Lakewood Ranch's Larson drafted by Twins now has to decide

Zach Larson called it a long three days, seemingly longer than the dream he has been carrying since he was old enough to understand the game of baseball.

But everything ended well for the Lakewood Ranch outfielder today (Wednesday) when he was selected by the Minnesota Twins in the 20^th round (610^th overall pick) of the Major League Baseball Draft.

“I am very excited. It has always been my dream to play major league baseball and the day is finally here,” Larson said. “I was hearing that I was going to be selected in the early round, but you never know in the draft. You never know who is interested. I wasn’t disappointed when my name wasn’t called earlier because I knew there were a lot of rounds left.”

Larson was a little surprised that he was chosen by the Twins though they called him early in the morning Wednesday and scout Billy Corrigan spoke to him at the FACA All-Star game last week in Sebring.

“The Rays, Phillies and Oakland showed the most interest. I didn’t talk to Minnesota a lot during the season,” Larson said. “Their scout (Corrigan) called after they picked me and I told him allright lets get my baseball career started. I like Billy and I like Minnesota. They are a great franchise and I am happy with them.”

Larson has signed with State College of Florida and says he is not sure which route he will take. He can play next season with SCF and put his name back in the draft next year.

“I’ve got to sit down and talk with my family,” the 18 year-old said.  “The Twins said they would call me in a few days and we will see. My family has been helping me out a lot on this. I don’t know (about the money). Whatever makes me or my family happy that is what we are going to do.”

The right handed hitting and throwing centerfielder led the state final four Mustangs in numerous categories over his 31 game season including: batting average (.426), on base pct (.516), RBIs (32), hits (43) and runs scored (41). He showed great range in the outfield and made only one error all season.

“We are excited. Zach has a huge upside and I thought he would be drafted earlier,” Lakewood Ranch head baseball coach Mike Mullen said. “With the draft you never know. A lot of it is whether a scout thinks they can sign a kid. I feel confident Zach is a top 10 round draft pick just based on his talent and upside. You look at this size (6-2, 185) and the size of his dad.

http://youtu.be/Fd9NQ1vGLQA

(watch Zach Larson take batting practice)

Good news for Carnes; Starling selected fifth in MLB Draft

Bubba Starling can do it both, but expect him to play baseball

More good news for Brion Carnes.

Bubba Starlng, the highly touted Nebraska signee who was expected to join in the competition at quarterback for the Cornhuskers, was the fifth player chosen in Monday’s MLB draft.

The 6-4, 190 pound Kansas High school product was selected by his near hometown Kansas City Royals. He is a five-tool star studded outfielder, who has had baseball scouts drooling for a long time.

With his adviser renowned agent Scott Boris, Starling figures to demand and get a contract worth millions of dollars and it doesn’t seem likely the Royals want to risk injury by allowing him to play football.

Starling, who has run a reported 4.4 second forty yard dash, rushed for 2,417 yards and 31 touchdowns, but threw only eight TD passes for 812 yards last season for Gardner Edgarton High, which is about 10 miles from Kansas City.

Nebraska, like nearly every other football power that was recruiting Starling, said he could play both sports. But that doesn’t seem something Kansas City will be willing to accept especially with the big dollars Boras will be asking them to shower on his client.

ESPN baseball analyst and former Blue Jays executive Keith Law, said he expects Boras to advise the Starlings to start negotiations near the $6.25 million awarded top pick Bryce Harper a year ago by the Nationals. Another Boras client, Donovan Tate, signed in 2009 as the No. 3 pick for same figure with San Diego after contemplating a football-baseball career at North Carolina.

There were some questions raised at the Army All-American Bowl about Starling’s throwing and he didn’t get to play as much as he wanted so it seems unlikely he would risk all that potential money to play both sports and it seems just as unlikely that Kansas City will agree to him playing football.

For Barnes the news couldn’t have been better. Fighting for the backup quarterback job behind Taylor Martinez, the Manatee High product has seen two of his competitors leave the team within the last couple of weeks.