Irvine Could Lose Recruits to the Draft

John Savage and his UC Irvine coaching staff have been recruiting players since last July for the Anteaters, who are reviving their baseball program in 2002 after a 10-year hiatus.

Savage likes the commitments he has received, but if major league baseball’s amateur draft, which begins today, goes the way some think it will, he may have to go back on the recruiting trail.

As many as six Irvine recruits are expected to be selected, including two Savage expected to form the core of his pitching staff.

Sonora High right-hander Brett Smith and Bakersfield College left-hander Jacob Woods are listed among the top pitchers in Southern California by Baseball America.

Smith, whose fastball has been clocked at 94 mph, had 100 strikeouts in 74 2/3 innings and batted .458 with five home runs and 25 runs batted in. If the 6-foot-5 Smith remains with Irvine, he is expected to play either third base or first base in addition to his pitching duties.

Woods set a Bakersfield College record of 131 strikeouts in a season. He finished 7-5 with a 2.16 earned-run average for a team that gave him little offensive support.

Jordan Szabo, an outfielder from Carlsbad High who also has committed to Irvine but has not signed a letter of intent, also is considered by Baseball America as a potential high-round selection.

Other potential Irvine draftees include right-handed pitcher Sean Tracey, formerly of Upland High and Citrus College, and catchers Chris Miller, who played at Long Beach Wilson High and Cuesta College, and Danny Kahr from Las Vegas Durango High.

Several Cal State Fullerton players are eligible for the draft too.

All-American pitcher Kirk Saarloos is expected to be the first Titan selected, possibly as high as the second through fifth rounds.

The Titans’ sophomore shortstop, Mike Rouse, is eligible for the draft because he was a redshirt last season after transferring from San Jose State.

Fullerton’s top draft-eligible juniors are catcher Brett Kay, outfielders Chris Stringfellow and Robert Guzman and third baseman Shawn Norris.

Titan seniors expected to receive draft consideration are second baseman David Bacani, first baseman Aaron Rifkin, outfielders Matt Belfanti and Louie Lamoure and pitchers Jon Smith and Mike Nunez.

Among other area college players available, Long Beach State junior shortstop Bobby Crosby, who played at La Quinta High, is regarded as a potential early-round choice. Crosby batted .353 and had a fielding percentage of .960 this season.

Also expected to receive consideration are USC senior pitcher Rik Currier (Capistrano Valley), UC Santa Barbara junior outfielder Jared Schumaker (Aliso Niguel) and Mississippi junior pitcher Pete Montrenes (Ocean View). Currier helped the Trojans reach the College World Series with a record of 12-2. Schumaker batted .400 with 41 runs batted in, and Montrenes, who spent two seasons at USC, led the Southeastern Conference with 98 strikeouts.

Santiago right-handed pitcher Brian Pilkington is the highest-rated high school prospect in the county, according to Baseball America. He had a record of 10-2 with a 0.90 ERA.

Irvine High catcher Jon de Vries has signed with LSU but has told scouts he may be ready to head straight to the minor leagues if he is drafted in the first five rounds.

De Vries hit .471 with six home runs and 26 RBIs this season.

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Staff writers Lon Eubanks and Ben Bolch contributed to this story.