round of the 1982 draft. The younger Scarpetta checks in at a chiseled 6?3?, 225 pounds, and uses his size to sit consistently in the 88-92 range while touching 94. He also shows a pretty good mid-70s breaking pitch, a pitch that could use a little more bite to it, but he still shows the ability to throw strikes with it, giving him the foundation for two very solid offerings. Scarpetta is also a pretty good hitter, and he could play two ways should he honor his commitment to Creighton University, but at the pro level his future lies on the mound. Having dropped to the 11th round, signability could be an issue. Birthdate: 8/25/1988 NEWSPAPER AND WEB COVERAGE: Beloit Daily News: The Milwaukee Brewers like hard-throwing high schoolers. Rockford Guilford's Cody Scarpetta is a hard-throwing high school right-hander. A match made in heaven. The Brewers took the Rockford prep star in the 11th round of the 2007 First-Year Player Draft. Scarpetta was ranked as a four-star player (out of five) by Baseball America and has a scholarship at Creighton waiting for him if he doesn't sign with the Brewers. Scarpetta's father, Dan, was selected in the third round by the Milwaukee Brewers 25 years ago and spent a season pitching for the then-named Beloit Brewers.

SIGNED Round 9: Kristian Bueno - LHP 6'2", 195, L/L - Calallen High School (TX) NOTES & INFO: Bueno is committed to pitch at Angelina College next year, but could skip the college route and sign a pro contract with the Brewers. NEWSPAPER AND WEB COVERAGE:

SIGNED Round 6: Daniel Merklinger - LHP 6'1", 195, L/L - Seton Hall (NJ) http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/images/2007/05/16/WIYrSjhl.jpg NOTES & INFO: Brewerfan.net Scouting Report: Merklinger is a well proportioned, projectable left-handed pitching prospect that is somewhat of an enigma in that he dazzled scouts on the Cape last summer, pitching against hitters with a wood bat, but has had mixed results at Seton Hall. The biggest reason is that Merklinger, despite possessing good stuff for a left-handed pitcher, tends to nibble, and doesn't pitch as aggressively as many would like to see. His fastball sits in the 88-91 range, a curveball that is a very good pitch when it is on and a solid changeup, giving him a very solid three-pitch repertoire. If the Brewers can convince Merklinger to attack hitters more with his fastball to set up his solid secondary offerings, he could be a very effective pitcher in the mold of Chris Capuano. MLB.com scouting report: Considered one of the better pitching prospects in last year's Cape Cod League, Merklinger has been a bit disappointing in his junior year. The southpaw has been showing below-average stuff and his command hasn't been sharp enough to make up for it. Still, he's a college lefty who has shown the ability to pitch in the past. He could be a No. 5 starter or a lefty specialist, especially if his breaking stuff can continue to improve. NEWSPAPER AND WEB COVERAGE: Focus Area Comments Fastball: Merklinger's fastball is well below-average. FB Movement: He does throw a four-seam and two-seam fastball with decent action. He could have future-average life. Curve: It could be his best pitch and projects to be an average pitch in the future. Changeup: His changeup is below-average right now, but projects as an average offering. Control: He's generally around the plate, but his command overall is below-average. Poise: His overall makeup is fine. Physical Description: Merklinger has a body type similar to Steve Kline. Medical Update: Healthy. Strengths: The curve has the chance to be a pretty good pitch. Weaknesses: While he generally can throw strikes, his stuff is all below-average. Summary: Considered one of the better pitching prospects in last year's Cape Cod League, Merklinger has been a bit disappointing in his junior year. The southpaw has been showing below-average stuff and his command hasn't been sharp enough to make up for it. Still, he's a college lefty who has shown the ability to pitch in the past. He could be a No. 5 starter or a lefty specialist, especially if his breaking stuff can continue to improve. MinorLeagueBaseball.com draft report