Two Kansas University baseball players had disappointing draft days.
Junior pitcher Brandon O’Neal was tapped in the sixth round of the amateur baseball draft Monday by the Anaheim Angels. He was selected with the 10th pick of the sixth round 170th overall to become the highest KU draft selection since Curtis Shaw went in the second round of the 1990 draft.
Junior shortstop John Nelson, meanwhile, didn’t go at all Monday, when teams drafted 610 players through 20 rounds. Baseball America ranked Nelson as the No. 5 prospect in Kansas; O’Neal was the magazine’s top in-state prospect.
“The thing about the draft is, everybody’s disappointed except that first guy,” KU coach Bobby Randall said. “Every young guy hopes to be drafted real high, but it never works out that way. I’m pleased for Brandon. I’m sure he wanted to go higher, but 170th is pretty impressive.”
O’Neal, a native of Olathe who became a full-time pitcher just last season, wasn’t so impressed.
“I’m kind of disappointed I didn’t go higher,” O’Neal said. “I had heard the Angels had me as the 50th pick, which would have been early in the second round. I was expecting to go in the fifth round so I wouldn’t be disappointed if I didn’t go in the second. I was told by the Angels and the Yankees that I’d go second through fourth. But the draft is crazy. I’ve been waiting on this since I was 7 years old, since I started playing baseball. It’s still exciting.”
A second baseman/pitcher his first two seasons at KU, O’Neal became a full-time pitcher this past season and shrugged off an injury-delayed start to record a 1-6 record with two saves. He had a 5.13 earned run average with 47 strikeouts in 73 2/3 innings with 23 walks.
“Everybody wanted him to pitch more,” Randall said. “But I thought he’d be an infielder. He really got beat out in the infield, so it was only natural to pitch him more. We did keep him healthy and we didn’t overpitch him. That might have helped him get drafted in the sixth round. He’s healthy and he’s fresh.
“It’s funny how he developed. They just change. His arm just got better and better and better. He pitched one summer and realized his future’s in pitching. He throws 91, 92 (mph) with great life. He has a good, live arm and his ball really moves. He throws a sinking fastball 91, 92 mph. I think the potential is there.”
The potential’s there, too, for O’Neal to return to KU for his senior year.
“For the most part, I’m ready to go,” he said. “But I’ve been telling teams depending on where I’m taken, I’d like to sign. I’m not sold on it yet, but the money is more important than the round, and we’ll see what they come in here with.”
If the Angels’ offer is too low, O’Neal could opt to return for his senior year. He hasn’t lined up a summer team for which to play.
“But I don’t think it would be a problem finding him someplace to play,” Randall said with a laugh. “I think we could find him a team.”
The draft, limited to 50 rounds, will conclude today.
