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Morel agrees to terms with White Sox; Bryant signs with Kansas City
13 Kern County players selected during 2-day, 50-round draft; four former BC students expected to sign
| Saturday, Jun 7 2008 10:51 PM
Last Updated: Saturday, Jun 7 2008 10:55 PM
Centennial High graduate Brent Morel has agreed on a contract with the Chicago White Sox and will be assigned to Chicago's short-season Class A Pioneer League club in Great Falls, Mont., Morel said Saturday.
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Cal Poly SLO second baseman and former Centennial standout Brent Morel was the first Kern County player selected in the 2008 MLB draft Thursday. Morel was taken by the Chicago White Sox in the third round.
But first, he has some unfinished business at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo: final exams.
"It's pretty exciting, a once-in-a-lifetime thing," said Morel, a third-round draft pick in Thursday's Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft. Morel, who just completed his junior year at Cal Poly, said he has agreed to a $458,000 signing bonus.
"I have finals next week, then I'll fly to Chicago for a physical," Morel said.
Morel, a third baseman, was one of 13 Kern County players selected in the two-day, 50-round draft. He was the first player selected from Kern County.
One local player who was drafted but previously not reported was 2003 Liberty High graduate Andrew Shive, who just completed his senior year at Azusa Pacific University.
Shive, a right-handed pitcher, was a 35th-round pick by the New York Yankees and the 1,070th overall selection.
He was 6-2 with a 3.95 ERA in 12 games (10 starts) to help Azusa Pacific reach the NAIA World Series. He struck out 46 in 57 innings and went 3-0 in April with a 1.57 ERA in four starts that month.
Shive said he expects to finalize his contract by Monday and will report to Tampa, Fla., where the Yankees hold spring training. Shive added that he is expected to be assigned to the Yankees' short-season New York-Penn League club in Staten Island, N.Y.
"I'm pretty excited, just for the opportunity. It's what I've dreamed about," Shive said.
"They just watched me throw and kept an eye on me," Shive said. "I had no idea they had plans on drafting me. They never called before the draft."
Carson Bryant, a right-handed pitcher from Liberty High and Azusa Pacific, signed his contract on Saturday. He was a 25th-round pick by Kansas City.
Bryant said he was noticed by the Royals during Azusa Pacific's fall intersquad games. Bryant, who said he consistently reaches 91-92 mph and has peaked at 93, was ineligible in the spring, so he did not play for Azusa this season.
"I had to complete 24 units before I was eligible to play and I passed 21, so I fell a little short," Bryant said.
Bryant said his velocity has improved in recent years, and he has better control. But gaining maturity is a bigger factor in getting a chance at pro baseball.
"Two or three years ago I had no command and I was just so immature -- I didn't know how to deal with situations," he said.
The Royals will assign him to their short-season Appalachian League team in Burlington, N.C., Bryant said.
Four former Bakersfield College players are expected to sign contracts.
Three are seniors who have exhausted their collegiate eligibility: outfielder Kyle Morgan from the University of San Francisco, third baseman Ricky Orton from North Carolina-Greensboro and right-handed pitcher Carlos Luna from Oral Roberts.
The fourth is Fresno State junior pitcher Justin Miller, whose season continues with the Bulldogs in a Super Regional against Arizona State with a College World Series berth at stake.
Miller, who graduated from Ridgeview High, could opt to return to Fresno State, but since he was selected by the Texas Rangers in the 16th round (considered a fairly high pick by baseball standards), he will likely be aggressively pursued by Texas.
Orton, a North High graduate, was a 29th-round pick by Florida. Luna, from Stockdale, was a 30th-round pick by Colorado and Morgan, from Liberty, was taken in the 36th round by Pittsburgh.
"I know Ricky Orton is back in North Carolina. He's going to sign," BC coach Tim Painton said. "Miller's in a Super Regional, so he's got more important things to worry about. Luna will sign.
"I talked to Morgan after the draft. He's excited about the draft and he'll sign."
Kyle Witten, a 12-game winner for BC this season who was selected by Minnesota in the 22nd round, said he remains undecided on whether to sign or accept a baseball scholarship to Cal State Fullerton.