Some Players Sign, Others in No Hurry

First-round draft picks Matt Harrington of Palmdale High and former Camarillo High star Joe Borchard of Stanford might not sign professional contracts for some time.

While Harrington and Borchard try to hash out seven-figure deals, several players from the region were eager to sign and began packing for life in the minor leagues.

The St. Louis Cardinals signed three last week: 25th-round selection Ryan Hamill, a catcher from UCLA and The Times’ 1997 Valley Player of the year at Chaminade High; first baseman John Santor of Highland High, a 35th-round pick; and outfielder Brian Fatur of Calabasas High and Moorpark College, a 41st-round choice.

Other signees: Pitcher Tom Canale of Cal Lutheran, the Cleveland Indians’ 10th-round choice; Oklahoma infielder Freddy Sanchez, formerly of Burbank High, an 11th-round selection of the Boston Red Sox; outfielder Jason Kubel of Highland, the Minnesota Twins’ 12th-round selection; first baseman Adrian Mendoza of Royal and Cal State Northridge, a 16th-round pick of the Dodgers; outfielder Larry Brown of College of the Canyons, a 22nd-round selection of the Seattle Mariners; outfielder Austin Evans of Pepperdine, selected in the 23rd round by the Texas Rangers.

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The Colorado Rockies, who selected Harrington with the seventh overall pick, had the best overall draft, according to Baseball America.

Harrington reportedly is seeking at least a $3 million bonus.

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Pitchers Jon Garland, formerly of Kennedy High, and Barry Zito, formerly of Pierce College, have been selected to the USA team for the Major League Futures Game, to be played July 9 in Atlanta as part of the major leagues’ All-Star weekend.

Garland, who plays for triple-A Charlotte in the Chicago White Sox organization, and Zito, of the Oakland Athletics’ triple-A affiliate in Sacramento, will be replaced on the Futures roster if they are promoted to their major league clubs before July 9.

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Left fielder Juan Silvestre of the Lancaster JetHawks is in contention for the California League’s triple crown.

The native of San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic, entered the weekend leading the league in home runs (14) and runs batted in (61), and was eighth in batting average (.332).

Silvestre will be one of five JetHawks to represent the league Tuesday against the Carolina League at Kinston, N.C.

Reliever Brandon Parker, second baseman Willie Bloomquist, outfielder Terrmel Sledge and coach Dana Williams were also selected from Lancaster.

San Bernardino pitching coach Shawn Barton, formerly of Saugus High, and former Glendale College first baseman Pete Paciorek of San Bernardino will join them.

Former Burroughs High pitcher Mike Rossiter of Milwaukee Brewer affiliate Huntsville has been selected to play in the double-A Southern League All-Star game.

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Wayne Nix, formerly of Monroe High, was selected the California League’s pitcher of the week for June 5-11.

Nix (4-2), the Oakland Athletics’ fourth-round pick in 1995, struck out 11 and faced only two batters over the minimum in a one-hitter for Visalia against Bakersfield on June 5.

Shortstop Antonio Perez of the JetHawks was selected the batter of the week after hitting three home runs and compiling a .710 slugging percentage.

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Former Newbury Park outfielder Barry Tolli, who struggled at Class-A Lakeland, has been sent by the Detroit Tigers to Oneonta of the short-season New York-Penn League. . . . Former Crespi High pitcher Keith Evans recently broke a personal nine-game losing streak with a victory for the Montreal Expos’ triple-A affiliate at Ottawa.

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Former Cal State Northridge All-American Adam Kennedy of the Angels is fourth among American League second basemen in All-Star votes.

Other former players from the region include: Former JetHawk Jose Cruz Jr. of the Toronto Blue Jays, ninth among AL outfielders; New York Met Todd Zeile, formerly of Hart, seventh among National League first basemen; Colorado Rockie Jeff Cirillo of Providence High, seventh among NL third basemen; Philadelphia Phillie Mike Lieberthal, formerly of Westlake, fifth among NL catchers.

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The California Fall League has released its 42-game schedule, which will begin Sept. 23 and run through Nov. 5.

The league includes the Lancaster Stealth, Rancho Cucamonga Surfers, San Bernardino Sand Dragons and Lake Elsinore Land Sharks.