Ludwick taken in second round

Spencer Patterson

Thursday, June 3, 1999 | 10:21 a.m.

While one local player realized his professional dreams in Wednesday's Major League Baseball draft, another put them on hold indefinitely.

For UNLV junior Ryan Ludwick, the draft's second round brought a phone call from the Oakland Athletics, who selected the Rebels' outfielder with the day's 60th overall pick.

"I'm excited," said Ludwick, a Durango High product who led UNLV in nearly every offensive category this spring. "I definitely want to go out and play and get to the big leagues as soon as possible."

But for Cimarron-Memorial right-handed pitcher Mike Esposito, concerns about his "signability" caused him to slip from a potential second- or third-round selection to a fifth-round choice.

And that has the Spartan ace leaning toward attending Arizona State University in the fall, rather than signing a minor-league contract.

"I feel good about going down to Arizona," said Esposito, who went 10-1 with an 0.71 ERA this spring. "I think I'll take that option."

According to Esposito, three teams called during the third round to inquire about his financial expectations. He said his family was looking for "first-round money," and that caused several clubs to pass on him.

The Cincinnati Reds ultimately took him with the 158th overall selection in round five, but Esposito said they're unlikely to give him the signing bonus he's looking for.

"Unless Cincinnati comes out of the woodwork and wants to give me that, I'll go to college," he said.

Although Ludwick was pleased to be taken by Oakland, he said he was slightly disappointed not to be drafted higher. Most preseason draft guides had him projected as a top-20 selection.

"At the beginning of the year I was a lock for the first round, but I didn't put up the power numbers people expected," said Ludwick, who had 13 homers this year. "I'm looking forward to proving a couple of organizations wrong."

One area player who went a bit higher than many prognosticators had expected was Cheyenne infielder Jake Laidlaw, one of the state's top hitters. The Florida Marlins made him their seventh-round pick with the 206th selection overall. The Marlins also nabbed Sparks pitcher Randy Messenger in the 11th round.

Also going in Wednesday's draft were UNLV first baseman Brian Hertel, who went to the Mariners in Round 17, and UNLV shortstop Elliott Sarabia, who was taken by the Pirates in Round 20.

Somewhat surprisingly, Esposito, Laidlaw and Messenger were the only Nevada prep players selected in Wednesday's 22 rounds, leaving Durango outfielder James Burgess, Cimarron catcher James Nepa and Reed catcher Kenny Riley among others available for the draft's second half today.