High school slugger is No.1/ Marlins shell out $3 million signing

Gazette, The (Colorado Springs), Jun 6, 2000 by The Associated Press

NEW YORK - Once the Florida Marlins took a look at Adrian Gonzalez's smooth left-handed swing, their minds were made up.

The Marlins selected Gonzalez, from Eastlake High School in Chula Vista, Calif., with the No. 1 pick in Monday's baseball draft.

"We all agreed that Adrian Gonzalez was the best hitting prospect available in this year's draft," Marlins scouting director Al Avila said.

Gonzalez hit .645 with 13 home runs and 34 RBI this season. He is the first high school infielder to be selected No. 1 since Alex Rodriguez in 1993.

"It's a dream come true," Gonzalez said. "I've wanted to play professional baseball since I can remember."

Gonzalez agreed to a $3 million signing bonus - the third- highest for a high school player - before the draft.

Cal State-Fullerton right-hander Adam Johnson was taken by Minnesota with the second pick. Shortstop Luis Montanez from Coral Park High School in Miami was then selected by the Chicago Cubs. Mike Stodolka, a left-hander from Centennial High School in California, was taken by Kansas City with the fourth pick. Montreal then selected right-hander Justin Wayne from Stanford.

A number of players with famous fathers figured prominently in the first few rounds.

Arizona State right-hander Jason Fingers, son of Baseball Hall of Fame reliever Rollie Fingers, was selected by Kansas City with the 284th pick. The New York Yankees took Michigan catcher David Parrish, son of Lance Parrish, with the 28th pick, and Atlanta claimed Pennsylvania high school shortstop Aaron Herr, son of infielder Tom Herr, with the 40th pick.

San Francisco selected Florida Southern infielder Lance Niekro, son of knuckleballer Joe Niekro, with the 61st pick and then took Cuesta College right-hander Kyle Gross, son of pitcher Wayne Gross, with the 151st pick.

Among other selections of note, California third baseman Xavier Nady, at one time considered the favorite to be selected No. 1, dropped to the second round as San Diego made him the 49th pick.

Other expected first-rounders who lasted until the second round included first baseman Jason Stokes from Coppell (Texas) High School, who was taken 41st by Florida; San Francisco first baseman Taggert Bozied, taken No. 42 by Minnesota; Pepperdine catcher Dane Sardinha, selected 46th by Cincinnati; and Stanford pitcher Jason Young, taken 47th by Colorado.

TEXT}Top 10 picks

1. Florida, Adrian Gonzalez, 1B, Eastlake HS, Bonita, Calif.

2. Minnesota, Adam Johnson, RHP, Cal State Fullerton

3. Chicago (NL), Luis Montanez, SS, Miami (Fla.) Coral Park HS

4. Kansas City, Michael Stodolka, LHP, Centennial HS, Corona, Calif.

5. Montreal, Justin Wayne, RHP, Stanford

6. Tampa Bay, Rocco Baldelli, CF, Bishop Hendricken School, Cumberland, R.I.

7. Colorado, Matthew Harrington, RHP, Palmdale (Calif.) HS

8. Detroit, Matthew Wheatland, RHP, Rancho Bernardo HS, Poway, Calif.

9. San Diego, Mark Phillips, LHP, Hanover (Pa.) HS

10. Anaheim, Joseph Torres, LHP, Gateway HS, Kissimmee, Fla.