Pitcher Feels Chill of Cold Draft : Baseball: Banning standout Busby expected to be selected in early rounds of amateur draft, but was surprised when he was picked in 14th round.

Although Mike Busby’s right arm was busy much of the season firing fastballs past L.A. City Section hitters, it could not accomplish much Monday.

The same arm that helped him strike out 109 batters could only anchor the telephone receiver. He sighed as he listened to Chuck Menzhuber, a scout with the St. Louis Cardinals, tell Busby that he had been selected in the 14th round of the amateur draft.

“I was shocked,” the Banning High pitcher said. “People indicated I would go higher, and I thought I would go higher. I had worked for it.”

Busby was among five area high school players who were selected in the draft, which continued through Wednesday.

Hawthorne center fielder Tarrik Brock was a second-round choice by the Detroit Tigers, Torrance third baseman Antone Williamson was taken in the third round by the San Diego Padres, South Torrance shortstop David Rosato was drafted in the 16th round by the San Francisco Giants, and Hawthorne left fielder Armando Fernandez was selected in the 36th round by the New York Mets.

Williamson, who has signed a letter of intent with Arizona State, and Brock, who has signed with USC, met with major league team representatives Wednesday to negotiate. Fernandez and Rosato will meet with representatives early next week.

For Busby, it was a frustrating day that may have left him headed for Cypress College, the reigning state community college champion. Busby, who will meet with Menzhuber Tuesday, said he will ask for a $75,000 package but will consider any offer. Last year’s average package for a 14th-round selection was $18,000.

“If they offer a good price, then I’ll sign,” Busby said. “If not, I’ll go to Cypress for two years, and maybe UC Santa Barbara after that.”

Although Busby had an impressive year, some scouts hinted that he was overrated because City Section hitters were not as talented as they have been in the past. And Menzhuber said Busby’s fastball, once rumored to travel nearly 90 m.p.h., has never been clocked faster than 83 m.p.h.

“But I was stunned that he was available that late,” Menzhuber said. “Every cross-checker in the nation had come out to see him.”

Busby’s personal life may have affected his market value. Because he has a wife, Misty, and a 4-month-old daughter, Marisa, Baseball America magazine said last week that Busby would probably be eager to sign a contract.

Therefore, some clubs may have shunned Busby, feeling that he could be taken with a later--and less-expensive--pick.

Also, Busby, who has not met the NCAA standard on the Scholastic Aptitude Test, does not have the leverage of a college scholarship. Many players use collegiate letters of intent for bargaining purposes in professional contract negotiations.

“I was looking to sign because I need to support my family, and they knew that,” Busby said. “Also, I didn’t consider school, and that might have hurt me.”

Menzhuber said Busby’s personal life did not hamper his selection, and said that many scouts were not overwhelmed by his statistics.

“He’s talented, but he is still a little raw,” Menzhuber said. “Our job is to evaluate him as a professional prospect, and everybody sees things a little different.”

In fact, Menzhuber said he was surprised that Williamson was selected in the third round.

“He wasn’t high on my list at all, but that’s the draft, and some strange things happen,” he said. “Mike (Busby) had a lot of publicity, but I think interest may have diminished as the season went on.”