Prep Wednesday : ALL--COUNTY BASEBALL TEAM : PLAYER OF THE YEAR : Redington on Deck to Step Up Against His Career Options : He’s Getting Variety of Pitches to Hit, From Atlanta to Seoul

Tom Redington, Esperanza High School shortstop, has never faced anything like a vintage, 1976 Nolan Ryan fastball--the 95-m.p.h. Express--but he can’t imagine it being any tougher than the pitches his life is dealing him these days.

There are the Atlanta Braves, dangling a $100,000 signing bonus in front of Redington’s nose and urging: “Join the pros, it’s the fastest way to the big leagues--and the big dollars.”

And there’s the University of Arizona, which already has stuffed a full scholarship into Redington’s shirt pocket, telling him: “Come to college, where baseball isn’t a job, it’s an adventure.”

And there’s the U.S. Junior Olympic team, which has reserved a spot for Redington on the roster, enticing him with: “Play for us this summer; ride the Seoul Train in ’88.”

What’s an 18-year-old to do?

“It’s a big trauma,” said Redington, a third-round draft pick. “I think I’m ready, physically and mentally, to play pro ball. I think I can handle it. I’m just worried about . . . I don’t know what I’m really worried about, to tell you the truth. It’s just a killer decision.”

It’s not the minor league competition that scares Redington, The Times’ Orange County Player of the Year. He believes he can play with anyone.

He’s just not sure if he’s ready to play baseball for a living, to move thousands of miles from home and live on his own. And he’s not sure if he wants to bring such an abrupt end to his senior year.

If Redington signs with the Braves, he’ll report to the team’s rookie-league club in Bradenton, Fla. on June 18, one day after high school graduation.

He would not be able to play in the Orange County All-Star game next Tuesday night or the California North-South All-Star series later this month. He wouldn’t be able to play for his Connie Mack team or the Junior Olympic team this summer.

“If I leave now, it’s like I’m missing something,” Redington said. “I’ve worked hard to get to where I’m at, and these are the rewards.”

But professional baseball is Redington’s ultimate goal, and right now, it’s his for the taking. Redington will be calling Braves officials tonight, but he’s not sure if he’ll have an answer for them.

“One day I think I’m ready to sign and I’ll be in the big leagues in five years,” he said. “The next day I wake up and think, ‘What about this, this and this?’ It’s a never-ending story, back and forth, the left side of my brain against the right side, people stretching me every way.

“This is tougher than picking a college, by far. I couldn’t miss either way there. Here, it’s, ‘Do I go to school and stay near home or go to Florida and say adios to everyone?’ ”

His senior year has been one of decisions, but Redington has found some consolation.

“I’m pretty fortunate to have to make these decisions, I guess,” he said. “I’m sure there are a lot of guys out there who wish they could go through this trauma.”

There are only two in Orange County who are, Redington and Ocean View pitcher/outfielder David Holdridge, who was selected in the second round by the Angels and must decide between a pro career and a USC scholarship.

Both Redington and Holdridge had excellent seasons, but Holdridge’s contributions to the Seahawks were only offensive--he was the team’s designated hitter and, because of a shoulder injury, was not able to pitch or play much outfield.

Redington’s overall contributions to the Aztecs, in the form of offense, defense and team leadership, earned him Player of the Year honors.

Redington, 6-feet 1-inch, 190-pounds, hit .366 (26 for 71) with 9 home runs, 30 RBIs and 36 runs. Those figures are down from his junior year, when he hit .442 (38 for 86) with 10 homers and 42 RBIs, but one statistic that did increase tells you what kind of season it has been.

Redington walked 38 times to tie a Southern Section single-season record. His on-base percentage was .642. Fifteen of the walks were intentional. Others were intentional but not free passes--the four curves outside the strike zone that Redington wasn’t about to nibble at.

This was a sign of respect and fear from opponents who knew what Redington could do with good pitches. Those who weren’t aware of Redington’s offensive prowess soon found out.

In the season-opening Glendora tournament, against non-Orange County schools, Redington hit four home runs in five games. He added another during nonleague play, but managed only two homers in 14 Empire League games.

“When league started, the pitchers’ philosophy was they were not going to let me beat them,” Redington said. “They would make the other eight beat them.”

The other eight usually did. Teammates Bart Goldman and Doug Saunders, all-county second-team selections, and Jason Moler all had excellent seasons, and the Aztecs (25-3) won the Empire League title and advanced to the 4-A championship game, where they lost to Lakewood, 1-0, Saturday night.

One of the few times Saunders and Moler didn’t come through was Saturday night, when Lakewood decided to walk Redington with a runner on second and one out in the ninth inning of a 0-0 game. Saunders struck out and Moler flied out.

Servite had faced a similar dilemma in the quarterfinals. Clinging to a 5-3 lead, with a runner on second in the seventh inning, the Friars decided to pitch to Redington instead of putting the tying run on base.

Redington hit a two-run homer to tie the score, and the Aztecs eventually won, 7-5, in nine innings.

“My coaches were concerned that I would get frustrated, that (the walks) would affect my fielding and my attitude toward the game,” Redington said. “But I didn’t let it affect me. I didn’t have a chance to do much with the bat this year, but I fielded the ball as well as I’ve ever fielded, and I did a lot of other things that didn’t show up in the books.”

Redington, who made only six errors this season, can make the difficult plays look routine. He has a strong and accurate arm, good range and excellent technique. His experience as a returning starter also came in handy.

“He put the outfielders in position, he knew when to talk to pitchers when they were struggling . . . all the intangibles,” Esperanza Coach Mike Curran said. “He’d help others by setting a good example.”

Redington was sort of a father figure on the team. He’d tell the younger players to relax, to not put pressure on themselves and to just have fun. Before every inning, he’d walk the ball to the mound and give the pitcher a pep talk.

He did his share of consoling Saturday night, after third baseman Brent Bish’s ninth-inning error allowed Lakewood to score the winning run. The first thing he did after the game was give Bish a hug and tell them it was all right.

“I didn’t think about losing,” Redington said. “I thought about one of my good friends just feeling like he blew the game. I told him he didn’t blow anything and to hold his head up. Then, I went over and shook (Lakewood pitcher Mike) McNary’s hand.”

McNary threw a two-hitter and struck out 13 to shut out Esperanza for the first time this season. Redington’s team went out with a loss, but it hasn’t blemished his career.

He has won a 4-A championship and hit a home run in Dodger Stadium last season. He reached the playoffs three years and hit five homers in postseason play. He shares the Orange County career home-run record of 22 with Valencia’s Andy Ruscitto. He tied the single-season record for walks.

“There have been some great times,” Redington said. “My scrapbook ought to be pretty exciting when we put it all together. We have four envelopes stuffed with articles from when I was in Little League.”

Redington better get a few more scrapbooks, though. So much of his career lies ahead of him.