Galena, IL (AP) - The Vero Beach Bums selected a 17-year old left-handed
pitching prospect in the first round of the PVBL amateur draft. Jake Kush,
who graduated just 2 weeks ago from Eisenhower High School in tiny New
Berlin, Wisconsin, is heading to the Bums' AA club in Los Angeles, CA.
Kush compiled a 27-2 record in 3 years of baseball at Eisenhower with a
3.38 ERA. "He's got a live arm and four pitches, and he performs well
under pressure," said Bums scouting director Johnny Bench. Kush also
notched 15 saves in 16 opportunities in his sophomore year of high school,
when he was used as a relief pitcher. Kush did, however, set a record for
most hit batters in his Eisenhower career (87 in total).
"I'm just glad to have been drafted, especially in the first round," gushed
Kush from his home in New Berlin. "I hope I stay in the Bums organization
-- I hear they're pretty good," added Kush. Kush will take the place in
the L.A. Dodgers' rotation vacated by prospect Mike Bottenfield, who will
be promoted to the AAA Milwaukee Brewmeisters.
The Bums also drafted 1B Harry Hoch in the second round, with the pick they
received from Cincinnati as compensation for the Billy Wagner free agent
signing. "Hoch was a pretty good pickup for the second round," said Bums
owner J. Lee Gohlke, who attended the draft. "He should be ready for the
majors in a couple of years."
The Bums used their other second round pick to select 19-year-old
left-handed reliever Craig Hutto, a little-used sophomore at Florida State
University. "Hutto is a strict fastball/changeup pitcher who is a bit of a
project," said Gohlke.
Vero Beach used their third-round pick to select shortstop Bill Fielder,
age 21, who has been trying out at major league camps and working at a
nationwide fast food chain for the last three years. Fielder is not
expected to make an impact soon. "He must be a good fielder, though,
right?" quipped Bums manager Phil Garner. "Not really," deadpanned Gohlke.
