The 39th round of Major League Baseball’s amateur draft had a local ring to it.
Two players with local ties Kansas University junior shortstop John Nelson, and May Lawrence High graduate Curtis Ledbetter were drafted 10 picks away from each other in the 39th round on Tuesday.
Nelson, from Denton, Texas, went to Seattle with the 16th pick (1,166th overall). Ledbetter, a catcher, went to Cleveland 10 picks later.
For Nelson, the news was bittersweet. Ranked by Baseball America as the No. 5 prospect in the state, he had been projected to go as high as the 10th round.
“Actually, the Indians called me before the 15th round and asked if I’d sign for the money they were offering,” said Nelson, who hit .308 with 12 doubles, two homers, 21 RBIs and a Big 12-best 42 stolen bases last season. “I didn’t want to do that. I didn’t think that would be worth missing my senior year of school. But it’s OK. I can go play this summer I hope to play with assistant coach Joe DeMarco in Topeka and if I have a good summer, I might have some bargaining power. If that doesn’t happen, great. I’ll go back to school.”
KU coach Bobby Randall would love to have him.
“That might be the best recruiting thing that happens to us,” Randall said. “I talked to him before the draft. Sometimes it’s better to come back for your senior year. John’s always been young. I don’t think this is a negative at all.”
Nelson said it would have taken a figure approaching six figures to lure him away from KU.
“I wasn’t looking to clean house on the draft,” said Nelson, who, as a senior at Denton High, was taken in the 40th round by the Dodgers. “I just wanted a fair deal. I want what’s best for me. I wouldn’t mind coming back to college and having some more fun with the Jayhawks. I struggled at the first of the year last year. I hope to have a lot better year next year and play to my capabilities.”
Ledbetter, meanwhile, had a monster season. The Sunflower League player of the year, he set LHS records for batting average (.629), home runs (13) and RBIs (47) in helping the Lions to the Class 6A state title.
Ledbetter, in Hays with his summer team, the Blue Springs (Mo.) Bombers, led by former KU coach Dave Bingham, wasn’t available for comment Tuesday night.
Two other players with KU ties were drafted. Signees Matt Tribble, a pitcher-outfielder from Wheaton (Ill.) Warrenville South High, was tapped in the 15th round by the Cubs, and Billy Schmitt, a catcher from Henderson (Nev.) Green Valley High, was tapped in the 22nd by the Cardinals.
“I’ll talk to them soon,” Randall said. “We’d love to have them, but I’ve always said, I want what’s best for the player.”
