2011 MLB Draft: Danny Hultzen In Virginia No 2 Of Mariners
Charlottesville - Danny Hultzen was all smiles when he took the mound Monday night at Davenport Field. With stand empty, the University of Virginia star pitcher toed the rubber for a series of photographs with his parents and coach Brian O'Connor Cavaliers, less than 20 minutes before the start of Major League Baseball Entry Draft first year player .
Hultzen least another start staying in a Virginia uniform - and said it remains focused on the NCAA tournament, the Cavaliers end - but Monday night was a day to celebrate Hultzen university life with a terrible eye their career.
There was some surprise, was elected second Hultzen the Seattle Mariners, leaving the 21-year-old hands clasped behind his head in amazement as he watched the TV ad, sitting with his teammates and family of Virginia baseball clubhouse .
"I was totally surprised and totally lifted me," said Hultzen. "I kind of expected to wait a little longer."
O'Connor said that Seattle was a scout for each Hultzen starts this season, but he was also surprised. He said he spoke with the sailors scouting director Tom Mc Namara first Monday of a salary High School Cavaliers, but not Hultzen discuss during the call.
Not Washington, or Virginia area native has never been a top player selected. Jay Franklin Vienna, was elected by the San Diego Padres in 1971, while Ryan Zimmerman was previously selected as the most projects Cavalier, going fourth overall to the public in 2005.
Hultzen who grew up a fan of the Baltimore Orioles, said he has never been to Seattle, but "it's not so wet as everyone thinks he is."
In the weeks before the submission, there was much speculation on Hultzen, a 6-foot-3, junior left-hander who was All-Met Player of the Year for St. Albans in 2008.
Its stock rose throughout the season Hultzen teams met for the first six picks, including McNamara. Last week he announced that the club and MLB Scouting Bureau of the conditions he would turn professional and skip his senior year of college.
According to sources familiar with the situation but requested anonymity because they were not authorized to comment publicly, email Hultzen the team he wanted a signing bonus of $ 13,000,000 with a contract Major League and an opportunity to return to college for classes in the fall of the burden of the team. An important story, it requires two semesters of graduate study.
These words were apparently not a deal-breaker, but Hultzen not interested in negotiating contracts at the start so soon.
"It's not even on our radar screen," said Hultzen. "This is something that our season ends."
Hultzen was spectacular this past weekend, is Nov. 7 at the plate and driving in five runs and struck out 12 in seven innings in his only start to the Cavaliers' three-game sweep to advance to the NCAA tournament. Virginia (52-9) will host Cal-Irvine at best a top-of-three Super Regional on Friday or Saturday, with the winner moving on to the College World Series in Omaha.
Hultzen already holds historical records of Virginia in wins (31) and strikeouts (378), remained clear and focused throughout the process of scouting. It was the first player to reach the stadium on Monday, nearly three hours before the draft, watching game tape Cal-Irvine, running, stretching and then throw in the bullpen. He asked, throwing clothes in which he seems more at ease - a gray Virginia Baseball T-shirt and shorts - and enjoyed a moment on the field with his parents.
"They were never on the ground," said Hultzen. "It was something I wanted to share with them."
Note: left-handed pitcher Kevin Matthews of Richmond Hill, Ga, a recruit in Virginia, was 33: e total of the Texas Rangers.
