YOUNG PEOPLE CHASING BIG DREAMS

I enjoy an afternoon or evening watching a good baseball game. It's just not the same watching it on TV; you have to be at the park to truly enjoy the experience of the sport.

Today is the Major League Baseball amateur draft, and as some of you know Central Florida is a hotbed of baseball talent. Three teams from Polk County went deep into the state high school finals, with two --- Winter Haven (4A) and McKeel Academy of Technology (2A) playing for championships but just falling short. A few young players from the area are being seriously considered to be draft prospects. While only an elite few make it to the big leagues, the idea of chasing a dream and at least making some decent money doing it (especially a good signing bonus) is especially tempting. Most, though, will do the right thing and begin or continue their college education and prepare for a future after sports (or if that athletic career never pans out) while continuing to hone their talents.

Among those from the area mentioned on the MLB Draft Central site (with it's comment, if any, in italics):

Mike Billek / RHP (Palm Harbor, FL / University of Central Florida) -
Physically imposing college RHP. Arm strength. FB hits 94, sits 91-93. Average curve and changeup. Uses both sides of plate. Goes right after hitters. Picked 109th overall, 28th in the Third Round by the Chicago Cubs

Shane Buriff / LHP (Sickles, FL / Polk Community College)

Andrew Butera / C-INF (Lake Mary, FL / University of Central Florida) - Athletic frame. Wiry upper body. Similar to Jason Kendall. Level, line drive stroke. Fair bat speed. Solid arm w/ carry through bag. Quick release. Sure-handed receiver. Frames well. Flexible behind dish. Future plus arm strength. Blocks well. Son of ex-ML, Sal Butera. Picked 149th overall, ninth of the Fifth Round by the New York Yankees

William Cherry / RF (Lakeland, FL / George Jenkins HS) - Strong, solid body. Well proportioned. Similar to B.J. Surhoff. Generates good bat speed. Gets extension. Some loft in stroke. Raw power. Can drive ball to opposite field w/ HR power. Solid arm, throws carry. Makes routine play. Good looking athlete.

Bryan Hierlmeier / RF (Tampa, FL / Plant HS / University of South Florida) - Strong solid frame, well proportioned. Good athletic ability, plays solid defense. Runs well, especially when underway. Can play all three-outfield positions. Has raw power. Drives ball to all fields. Good instincts and aggressive on bases.

Jeffery Howell / C (Satellite Beach, FL / Florida Southern College) - Solid, well-proportioned frame. Line-drive stroke w/ strength in swing. Likes to hit to RF and RCF w/ occasional power. Loose, easy arm w/ on-line carry. Strong, soft hands, seldom drops ball. Good catch and throw ability. Hard-nosed kid. Picked 292nd overall, second in Round 10 by Kansas City.

Matthew Joyce / OF (Riverview, FL / Florida Southern College) - Long, lanky, athletic frame. Line drive stroke w/ lift & good extension. Generates good bat speed. Can drive ball to LCF and RCF w/ power. Loose, easy arm action w/ on-line carry. Gets good jumps and angles in OF. Good makeup Picked 360th overall, tenth in Round 11 by Detroit.

Matthew Mercurio / 3B (Avon Park, FL / Avon Park HS / Florida Southern College) - Versatile infielder. Similar to Rich Aurillia. Makes consistent contact w/ good bat speed, drives the ball to the gaps. Accurate arm. A real gamer, will do whatever is best for the team. Picked 498th overall, 27th in Round 16 by Boston.

Andrew McCutchen / CF (Fort Meade, FL / Fort Meade HS) - Wiry, athletic body w/ strong wrists and forearms. Gap-to-gap hitter w/ some pop, he has had success w/ wooden bats. Good first step and acceleration in center; exciting, five-tool player. Picked 11th overall in First Round by Pittsburgh.

Jordan Schafer /LHP (Haines City, FL / Winter Haven HS) - Solid athletic body. Similar to Randy Wolf. LHP w/ loose arm. FB in 85-56 range, curve and change. Can throw strikes and can also swing the bat. Picked 108th overall, 27th in Third Round by Atlanta

Geoff Strickland / SS (Longwood, FL / Florida Southern College) - Switch-hitter w/a line drive stroke from both sides of the plate. Will get a lot of doubles. Versatile INF w/ good defensive actions. Soft hands and a good first step. Plays hard and has a good work ethic. Picked 207th overall, seventh in Round 7 by Colorado.

Federico Vazquez / 1B (Sebring, FL / Sebring HS) - Big frame w/ strong hands and wrists. Similar to Andres Galarraga. Short stroke for a big guy. Can also generate a lot of bat speed. Really launches it when he gets his pitch. Fair defense at 1B. Will make the routine play.

Others not mentioned but were drafted:

David M. Asher / LHP (Orlando, FL / Florida International University) - Picked 233rd overall, third of Round 8 by Seattle.

Steven W. Pearce / 1B (Lakeland, FL / University of South Carolina - Columbia) - Picked 241st overall, 11th in Round 8 by Pittsburgh.

John M. Madden / RHP (Kissimmee, FL / Auburn University) - Picked 248th overall, 18th in Round 8 by San Diego.

John Howell / RF (Winter Park, FL / University of Central Florida) - Picked 264th overall, fourth in Round 9 by Washington.

Ronnie J. Anderson / CF (Seffner, FL / Blanche Armwood HS) - Picked 279 overall, 19th in Round 9 by Texas.

Dee Brown / OF (Orlando, FL / University of Central Florida) - Picked 294th overall, fourth in Round 10 by Washington.

John Alonso / 1B (Orlando, FL / Polk Community College) - Picked 355th overall, fifth in Round 11 by Milwaukee.

Jeffrey Baisley / 3B (Tampa, FL / University of South Florida) - Picked 371th overall, 21st in Round 12 by Oakland.

Deryck D. Johnson / CF (Orlando, FL / Cypress Creek HS) - Picked 414th overall, fourth in Round 14 by Washington.

Zac S. McCamie / RHP (Orlando, FL / University of South Carolina - Columbia) - Picked 516th overall, 16th in Round 17 by Florida.

Ryan A. Searage / LF (St. Petersburg, FL / Eckerd College) - Picked 541th overall, 11th in Round 18 by Pittsburgh.

The draft continues today...