Astros draft local stars

Spencer Patterson

Wednesday, June 3, 1998 | 11:02 a.m.

After dueling all year as the leaders of their respective teams, Green Valley's Mike Nannini and Bishop Gorman's Jason Van Meetren were selected by the same major league club on day one of the amateur draft Tuesday.

The Houston Astros grabbed Nannini, a 5-11 right-handed pitcher, with the 37th pick overall, part of the "sandwich round" between the first and second rounds. The Astros received the selection as compensation when the Colorado Rockies signed free agent pitcher Darryl Kile last December.

"I was surprised that I got selected that high," said Nannini, who received the news on his cellular phone while driving home after taking his math final exam. "Realistically, I was thinking second or third round."

Nannini, who finished his high school career with a 19-2 record, led the Gators to their sixth straight state title this spring, going 10-1 with a 0.58 ERA as a senior.

"The Astros called last night and said they'd take Michael, but we didn't know where," said Nannini's father, Mike. "He went right where we were hoping."

The Astros took Van Meetren, a versatile athlete who pitched and played center field for the Gaels this year, with their fourth-round pick, No. 122 overall.

The 6-3 Van Meetren batted .545 with 47 RBIs and compiled a 9-1 pitching record this spring. He helped Gorman earn a state berth and a sixth consecutive Sunset Division title.

According to Van Meetren's father, Steve, another team called Jason earlier in the day, offering to make him its third-round pick, on the condition that he verbally agree to a signing bonus.

But with a full scholarship to Stanford in his back pocket, Van Meetren decided to keep his options open, choosing to drop one round in the draft rather than agree to a specific dollar amount.

The Toronto Blue Jays made Green Valley pitcher Joe Orloski the third local prep player selected, taking the 6-3 right-hander with their sixth-round pick, No. 171 overall.

The selection didn't come as a surprise to Orloski, who spent his weekends playing on the Blue Jays' scout team last fall.

"Getting the phone call was amazing," said Orloski, who posted a 10-1 record and a 2.06 ERA this spring. "It's a big relief."

Chaparral catcher Russell Cleveland became the fourth local prep player taken when the Detroit Tigers nabbed him with their 12th-round pick, No. 357 overall.

"It feels like a thousand-pound weight has been lifted off my shoulders," said the 6-3 Cleveland, who batted .521 with nine homers and 43 RBIs this spring. "I tried taking a nap, but every time the phone rang I jumped up."

The draft, which is expected to take just two days this year, will continue with the 26th round today. Local players such as Green Valley's David Jensen and Basic's Eric Wise are likely to be taken sometime before the end of the 50th and final round.