Right now, Darin Gillies said, the only thing set in stone is
that he’s going to college
— Arizona State University, to be exact. Of course, that could
all change come Tuesday or Wednesday. The now-former Haybaler — he
graduated from San Benito High last Friday — could very likely have
his named called during this week’s 2011 First-Year Player Draft,
which began Monday with the fi
rst round but won’t conclude until Wednesday when some 50 rounds
of selections will be in the books.
HOLLISTER
Right now, Darin Gillies said, the only thing set in stone is that he’s going to college — Arizona State University, to be exact.
Of course, that could all change come Tuesday or Wednesday.
The now-former Haybaler — he graduated from San Benito High last Friday — could very likely have his named called during this week’s 2011 First-Year Player Draft, which began Monday with the first round but won’t conclude until Wednesday when some 50 rounds of selections will be in the books.
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Gillies said he received interest from some Major League ball clubs earlier this year, although he was not inclined to reveal which specific teams had shown interest.
If one of those teams does, in fact, select the 6-foot-4 right-hander during this week’s Rule 4 Draft, though, then he’ll weigh his options. But he doesn’t plan on making any life-altering decisions until then.
“I’m excited to go to school, but I’m also interested to see what happens,” Gillies said Monday.
Fair enough. The 2010 Pitcher of the Year in the Tri-County Athletic League, Gillies said he has been in contact with the Major League Baseball Scouting Bureau in recent weeks, which provides additional information on prospects so ball clubs can make more educated selections.
“Obviously, it’s an exciting time of year,” Gillies said. “But I hope to see what happens and just go with the flow from there.”
Previously verbally committing in April 2010, Gillies signed a National Letter of Intent last November to Arizona State, which is one of the top baseball programs in the country and is often ranked nationally in the Top 25.
But his senior season didn’t pan out the way he was expecting. It was cut short when, in April against Bellarmine, he was hit by a pitch while batting for the Balers.
He suffered a fracture and a bone chip in his right throwing wrist as a result, and was expected to be sidelined for the remainder of the season. That is, until he unexpectedly emerged from the bullpen in a relief appearance in the team’s final game — the Central Coast Section Division I Championship against Palo Alto.
Despite the return, though, the lack of appearances and innings during his senior season have left Gillies unsure as to where he might fall in the draft, if at all. He said he hopes to get picked, but right now it’s wait and see.
“It’s nerve-racking, but it’s exciting at the same time,” said Gillies, who tossed 37 innings for the Balers this past season, allowed 12 earned runs on 27 hits and posted a 2.27 earned-run average.
His wrist, meanwhile, is feeling better every day, and he plans on beginning physical therapy this week.
“They said it should bounce back pretty quick,” he added.
Although the injury didn’t help any, teams who were previously following Gillies already know what he can and cannot do. After going 9-2 with a 1.40 ERA for the Balers during his junior season, the starting pitcher was selected to the exclusive Area Code Baseball Games last summer in Long Beach, where he tossed three scoreless innings, allowed one hit while striking out two, and threw between 89 and 91 miles per hour — all in front of several hundred scouts.
What that means on Tuesday and Wednesday will be up to the ball clubs, though.
“It’s been a lot of hard work the last four years,” Gillies said. “But just to be in the mix is pretty exciting. It’s an honor. I feel pretty blessed.”
Tuesday (Rounds 2-30) and Wednesday’s (Rounds 31-50) coverage of the 2011 First-Year Player Draft can be watched on MLB Network, or streamed online at: www.mlb.com
