One Rockies draft pick missing, another moves up
| August 17, 2009 | 9:10 AM
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The Colorado Rockies have until 10 p.m. MDT to sign first-round draft pick Tyler Matzek, a left-handed high school pitcher the team selected with the 11th overall pick in June. It appears unlikely at this point that the Rockies will meet Matzek’s $7-million demand or even go as high as $2 million, which would match the 2008 bonus for that spot and exceed Major League Baseball’s 2009 projection slot bonus of $1.8 million.
Matzek, who has committed to the University of Oregon, was in Eugene, Ore., over the weekend and is planning to begin summer classes, according to a story in the Eugene Register-Guard.
But even if the Rockies fail to sign Matzek, this year’s draft was not necessarily a bust. The Rockies will receive a compensation pick in next year’s draft one spot lower than where they drafted Matzek.
The Rockies also had the 32nd overall pick and selected outfielder Tim Wheeler, who is off to a solid start at Short Season Class A Tri-City. With a supplemental first-round pick (34th overall, compensation for Brian Fuentes) the Rockies took another left-hander, Rex Brothers, a college player who signed quickly. Brothers started the season at Tri-City where he was 2-0 with a 3.38 ERA in eight appearances. He was promoted to low Class-A Asheville and made his debut there Sunday.
Journals, Sports, Steve Foster
colorado rockies, rex brothers, tim wheeler, tyler matzek
