BASEBALL DRAFT : Angels Focus on Wave Pitcher; Dodgers Look Left

Having reaped immediate rewards from Darren Dreifort and Brian Anderson, the Dodgers and Angels are expected to tap the college pitching market again in today’s first round of the amateur draft, which extends through Saturday.

The Angels, selecting sixth, are almost certain to pick Pepperdine right-hander Cade Gaspar, who was 6-1 with a 2.39 earned-run average for the 33-20 Waves.

It is less certain who the Dodgers will take with the 13th choice, but they are believed to be leaning toward Wake Forest left-hander Bret Wagner, rather than catcher Paul Konerko of Chaparral High in Scottsdale, Ariz. Wagner was 9-3 with a 3.29 ERA for the 37-20 Demon Deacons.

“As bad as we need a left-hander, I’m sure we’d be forced to take one if available,” a Dodger scout said, adding that the farm system is as devoid of southpaw starters as the varsity’s rotation.

However, the Dodgers’ choice could be influenced by the selections ahead of them. They are also known to be high on St. John’s left-hander C.J. Nitkowski, thought to be bound for the Minnesota Twins, who have the eighth pick, and right-hander Jaret Wright of Katella High in Anaheim, son of former Angel left-hander Clyde Wright.

The young Wright is said to have the best arm among the nation’s draft-eligible high school pitchers. If not selected by either the Colorado Rockies, who are seventh, or the Cincinnati Reds, who are ninth, Wright will probably be available when the Dodgers get their turn.

The drafting order is determined by last year’s finish. The New York Mets get the No. 1 selection and are expected to pick Florida State right-hander Paul Wilson.

The Oakland Athletics, who are next, will take either Kent State pitcher Dustin Hermanson or outfielder Ben Grieve of Martin High in Arlington, Tex., son of Tom Grieve, the Texas Rangers’ general manager. Then the San Diego Padres, who are No. 3, will take either Hermanson or Grieve, depending on Oakland’s decision.

The Milwaukee Brewers, in fourth, are leaning toward Arizona State third baseman Antone Williamson, and the Florida Marlins are then expected to select shortstop Josh Booty of Evangel Christian High in Shreveport, La., using owner Wayne Huizenga’s wallet to talk Booty out of an LSU football scholarship as one of the nation’s leading quarterback prospects.

“If we draft him, it will be because we feel we can sign him,” Marlin scouting director Gary Hughes said of Booty.

Gaspar, son of former major league infielder Rod Gaspar, is expected to go to the Angels next. He and his family discussed finances with Angel officials at his Mission Viejo home Tuesday and Wednesday. The 6-foot-3, 185-pound player, previously a shortstop, switched to the mound full time this year. An Angel official said Anderson, the third pick in the first round from Wright State last year, was more advanced than Gaspar, but only in his experience and command.

Of Gaspar, the official said: “He’s not that far behind (Anderson) and may have better pitches, particularly his curve. I look at him as only a year away.”

The Dodgers made Dreifort the No. 2 selection in last year’s draft and he moved directly from Wichita State to set-up and closer roles in the Dodger bullpen. This year’s 13th slot does not afford the same “quick fix” opportunity, scouting director Terry Reynolds said.

“The Dreiforts are rare,” Reynolds said of the type of player capable of moving directly to the major leagues. “In any draft, there may not be more than one or two.”

Reynolds said the 1994 draft class seemed typical of recent years, with quality at the top and a preponderance of right-handed pitchers. “Once you get to the other positions, it thins out in a hurry,” he said. “I’ll bet the right-handed pitchers outnumber the other positions 10 to 1.”

Anderson and Dreifort illustrate the force-fed opportunities available at the pitching-thin and budget-minded major league level. As Hughes, the Florida scouting director, noted: “College pitchers will go off the board in a hurry, but then they always do.”

Aside from Gaspar and Wright, the only Southland prospects with a chance to be taken in the first round are Cal State Fullerton center fielder Dante Powell, who turned down a $425,000 offer from the Toronto Blue Jays three years ago and might have trouble matching that now, and USC third baseman Aaron Boone, who is more likely to be taken in the second round and eventually might be moved to catcher, following in the footsteps of his dad, Bob Boone.