Wright May Soon Sign With UCLA

Disappointed by what they consider feeble attempts to sign their son, the parents of Cleveland Indians’ No. 1 draft choice Jaret Wright said the former Katella High standout will probably accept a baseball scholarship to UCLA.

The Times Orange County’s 1994 player of the year, Wright, a hard-throwing right-handed pitcher, was selected with the 10th overall pick in the June free-agent amateur draft. Clyde Wright, Jaret’s father and a former Angel pitcher, said negotiations have deteriorated to such an extent the parties have broken off talks.

“Right now, we’re going to school,” Clyde said. “I just see this thing dragging on and on.”

Clyde and Vicki Wright want their son, the second high school pitcher chosen, to receive a signing bonus comparable to the $1.55-million agreement reached between the Yankees and No. 1 pick Brien Taylor in 1991. Sources said the Indians offered around $850,000 when Cleveland General Manager John Hart, who is handling the negotiations, visited the Wrights on June 11.

“I just don’t understand how (Hart) could come to my house and talk about the value of my son for two hours, and then come in with such a low figure,” Vicki said. “It was a little embarrassing.”

If things hold to form, Clyde said Jaret soon will sign a letter of intent with UCLA. He also has a scholarship offer from Brigham Young.

The Wrights, however, have retained agent Scott Boras as an adviser. Boras, known as an extremely tough negotiator, was an adviser to Calvin Murray, the Indians’ top pick in 1989--the last time Cleveland failed to sign its first selection. Under NCAA guidelines, Jaret would lose his college eligibility if Boras represents him.

Wright (6 feet 2, 220 pounds) was 7-2 with a 2.98 earned-run average during the regular season. He led the county in strikeouts with 100 in 75 innings.

Wright, whose fastball has been clocked at more than 95 m.p.h., was reportedly tied for the highest rating in the draft by the Major League Scouting Bureau. But several teams selecting before the Indians shied away because of the money Clyde indicated it would take to sign his son.

Colorado hoped to take Wright with the seventh pick, but the Rockies’ draft-day offer of $900,000 was promptly turned down. Since the Indians were aware of what had been declined, Clyde cannot understand their thinking.

“This is frustrating as hell,” Clyde said. “Cleveland knew what it was going to cost to sign him.”