Rather than select about 1,200 prospects in next month’s Major League Baseball draft, a mere 160 players will be drafted. The process will be trimmed from 40 rounds to five.
Those who sign as free agents will be limited to a bonus of $20,000, which is far below market rates of the last decade. It’s aimed at saving MLB about $30 million in free-agent contracts alone.
As a result, hundreds of ballplayers will be stuck, their entry to pro baseball delayed. It will create a massive backup on college and junior college rosters, the baseball equivalent of a logjam you’d see on a Los Angeles freeway.
High school players will find junior college rosters stacked. JC players will find NCAA rosters overloaded. Those hopeful they can sign with MLB organizations as free agents will be offered low-bidder contracts similar to those 25 years ago.
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“We don’t need or necessarily want 40 to 50 guys on our roster next season,†says Pima College baseball coach Ken Jacome. “But it’s going to be a challenge for everybody to set their rosters. People all over the country are looking for places to play, just floating out there.â€
Scouts from MLB and NCAA schools didn’t have time to fully evaluate high school and junior college players. Pima College players who planned to move on to a four-year school in 2021 will now likely remain at PCC.
It trickles down to high schools; those who had hoped to get a spot at Pima College, or other schools in the ACCAC, are apt to be shut out.
“We’ve got some top prospects, like (ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ High School shortstop) Alex Kelch and (Salpointe Catholic High School outfielder) Daniel Durazo who planned to leave after this season,†says Jacome. “We had sophomores with Division II-type offers who came back to see if they could get a Division I school interested. But the college coaches didn’t have enough time to get out and do their evaluations.
“So I’m going to have most of my roster back.â€
Pima College was a perfect 17-0 at home when the Aztecs’ locker room and playing facilities were shut down. It happened so suddenly and with such impact that many of Jacome’s players have been unable to retrieve their gloves and other baseball gear from campus.
Every high school and college baseball program in America has similar stories. Pima canceled 31 games.
Forbidden from coaching his players, Jacome went to Plan B. He became a Fixer Upper, remodeling the house he bought after moving to ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ from his coaching job at the University of New Mexico in 2018. Floors, ceilings, plumbing, cabinets, Jacome reshaped his house rather than his baseball team.
Cleveland Indians pitcher Jason Stanford delivers to Minnesota Twins’ Bobby Kielty during his major league pitching debut in the first innning Sunday, July 6, 2003 in Minneapolis.(AP Photo/Tom Olmscheid) JULY 9, 2003 C1 Photo: The road less traveled: Undrafted out of high school and college, Jason Stanford went from junior college to the NCAA to the minor leagues and, finally, to the big leagues with Cleveland, debuting on Sunday.
It was a trade he learned while working for his father’s ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ plumbing company as a kid, and later, when he was a volunteer assistant coach in Jerry Stitt’s ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ baseball program, spending mornings as a fix-it type foreman while completing work on a master’s degree.
“I’ve had nothing but time since Pima closed the campus,†says Jacome. “So I went to work every day remodeling our house. It’s been kind of fun, but obviously I’d rather be coaching.â€
His part-time summer job as a scout for Five Tool Baseball is also on hold. No baseball. No scouting.
One of PCC’s top prospects, pitcher Mason Millett, signed in November to play for ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ coach Jay Johnson.
“Mason has an electric arm that allows him to reach up to 95 mph with his fastball and is a very good athlete with high-level feel for pitching,†said Johnson. “We believe that Mason will be an immediate contributor to our 2021 pitching staff.â€
But now? Millett was not able to further develop or work through an injury at PCC.
“Jay’s trying to figure out his roster like the rest of us,†says Jacome.
The Wildcats signed seven pitchers in their Class of 2021, including Millett. In its brief season, ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ used 12 pitchers in at least three games.
All of them are eligible to return, including seniors Vince Vannelle, Preston Price and Davis Vainer.
Who goes? Who stays?
The NCAA allows baseball teams just 11.7 scholarships to split among the entire roster. It’s an unknown like never before, even in a game known for roster turnover.
Only one Wildcat, catcher Austin Wells, is expected to be drafted next month. Versatile Matt Dyer is likely to be one of those who would be offered a $20,000 free agent’s deal. Or even less. If he stays for another UA season, he could be paid close to six figures a year from now.
“I am heartbroken for our players having something this meaningful to them taken away so fast, by something no one has control over,†said Johnson. That includes stars like Wells and those who might not have been drafted at all.
Unlike the NBA, baseball is one sport where a free agent or low-round draft pick has a reasonable chance to get to the big leagues. Former Sabino High School and Pima College pitcher Tim Wood was a 44th-round draft pick of the Florida Marlins in 2001. He spent parts of three seasons with the Marlins and Pirates.
Former Canyon del Oro High School pitcher Jason Stanford, undrafted after playing junior college baseball in Kansas and for UNC Charlotte, signed as a free agent with the Cleveland Indians and was in the big leagues four years later.
The next Tim Woods and Jason Stanfords now find themselves in neutral. Who goes? Who stays?
Who knows?
Spring Stars: Some of Southern ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥'s best high school athletes, 2019-2020
Rachael Fox
Sahuarita High School senior Rachael Fox, posing for a photo, April 18, 2020, Sahuarita, Ariz. She maintained a winning record for all four years of high school. Before school and sports were cancelled in March, Fox was the Mustangs' top player with an undefeated record.
Dakota Crabtree
Academy of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥'s Dakota Crabtree, posing for a photo, April 16, 2020, ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, Ariz., In four years at AOT, 18-year-old Crabtree has managed to break several school records, starting with the long jump. He set the school record one during the opening meet of his sophomore season, and has gone onto break it every year since.
Leo and Ivan Villa
Leo Villa, left, and twin brother Ivan, senior baseball players at Walden Grove High School in Sahuarita. Ivan Villa is hoping to attend the University of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ next year and major in civil engineering. Leo hopes to major in architectural engineering, academics could win out when it comes time to make the choice.
Isabel Cordova
Track and Field senior at Empire High school Isabel Cordova poses for a portrait at Empire High School, 10701 E. Mary Ann Cleveland Way, in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, Ariz., on April 21, 2020. Last year, she took second place in state for javelin (her favorite event) with a throwing distance of nearly 115 feet.
Refugio "Kito" Del Cid
Baseball senior at Desert View High school Refugio "Kito" Del Cid poses for a portrait at Jacobs Park, 3300 N. Fairview Ave., in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, Ariz., on April 21, 2020. With the quarantine in effect, Del Cid's been pitching and hitting ground balls against the wall in his back yard in an effort to stay in playing shape and keep baseball alive in his life. He says his teammates and this season– even in its shortened state– were his favorite part of high school.
Cheyenne Hudson and Laneya Wright
Marana softball players Cheyenne Hudson (pitcher and shortstop) and Laneya Wright (centerfielder) stand for a portrait at Marana Heritage River Park, on April 24, 2020. Laneya Wright and Cheyenne Hudson started playing softball on the same club team a decade ago as little girls, growing up together on the fields.
Ethan Lee
Rincon/University High School junior tennis player Ethan Lee on April 26, 2020. A member of Rincon's tennis team for the past three years, Lee was state champion last year for men's singles, after taking the runner-up spot his freshman year. Always one for a challenge, Lee was considering pursuing a state championship in doubles tennis this spring, before the season was cut short.
Kaitlyn Rendon
Flowing Wells High School junior Kaitlyn Rendon at Jacobs Park in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, Ariz., on April 26, 2020. Rendon plays on FWHS's soccer, track and field and cross country teams as well as on FWHS ROTC rifle team. She has a 3.9 unweighted GPA and is ranked 10th in her class. She's also president of her school's Interact Club, and a member of several others, including National Honor Society.
Preston Gibbons
Mountain View High School senior volleyball outside hitter Preston Gibbons on May 1, 2020. Gibbons is ranked seventh in his class at Mountain View and will be attending the University of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ in the fall.
Alyssa Lopez
Canyon del Oro High School senior Alyssa Lopez, shown on April 29, 2020, was the school's No.1 tennis player. Several months ago, Lopez started working as a gymnastics coach for kids at Heart and Soul Gymnastics. While the gym is closed because of COVID-19, Lopez has been creating at-home workout videos for the kids.
Kristiana Watson
Amphitheater High School senior Kristiana Watson says the things she misses most about the season cancellation are losing a chance to play with her cousin and her final year of being coached by her mother on the Panthers’ softball team.
Jesse Avina
Sierra Vista Buena High School javelin thrower Jesse Avina is planning to join the Air Force after he earns his four-year degree. He’ll start this fall by enrolling at Paradise Valley Community College. He will be on the Paradise Valley track and field team.
Amya Legarra
Canyon del Oro senior pitcher Amya Legarra was 8-0 with a 2.39 ERA and three complete games when the season was halted. She plans to move to Logan, Utah, this summer, and will soon be majoring in human movement science and playing softball for Utah State University.
Candice Pocase
Santa Rita High School junior track athlete Candice Pocase on April 24, 2020. "In my 20 years of coaching, Candice is one of the most hardworking, dedicated, coachable and fun athletes that I have had the honor to coach," said Luis Blanco, who is also Pocase's track coach. "The words 'no' and 'can't' are not in her athletic vocabulary.
Emily Flowers
Emily Flowers, a sophomore at Catalina Foothills High School, won a state championship last year and hopes to play at a Division I school someday. Before the coronavirus hit, Flowers was training six days a week at the Smith-Perry Tennis Academy and an academy run by UA tennis coaches. She’s trying to ensure that her game is impacted as little as possible by the change in routine.
Briana Garcilazo
Briana Garcilazo, a senior at Rio Rico High School. Softball is something of a family tradition, as both of her sisters also play. Garcilazo, a pitcher, first baseman and outfielder on Rio Rico’s team, will be continuing her career in college, signing on to play with Mesa Community College next year.
Leo Felix
Leo Felix, senior at Douglas High School, poses for a portrait at 15th Street Park, E. 15th st., in Douglas, Ariz., on May 5, 2020. Felix, outfielder for the Douglas High School Baseball team, is graduating in the top 10% of his class and plans to continue his baseball career in college. "I'm definitely going to try to play somewhere, and I'm going to continue my studies in college," said Felix, adding that he plans to major in business.
Abigail Russell
Salpointe Catholic’s Abigail Russell will next compete for the UA beach volleyball team. She also played the indoor version for the Lancers. When Russell was 10, she discovered volleyball and fell in love. Her brief flirtation with track, dancing and everything else was over.
061321-tuc-spt-springstars-p4
Emmanuel Corral, 18, is looking forward to running for Pima College in the fall.
Anjolee Aguilar-Beaucage
Softball player Anjolee Aguilar-Beaucage poses for a portrait at Salpointe Catholic High School on May 7, 2020. ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥â€™s 2019 All State Catcher and Defensive Player of the Year, Aguilar-Beaucage plans to continue her softball career at Grand Canyon University like her older sister.
Ryan Zuniga
Ryan Zuniga is hoping to follow his cousin’s footsteps and earn a college scholarship. Keith Zuniga played at Bethune-Cookman and was a 35th-round selection of the Miami Marlins, though he did not sign.
Shelby Thompson
Softball player Shelby Thompson of Ironwood Ridge High School on May 12, 2020.Â
"Shelby... took giant steps from a freshman year, when she pitched less than 10 innings, to her senior year when was expecting to pitch in her third straight State Championship game," said softball coach David Martinez. "Shelby worked extremely hard on improving her whole person, from her mental toughness to her physical strength. Shelby is our leader and has been incredible in that role."
Gabrianna Gonzalez
Gabrianna Gonzalez, 18, is a discus thrower on the track and field team at Cholla High School. She plans to attend the University of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ in the Fall. May 14, 2020.Â
Gonzalez is one of Cholla's few three-sport female athletes. She also competed in volleyball and basketball.
Of the three sports, track is her favorite. So much so that she passed up on the opportunity to graduate early in order to make a run at state.
061321-tuc-spt-springstars-p7
Former Sabino High School standout Sydney Gray played at Nebraska as a true freshman before suffering a knee injury that required surgery. She has been rehabbing daily ever since.
Bryan Cruz
Bryan Cruz joined the Amphitheater High School volleyball team in 2018 after moving back to ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ from Cucurpe, Sonora.
“First and foremost, he is a true student-athlete,†said Amphi volleyball coach Mike Frederick, who believes Cruz is one of the best volleyball players in the region. “He may be the most underappreciated player in the city. … But to us, he is everything. Not only is he our leader on the court but off the court as well.â€
Angel Addleman
Senior basketball and track and field athlete Angel Addleman at Palo Verde High School, 1302 S. Avenida Vega, in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, Ariz. on May 19, 2020. Addleman will play basketball at Pima Community College.
With the track season halted early and Addleman's brief musical career behind her — she spent two years performing in the folk group Copper Wren with her sisters and some friends — Addleman found herself with some time to fill during the quarantine. But unlike some athletes who require specialty equipment or teammates to train, Addleman was able to wing it.
Blaise Biringer
Blaise Biringer, 18, on the softball field at Cienega High School on May 11, 2020. Biringer plans to attend the University of Mississippi on a softball scholarship.
Prior to the shutdown, Biringer was selected to play for the Mexican National team this summer in the inaugural Triple Crown International Challenge. She was also selected by Premier Gold Fastpitch to represent the Mountain Region as an All-American (on a roster that includes fellow Spring Stars Anjolle Aguilar-Beaucage, Sydney Gray, Amya Legarra, Carlie Scupin and Kristiana Watson.)
Cameron Fimbres
Cameron Fimbres, Pueblo High School senior volleyball player, at Silverbell Crossroads Park, on May 15, 2020. Fimbres will be going to McKendree University in southern Illinois.
"My favorite memory of high school would have to be volleyball," Fimbres said. "It's either my escape from stress and stuff or where I could show off to friends, but sophomore year was also very fun. I got to play with my brother before he graduated and it was probably my team's best year."
Gerardo Grijalva
Gerardo Grijalva, 17, plays pitcher and first base for the Sunnyside High School baseball team. He will be returning to Sunnyside in the Fall as a senior.
While Grijalva would love to play college in baseball after he graduates, preferably at University of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ or UCLA, he's also focused on his future career as a robotic engineer.
"I heard that robotic engineering has a lot of math in it, and most people don’t like math, but that’s one of my best subjects in school," Grijalva said. "Right now, really don’t have an idea of where I might go, but I for sure know that I really want to play baseball in college at the next level."
Contact sports columnist Greg Hansen at 520-573-4362 or ghansen@tucson.com. On Twitter: @ghansen711
Greg Hansen
Columnist
