Olympics, School and Talent Give Padres’ Pick Clout

Consider the bargaining leverage of Andy Benes, the Evansville pitcher the Padres selected with the first pick of the first round in Wednesday’s amateur free agent draft:

Benes, a right-hander who will turn 21 in August, has one more year of college eligibility, which means the Padres will lose their rights to him unless they sign him by the first day of Evansville’s fall school term.

Actually, they have until Dec. 31 if Benes makes the U.S. Olympic baseball team. But it won’t break their hearts if Benes considers the hectic pre-Olympic travel schedule and opts to sign before the Seoul Games begin in September.

“I don’t think it’s our place to determine whether Andy tries out for the Olympics or not,” said Tom Romenesko, Padre director of player development and scouting. “But I think the Olympic competition won’t even be up to double-A level.”

And, he added, the Olympic roster will have only 20 players. Which means they probably won’t keep more than eight pitchers. Which means Benes, who has already thrown 142 innings this spring, will throw another 120 to 130 if he makes the Olympic team.

Nobody wants a sore-armed phenom.

“I want Andy to be able to brush his teeth next spring,” Romenesko said.

Which means the Padres will make their best pitch to get the player they decided was the best pitcher available.

“Chub (Feeney, Padre president) has given me instructions to get it done,” Romenesko said. “We have not set a dollar limit.”

And the signing bonus he approves could approach $200,000. Of the 26 first-round picks in last year’s draft, only three signed for less than $100,000 and all three signed for more than $90,000. Romenesko said Ken Griffey Jr., the No. 1 pick last year, signed for considerably more than that. And, he said, the Padres are prepared to offer Benes more than Seattle offered Griffey.

And don’t forget: The Padres have the second-worst record in the National League. Can they really afford not to sign Benes?

Now consider the physical leverage of Andy Benes: He is 6-feet 6-inches.

He also weighs 230 pounds. His fastball has been timed at up to 100 m.p.h.

“He’s consistently in the low 90s,” Romenesko said. “And the readings go higher when the ball is up in the strike zone. Andy’s always below the waist.”

Last Thursday he shut out Arizona State, the No. 1-ranked college team in the nation, 1-0. And he did it on ASU’s home field.

“He’s special,” Romenesko said.

Earlier that morning Romenesko had met with Feeney, General Manager (and now manager) Jack McKeon and assistant scouting director Randy Smith. They decided they would take Benes no matter what he did against Arizona State.

After he had struck out eight Sun Devils and walked only two, Arizona State Coach Jim Brock said this: “I think in all my years of college baseball, he’s the best I’ve ever seen. If he’s not pitching in the majors at the end of the summer, I’ll be surprised.”

“I think I answered some questions against Arizona State, and that was very nice of Mr. Brock to say,” Benes said Wednesday. “I don’t think I’m ready.”

But, he added, “if they put me out there, I wouldn’t be scared.”

But it’s clear the subject of how soon the Padres are willing to bring Benes to the major leagues will influence his decision on whether he tries out for the Olympic team or signs.

“Yes,” Benes said. “That might affect the decision. Yes, that would be a serious consideration.”

To that end, Benes and his father-in-law/advisor, Phil Byers, met Wednesday night with Padre scout Denny Galehouse. The purpose, Byers said, was to listen to Galehouse talk about the Padres and their plans.

Byers said he and Benes hadn’t set a deadline for making a decision. Presumably Benes will make a decision concerning the Olympics by June 10. That’s the date the selection process begins.

One year ago Benes was a college sophomore with a 7-5 record and a 4.38 earned-run average. Two years before that he was a high school shortstop. He went to Evansville to play football and baseball. He also played varsity basketball there.

But after spending last summer pitching for Clarinda, Iowa, in the Jayhawk League, he decided baseball was his future. He won 16 games and lost just 3 for Evansville this spring. His ERA was 1.42. In 142 innings, he struck out 88 batters and walked only 36.

If he stays in school, he plans on earning his degree in biology next spring.

“Andy Benes is not a baseball player who goes to college,” Romenesko said. “He’s a college student who plays baseball.”