Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, June 1, 1995 TAG: 9506010081
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RAY COX STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
For VMI right-hander Ryan Glynn and many other players who anticipate being chosen in major-league baseball's amateur draft that runs today through Sunday, the decisive factor may not be arm strength, bat speed and foot speed at all.
``Is he going to sign?'' one scout wanted to know about Glynn. ``I've been hearing different things and now I don't know.''
Scouts know Glynn can hurry his fastball to the plate at more than 90 mph. They know he's got enough pop in his bat that he might work out as an outfielder should he not develop as a hurler.
But that isn't the question. Scouts call it ``signability.''
``I'm very signable,'' Glynn said by telephone from Lexington on Wednesday. ``But it all depends on where I go in the draft, what round I'm taken in, and what club.''
Glynn, a 6-foot-4, 200-pound alumnus of Churchland High School in Portsmouth, hopes to go in one of the first five rounds.
``I'd be surprised if he went in the first round, but everybody has him on their top-five list,'' Keydets coach Scott Gines said.
``I'm not going to take it like I've won the lottery or something,'' Glynn said. ``I've played baseball all my life but I never dreamed this would happen.''
It all started coming into focus when scouts saw him at last year's Southern Conference tournament when he was throwing harder than he ever had in his life. Then, 45 scouts showed up at the first game he pitched this year.
``It's going to be a long night tonight,'' he said.
Elsewhere in the area, it appears to be a light year for draftable talent.
At VMI, former All-Timesland infielder David Groseclose, a senior, could go. He's a senior. Another senior, third baseman Bo Durkac of Virginia Tech, also could be selected.
Duane Filchner, Radford's career leader in batting average (.389), home runs (34) and runs batted in (181) and right-hander Jim Abbott, have hopes.
Keith Mayhew, an All-America pitcher at Ferrum, could be drafted, as could John Poindexter, a solid all-around athlete.
``They missed the boat on Mayhew last year,'' Ferrum coach Abe Naff said.
Other Division III players who are likely to be tapped include left-hander Jarrod Washburn and slugging shortstop Tim Jorgensen, both of whom were in Salem this week for the College World Series with Wisconsin-Oshkosh. Washburn is projected by Baseball America to go in the first five rounds and Jorgensen soon after.
by CNB