The 2011 Draft: A recap

It warmed an old turtle’s heart to see nearly 500 comments on a draft day signing thread and less than 1 percent was from me. Five years ago, we’d have been lucky to get a couple of dozen comments on the draft signing deadline. You folks make me proud.

Recapping a bit, the Reds signed 30 of their 50 selections, including No. 1 choice Robert Stephenson-RHP-Alhambra HS. Stephenson waited until the final hour before Cincinnati’s $2 million offers convinced him to spurn a scholarship from the University of Washington.

Eight players who were selected before Stephenson signed for less money and three others signed for the same amount. Stephenson likely will draw an assignment to the AZL, but whether he sees any action this season remains to be seen.

The Reds did quite well, signing nearly every difficult-to-ink player they wanted. The most expensive outside the first round was coveted LHP Amir Garrett of Nevada’s Findlay Prep for a cool $1 million. Garrett, a 22nd-rounder, is a high school All-American … in basketball. He plans to play hoops at St. John’s and baseball for the Reds. Because he is a legitimate two-sport athlete, Garrett’s bonus may be spread over five years.

Southington (Conn.) HS RHP Sal Romano, a 23rd-rounder, signed for $450,000, turning down the University of Tennessee. The Reds also snagged Plano (Texas) East HS SS Ty Washington for an over-slot $300,000, buying him out of an Oklahoma commitment. Earlier the Reds went over slot for 31st-rounder Erik Miller-RHP-Texas Christian and threw $150,000 at difficult-to-sign Canadian RHP Vaughn Covington. Arizona OF Steve Selsky also was a player who dropped because of signability and injury concerns, but the Reds inked the 33rd-rounder, although his bonus hasn’t been reported.

Cincinnati signed its first 11 picks and 13 of its first 14, with Arizona HS SS Joe Serrano at No. 12 being the only player not to ink a deal. RHP Eric Alessio, a 49th-rounder from Marist, was the lowest pick to sign.

Interestingly enough, two players with no school – OF Vordanys Perez and RHP Dariel Delgado – did not sign. With no known college commitment, though, they aren’t necessarily subject to the Aug. 15 deadline and may be signed somewhere down the line, a rule that also applies to college seniors.

The one who got away? Probably Travis Radke, a HS LHP from Southern California. The 45th-round pick is headed to the University of Portland.

Just 15 of the bonuses were reported, and on those the Reds spent $5,701,400.

Here are the players who signed:

1. Robert Stephenson-RHP-Alhambra HS
2. Gabriel Rosa-OF-Colegio Hector Urdaneta HS
3. Tony Cingrani-LHP-Rice
4.  Kyle McMyne-RHP-Villanova
5.  Ryan Wright-2B-Louisville
6. Sean Buckley-3B-St. Petersburg JC
7. James Allen-RHP-Kansas State
8. Jon Matthews-OF-St. Petersburg JC
9. Cole Green-RHP-Texas
10. Brooks Pinckard-RHP-Baylor

11. Vaughn Covington-RHP-Killarny SS

13. Nick Fleece-RHP-Texas A&M

14. Leo Kemp-RHP-St. Joseph’s

18. Jimmy Moran-RHP-South Florida

19. Chris Joyce-LHP-Santa Barbara CC

20. Dan Jensen-RHP-Cincinnati

21. Carlos Gonzalez-RHP-Cal State-Northridge

22. Amir Garrett-LHP-Findlay Prep

23. Sal Romano-RHP-Southington HS

24. Nick O’Shea-1B-Minnesota

25. Justice French-RHP-Mercer

26. Juan Perez-2B-College of the Canyons

27. Taylor Wrenn-2B-Tampa

31. Erik Miller-RHP-Texas Christian

33. Steve Selsky-OF-Arizona

34. Bryson Smith-OF-Florida

36. Randy Yard-RHP-Hawaii

43. Ty Washington-SS/2B-Plano East HS

49. Eric Alessio-RHP-Marist